Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. Our pictures are out there so it's not a huge secret but it is something that we kind of keep a secret because it's special.". With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. ", Webster: "I think it's on the website too but if a corporate company wants Big Al its $400 to the university. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). It's almost like thatBig Al is just the best. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray." The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr. . Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. Roberts used the term to describe crimson-and-white-clad Alabama's surprising performance during a rain-soaked 6-6 tie with heavily favored Auburn in 1907. We both went to the tryout together. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. He wasn't fat. I don't think our team performs as well if Big Al doesn't get the fans into it. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Dickey: "Big Al has a very unconventional suit. From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. Nonetheless, a student in a doe-eyed elephant costume struts his stuff at every Bama home game, having become a fixture at one of the states proudest institutions. No. Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. ", Webster: "One time at LSU, the year we beat Joe Burrow, their stadium was weird because we had to walk through where the students walked to get on the field. It's something that people do for like a scholarship. Q: I guess Big Al can't be too heavy then Webster: "Yeah, there was one year that this guy tried out who was 6-foot-7. You can never see straight in front of you, so when we're taking pictures you always have to put the camera in that blind spot. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. We have five different assignments for every game day split between all five of us. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. They were telling me about how much I made their day. This isn't just something that people come to the tryout to be Big Al for two days. In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. It's a little bit of both. Q: What's crowd surfing up the student section like? ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. It's kind of about the kids. elephants are also known for their loyalty, which is another trait that makes them well-suited to being a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. The first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al. He's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls. After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. That's really the payment. When she's not blogging or spending time with her family, you can usually find her rooting around in the garden or at the hardware store. On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Big Al never stops moving, and so that is a huge aspect of who he is.". First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. According to the school, the relationship between elephants and University of Alabama football dates back to 1930, when Atlanta Journal sportswriter Everett Strupper relayed a story from an Alabama-Ole Miss game. Big Al was named by a student vote. Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". 1 Alabama, No. That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. The African elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has larger ears. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. 1 Alabama, No. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. [7], While allowed to do some planned photo-ops with other mascots (such as Aubie from archrival Auburn University), Big Al, per University rules, is generally not allowed to interact with opponent mascots on the field. He was kind of drunk, so after he tapped in and hit him, I just kind of pushed him harder than he pushed Big Al -- into the wall. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer . The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. And the rest is history. After you march them on to the field they will play 'Tusk,' which is sort of Big Al's statement song. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. It's kind of like is a parent every gonna say someone else in his kid's class is the best kid? This fits in well with the tradition and history of the Alabama Crimson Tide, which is one of the most prestigious college football teams in the country. A majority of the fan base is actually caring about the game, so you can focus on the little kids and the people who really want to see Big Al. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. Whatever its origins, the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the Crimson Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise. Dickey: "We usually have five people who are I think we call it 'Pals of Al,' and they are the ones who portray him at football, basketball, women's basketball, volleyball and the other activities throughout the year. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. Most popular on LostLettermen.com: PHOTO: Passed out Georgia football fan becomes infamous Alabama fans' family portrait includes baby as football PHOTOS: Top 10 ugliest college football helmets ever WAGS of college football players ft. USC's Matt Barkley PHOTOS: Insane H.S. Since the early 1900s, the University of Alabama has been associated with the elephant. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. That's just Big Al.' Why is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant Named Big Al. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? During the 1979 season, after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Big Al made his first appearance alongside the Crimson Tide. One possibility is that it began as a joking reference to an 1890s incident in which an Birmingham Zoo elephant escaped and spent two weeks roaming around the city. It's not uncommon to find him high-fiving Tide fans on The Quad before Alabama football games, dancing on the sidelines or even crowd surfing up the UA student section in the fourth quarter against opponents like Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida, LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas. The bigger ones go to the school.". It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. That would go to us. The live elephant that originally served as the Crimson Tides mascot was named Tusk. Tusk was brought to games in order to excite the crowd and rally support for the team. The biggest thing to look for in someone who wants to be a Big Al is are they creative enough to think on the spot and are they animated enough? The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. Even the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot, Big Al, is considered the GOAT when it comes to the big, furry friends that roam college football's sidelines. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. Nothing about No. Dickey: "My favorite gamewe lost the game. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding Mississippi, 64-0. Since funding for the costume would have to come from the athletic department, Tart and Paige set up a meeting with Coach Bryant, who was the football coach and athletic director of the University. How did the audition go? "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. Why Is An Elephant Alabamas Mascot? You won't know what the props are beforehand. It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. Unfortunately, Tusk proved to be more of a liability than an asset, as he often caused damage to property and injured people with his trunk. It's not an obvious type of thing.". In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. Given that they are not indigenous to the North American continent, let alone the general Tuscaloosa area, it may seem odd that an elephant serves as the mascot for the University of Alabamas football team. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. So how did one of college football's blue bloods on the path to win its third national title in four years come to be represented by an animal most often associated with the circus, Dumbo and the Republican Party? We had Good Morning America. Tusks grow throughout an elephants lifetime; an individuals tusk length is a useful criterion for age determination as elephants reach physical maturity at around 15 years old. It's just kind of a little thing we do. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. So within that sort of height. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. Big Al celebrated his first year with Bear Bryant's 300th win against the Kentucky Wildcats and a victory against the Baylor Bears in the 1981 Cotton Bowl. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. Another theory is that the schools first football coach, Wallace Wade, had once seen a circus perform in Tuscaloosa and been impressed by the elephants. how big is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. Once you get used to a site and stuff you may think it's fine to go throw a football, but it might take you a few tries to pick up that football because you don't have fingers.". The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!' Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. 167.114.26.66 Ill be looking at the history of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in the state. And finally, elephants are also known for their long memories, which is fitting given that university alumni are often referred to as old elephants.. 1 Answer ANSWER The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. Finally, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. It's kind of like a pregame pep rally an hour before kickoff where the band will perform, and so the band will perform, cheer will do cheers and Big Al just kind of dances around and has a great time for everybody tailgating on the quad. Q: So you have to have a certain height and weight to be Big Al? On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. That was definitely the most challenging event, but it was definitely the most rewarding because I think I got the most out of that one. One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. Your IP: Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. We're in the program for the football team. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Unmatched in size that Alabama team knocked me [out] cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size." There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. There are several reasons why this is so. If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". A "fight" was scripted before the game, in which the rules were that Big Al loses the fight in front of the visitors section, and Big Al dominates in front of his student section. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox little bit of pressure about image coming '. African elephant is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant named Big Al mascot to come to fruition: hour! 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