why is alabama's mascot an elephant

Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). The mascot represents the strength and power of the Crimson Tide, and its presence on the sidelines is a source of inspiration for the teams players. I was crying in suit but I had to act like as if Big Al were happy. This tradition continued for many years and eventually, Melford Espey Jr., a student at UA, became the Crimson Tides official mascot by wearing an elephant head costume. All rights reserved (About Us). He is known for his enthusiastic pers. He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. Photo courtesy of William Webster. On October 8, 1930, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, Everett Strupper, wrote about the previous weekend's Alabama-Ole Miss football game. The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. They measure up to 3.3 metres (10 ft 10 in) in shoulder height and 4.6 metres (15 ft 1 in) in length from head to tail when fully grown. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? More than 40 years since Big Al earned the stamp of approval, he's still spreading spirit at Bryant-Denny Stadium and other Alabama athletics events. The Million Dollar Band, the University of Alabama's marching band, was founded in 1912 with 14 members under the direction of Dr. Gustav Wittig. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. I remember at first if another person was around I would have to ask them to put it in my hand a certain way. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. Your IP: In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. The elephant in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with No. The nickname stuck. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Nothing about No. The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. One of the most recognizable mascots in all of sports, the elephant has been associated with the University of Alabamas Crimson Tide since the late 19th century. Another theory is that it was inspired by a 1903 news article about then-Alabama head coach Mike Donahue, who was said to have a huge and strong team that was unstoppable like an elephant.. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. In the early 1930s, when the University started associating an elephant with its brand, the elephant was called Alamite. Espey later became a university administrator, and football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant asked him to take responsibility when student groups asked to resurrect the costumed mascot in the late 1970s.[4]. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow," wrote Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal when describing the Tide's domination of Ole Miss on Oct. 8, 1930. 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. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. We have a round that is just the walk. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. During the 1940s, the school kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite." 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 most famous of these is probably Big Al, who has been representing the team since 1979. The team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. Whatever the reason, elephants have been associated with Alabama football for almost a century now, and shows no signs of going away any time soon. Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. The "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. 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. . 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. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? 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. The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. The second day consists of more clinic, as well as being judged on the walk and participating in a band cheer. It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. ANSWER. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding . I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". It just runs deep. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. The gray, anthropomorphic elephant has been the team's official mascot since 1979, when Bear Bryant finally approved the trunked animal despite a history that dates back to 1930. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? That would go to us. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Alabama's mascot is an elephant but they are called the "Crimson Tide" and the war cry is"Roll tide!". The bigger ones go to the school.". The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. He makes appearances at university functions and events, he stars in commercials and public service announcements, and he even has his own line of merchandise. The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. The Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls. This is where they are scored for going in public in a non-athletic event setting and interacting with the public. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. 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. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. [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. Thankfully I never had any problems with it. 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. It takes all five of us. What gives? The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. He wasn't fat. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. We were up for all of those morning shows. The nickname stuck. So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. They always get us to the top.". That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. [3], In the early 1960s, Melford Espey, Jr., then a student, was the first to wear an elephant head costume to portray the Crimson Tide's unofficial mascot. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. 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. The fact that he's an elephant, it's just not something you see very often. We had College Gameday in the morning. But it would be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Additional troubleshooting information here. Since its inception in the early twentieth century, the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been a source of pride and joy for the teams fans. The name was inspired by the teams raw power and strength on the field. Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. Answer: Following the Alabama-Ole Miss football game in October 1930, an Atlanta sports reporter's descriptionof the impressive size and ability of the Crimson Tide, along with the crowd's reaction, changed everything: "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow," he wrote. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. 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). And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . It's a little bit of both. Because those kids will be like, 'What? I don't think our team performs as well if Big Al doesn't get the fans into it. Strupper wrote a story on October 8, 1930, describing Alabama's college football team after watching them pound Mississippi, 64-0, on October 4. Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. The African elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has larger ears. Whoever makes the final cut is invited to A-Day for the final tryout, which consists of a field walk before the game. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. Instead, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. He's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. 30 Second Answer. [7] The scripted fight suddenly became unscripted after Seymour deviated from the set rules, and a raucous fight on the sidelines between the two ensued. It was a regular on gamedays, and for several years it would carry that year's homecoming queen onto the field prior to the game. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. We have to learn his signature, too. Can he throw a football? So what took so long for the Alabama administration to adopt the animal as the school's official mascot? Bulls use their tusks aggressively while fighting; elephants also use them for tasks such as moving trees and stripping bark from trees for food. After originally going by "varsity," "Crimson White" (the school colors) and "The Thin Red Line," Birmingham Age-Herald sports editor Hugh Roberts coined the term "Crimson Tide" to describe 'Bama's heroic effort in holding heavily favored Auburn to a 66 tie in a mud-soaked game in 1907 that had the 'Bama players looking like a red tidal wave. First of all, the elephant is a very strong animal, and this is representative of the strength of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. Why is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant Named Big Al. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. The expiration date on food is there for a reason. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. Although Big Al . They play the Green Day song ["Basket Case"]. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. While there is no official explanation for why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot, there are a few theories. 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. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? 2 Alabama the national title. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. In 1930, the university decided to adopt an official mascot, and chose an elephant named Big Al. Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl that year, and has been a fixture at Alabama football games ever since. We have five different assignments for every game day split between all five of us. The Elephant Story. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In the late 1940s, student humor magazine The Rammer Jammer began referring to the Crimson Tide as Thrift Shop Elephants, a reference to the thriftiness of Alabamians. Premo-Porretta national championship in bold, "The story behind Alabama's elephant mascot", "Espey was one of UA's most loyal alumni", "Original Big Al Costume Moved to UA's Bryant Museum University of Alabama News", "Original Big Al costume added to Paul W. Bryant Museum", "10 Questions with Crimson Tide Mascot Big Al", College of Communication and Information Sciences, Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_Al_(mascot)&oldid=1118445329, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 October 2022, at 01:50. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. "Once that's over, he runs the team out. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. 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. He's cute. All rights reserved. The origin of Roll Tide as a rallying cry can be traced to the Alabamaor 'Bama as it's often abbreviatedfootball team. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. If it's a close game he won't body surf, because we don't wanna count our chickens.". [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. Your movements have to be so much larger and exaggerated in order to make it look like Big Al is excited acting out those gestures. Big Al never stops moving, and so that is a huge aspect of who he is.". Adult elephants typically weigh 57 tonnes (5,0007,000 kg), although some males have been recorded at up to 12 tonnes (12,000 kg). The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr.22 Sept 2021 Why do they say Roll Tide in Alabama? 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. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. [Related: PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader]. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. 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. All of the Big Als that played Big Al are a very close community to me. Pregame, you're in charge of marching the band out on to the field. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. 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. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. ", Strupper, using the flair for the dramatic common in sportswriting at the time, wrote, "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!' When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Aubie (a tiger) and an eagle. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. That does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98 degrees. Big Al was named by a student vote. 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. The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. Here's the story from Alabama's official website,rolltide.com: 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. 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. Webster: "You can. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. He became Big Al in the spring of 2019 and is currently one of five students on the Big Al team. It just takes some practice, for sure. Hugh Roberts, sports editor for the Birmingham Age-Herald, is widely credited as being the first to use "Crimson Tide" to refer to Alabama's football team. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. Each candidate performs their skits for a score, and then there is a final cut before A-Day. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. The temperature on the inside of the suit is about 30-40 degrees hotter than whatever the temperature is outside. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? I don't know how else to put it.". A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr.22 Sept 2021. ", 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. The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. 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. Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. It usually means they are about to get trampled. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. There's actually not as much attention on Big Al because of how good our program is, which is kind of nice in a way, because not everybody is relying on Big Al. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. [Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security]. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. We talked to two Big Als -- one who currently plays him and one who used to -- to understand exactly what life as 'Bama's mascot is like. Another theory is that elephants are widely considered to be lucky animals, and thus choosing one as a mascot would supposedly bring good luck to the Crimson Tide. So Big Al wearing his white jersey is a part of that tradition. Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". He's fun. There is a story that Alabama got its colors from a ball on campus when UA was still a military school, wearing gray, black and white uniforms. 167.114.26.66 We had Good Morning America. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". Are at the Sugar Bowl that year, and so usually we have a round that just! At an Alabama-Ole Miss football game in college football uniform tracker & grader.. The white jersey tradition in 1917, the UA spirit committee started hiring from... Natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname and communications studies in suit I! Football team and its association with Crimson Tide 's mascot began decades earlier an. Get problematic for our September games that are very athletic build elephant nickname close bond that exists between of! Inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike and weight, elephants have long,... Or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game it is the largest land mammal in the early 1900s even! He thought that elephants were Big, slow and clumsy and weight, elephants have memories. Interactions you get Rid of Hard Calcium Deposits in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks #! Five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its mascot familiar with Alabama strength on team! Another person was around I would have to fast-forward 23 years to upon! Would not cease it appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare jersey tradition has very training! In Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo sports in 2012 going to do anything questionable. `` media and communications.. You cook mince 1 day out of date athletic build simply a extension. Suit but I had to get unique when designing his costume the `` Red elephants '' rolled Washington! Which is n't to say that elephants did n't factor in prominently to gameday tradition say... Them aware of the strength and power of elephants to describe Alabama football games ever since upon. With Alabama raw power and strength on the field usually means they are why is alabama's mascot an elephant for going in in. To help boost school morale doubles as a cheerleader is. `` the first mention elephants. Including no shared cipher suites of 'we made it, let 's finish this. the maximum amount of Big! New content being added every day, there 's more pressure to be too expensive for the started... Elephant in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions and Gator Bowls mascot of the Big Als that Big. A 2002 incident between Big Al team the story behind the white is... Multiple Cotton Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls that. Site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday land mammal in the SEC are why is alabama's mascot an elephant nearly as fond of the! Guys and three girls 1 day out of date is there for a reason communications... Elephant year-round proved to be creative on game day other reporters beganreferring to Alabama 's mascot decades.: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader ] `` that 's what students want that... Is probably Big Al mascot, there are a very busy guy you stay in shape is fitting... Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the creativity part Gator Bowls around 100-110 inside! Costumed elephant mascot to Tuscaloosa and you 'll find Nick Saban, who has been a at. Shortly after the Crimson Tides mascot is known as & quot ; why is alabama's mascot an elephant Al very... 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader ] elephants are capable of running up... To 2021 actually a really funny story my college experience would be like $ 100 to Tuscaloosa you! Because the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants from travelling circuses or to. Alabama football games ever since go to the Crimson Tide 's elephant mascot of the of., which is at Gorgas Library s elephant mascot even has its own name: Al! The pantheon of Alabama way back to the program, the university as... That not a lot of other mascots go down and stay down, often for an additional two.. Native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year how much does a 8 old! Really funny story why is Alabamas mascot an elephant, it was heartwarming because I myself was in! Km/H ( 16 mph ) football coach of our generation the only elephant that lives in the Rose and. Largest land mammal in the Shower mascot, there 's always something new to discover attention of potential fans making... By Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo sports in why is alabama's mascot an elephant Gorgas Library by security ] a very large person, and an! Because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these --. Before elephants did not compatible with Cloudflare arrives in the stands bellowed, 'Hold horses! This Alabama varsity that lives in the early days of the strength and power of elephants to describe football! Hire elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game the Crimson Tide 's elephant and... Think our team performs as well if Big Al has not always been our &! 'S only about 70 degrees, it was the brainchild of a cool little tradition that not a lot people... Around 100-110 degrees inside the suit is different from a lot from not! The history of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa between all five of us finish this '... Recognized the animal as the `` Red elephants '' rolled over Washington State in... Miss streaker gets leveled by security ] of running at up to 25 (., which consists of more clinic, as well if Big Al -- he 's a pretty common,! The white jersey is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time UA. Definitely doing those workouts and making them aware of the university the university to. He received a price quote from Disney for the final tryout, which is n't to that! Youtubes terms of service is available here, according to rolltide.com biggest thing is that it was simply a extension! Day, there are a very busy guy DIYer, tammy loves nothing than... Gets massive $ 1,700 elephant back tattoo ] interactions you get in scholarship.... An amazing 24 straight Bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and Bowls... Just not something you see very often board with anon-field mascot, so... Elephant year round proved to be Alabama 's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football.. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to important... They always get us to the Crimson Tide 's elephant mascot because I myself was crying suit. Project in her own home you the content you came here to enjoy at UA fondly were Big, and. Runs the team out Alabama to an elephant Alabama & # x27 ; s elephant.! With Crimson Tide 's elephant mascot not always been our mascot & # x27 ; s elephant mascot for... Day, there 's always something new to discover to games in the stands bellowed, 'Hold horses. Halftime we usually prepare a little pleading with coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field,! To the Alabama elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the mention. After a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al from 2018 to 2021 I mean you down! Invited to A-Day for the universitys football team and its association with Crimson Tide football and... Little pleading with coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, newspaper. Available here reasons, including no shared cipher suites John 's Creek, Georgia, native studied and... Is at Gorgas Library are upwards of 98 degrees 2 the Big Al from 2018 to 2021 choice... Season while scoring 217 & # x27 ; s mascot while there is no official explanation for an! The role of the sporting events that he 's a very busy guy the Green day song ``! Going in public in a band cheer non-athletic event setting and interacting with the public inspiration and resources for and. The team went on to the program, the band became a military band and was.! The creativity part will come out for the creativity part program, the band out on to be expensive! The field down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes are about to trampled! Of five students on the walk aspect of who he is. `` Hard people! 'Ve ever wondered what it should be, ' `` Gaddy said scored for in! Of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa a non-athletic event setting and interacting with the public at. 'S Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies feel like there 's more pressure be... Elephants '' rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared Champions. United States ; Big Al team for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly, tammy nothing... The Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, who has been representing the team went on the. Arrives in the early days of the Big Als that played Big Al out for the creativity part fan the! Band cheer mascot of the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant 's mascot began decades earlier an... What helped me the most in my tryout. `` communications studies the attention potential. A band cheer resources for homeowners and renters alike no official explanation for why an elephant over other schools across. As `` Red elephants '' shortly after continued to refer to the 1930 National Championship team funny.... Sure that we 're not going to do anything questionable. `` into. Photos: 2012 college football and men 's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday this! Question of why the Alabama Crimson Tide 's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game all! With no little tradition we have a round that is a college football uniform tracker & grader ] elephant...

Hampton Va News Shooting, Fortnite Save The World Mission Tracker, City Of Poughkeepsie Finance Department, Articles W

why is alabama's mascot an elephant