why is alabama's mascot an elephant

It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. 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 elephant has been Alabamas official live mascot since 1930, when then-coach Wallace Wade bought a pair of elephants named Shiloh and Jubilee for $750. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. 1 Alabama, No. Big Al, Alabama's elephant mascot, has roamed the sidelines for more than 30 years. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. 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. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. Additional troubleshooting information here. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. In 1979, he was meeting with the homecoming chairman, Ann Paige, as they were trying to come up with something different for the school's homecoming parade. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. 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. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. There are several reasons why this is so. So whether you're looking for guidance on how to make your home more energy efficient or just want some inspiration for dinner tonight, be sure to check out Arew! We have to divvy that up between us.". Nothing about No. The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? It's pretty much a part-time job. The Crimson Tide's mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. The second day consists of more clinic, as well as being judged on the walk and participating in a band cheer. Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. And then second quarter is kind of their own thing and that will bleed into halftime depending on how long it takes to set up props for the person doing the halftime skit. 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. 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. 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. Why is Alabama's mascot "Big Al" an elephant, you ask? The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. It's not an obvious type of thing.". We were up for all of those morning shows. 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? 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. . The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All rights reserved (About Us). He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. That's a lot of weight on your neck. It's just kind of a little thing we do. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. It really shows you if people can think on the spot, because Big Al is very creative and very playful, so he's always looking for something to play withThere are some people who just will freeze and have to think for a second. The band will form an elephant on the field and Big Al will march them down the field. 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. Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. He became Big Al in the spring of 2019 and is currently one of five students on the Big Al team. I think that really helped me in the tryout, being more relaxed and not caring as much about the outcome and caring more about just having a good time, because that's what Big Al would wanna do. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. The best experience I ever had as Big Al was when I was at a children's hospital. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1979 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,' 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." The nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a month. The man who Bryant tasked with spearheading Big Al's creation was none other than Espey, who by that time was working as an Alabama administrator. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. He's cute. Alabama's mascot is an elephant but they are called the "Crimson Tide" and the war cry is"Roll tide!". The Elephant Story. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. Although Big Al . What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. 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.". Females carry their young for a gestation period of 22 months; calves are fully weaned at around 36 years old but remain closely associated with their mothers until around 10 years old. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. So what took so long for the Alabama administration to adopt the animal as the school's official mascot? Additional troubleshooting information here. No. I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. 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. However, elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before this point. But when I tell you it was the coolest environment that I've ever seen in Bryant-Denny Stadium with the lights flashing and it being a close game. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. What gives? It's something that people do for like a scholarship. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with . He is known for his enthusiastic pers. Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". 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). Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. Why is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant Named Big Al. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. Nothing about No. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. 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. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. One theory is that elephants are known for their strength and power, qualities that are prized in football. . Nothing about No. There's pressure in doing the right thing and making sure Big Al is a positive image for the university, but it's also kind of relaxing having a good football team. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. 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. Since you see out of the corner of your eyes the way they push you up you can see yourself on the screen whenever they put you on the screen. 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. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. While there is no official explanation for why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot, there are a few theories. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. 167.114.26.66 Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. The Million Dollar Band. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Dickey: "There definitely is. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? ANSWER. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. He has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. 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. We had College Gameday in the morning. Whoever makes the final cut is invited to A-Day for the final tryout, which consists of a field walk before the game. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. Ill be looking at the history of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in the state. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer . The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. ", 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. We also have prop usage. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. Webster: "You can. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' 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. 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. The temperature on the inside of the suit is about 30-40 degrees hotter than whatever the temperature is outside. He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. 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. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. 30 Second Answer. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. 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. That's really the payment. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. 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. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. 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. Dickey: "Big Al has a very unconventional suit. Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). "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. Q: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. How hot is it? First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. Why Is An Elephant Alabamas Mascot? ", VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security, PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader, 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. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of college football. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". You get better at it after a few months being in suit. He told Paige that several schools in the Southeastern Conference had obtained mascot costumes and proposed that the University of Alabama should get one as well. The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. In addition to being the live mascot at Crimson Tide football games, Big Al is also used in a number of other ways to represent the university. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. As the Crimson Tide does not feature a prominent logo on their helmets or uniforms, Big Al's likeness appears on much of the merchandise. He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. 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. Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant and the Asian elephant. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. That does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98 degrees. The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is one of the most recognizable symbols in college football. 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. "Coach Wade started his second team that was plenty big and they went right to their knitting scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against one of the best fighting small lines that I have seen. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? 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. That's just Big Al.' 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. So very rarely will you see Big Al on the sideline in Bryant-Denny during the third quarter because he's actually up in the boxes visiting people up there. In order to clear up the Bama faculty and staff's curiosity over the origin of the ever-present pachyderm, director emeritus of alumni affairs at the time, Jefferson Coleman, wrote a memo to legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant in 1977. So we have to pass a conditioning test to prove we have the athletic stamina to be Big Al. Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. The bigger ones go to the school.". "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. Can he throw a football? Our head is actually larger than most university mascots. The elephant is also very large, which makes it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away. 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.

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