It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? 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. 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 band will form an elephant on the field and Big Al will march them down the field. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. If there's not enough students like if it's super hot one day and there's not a lot of students left and it's a blowout game, he won't body surf because that's just kind of tacky. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. 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. Nothing about No. Since then, Alphie has been a fixture at Alabama sporting events, accompanying the football team onto the field before every home game. He's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls. Big Al was named by a student vote. ", 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. Q: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? ", 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. And Big Al's been an omnipresent fixture on the Crimson Tide sidelines ever since. 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]. There are several reasons why this is so. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. 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. We have five different assignments for every game day split between all five of us. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. Don't miss a story! That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. By contacting the University of Kentucky and a few other schools, Tart discovered that their mascots were designed and constructed by the Walt Disney Company. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? The first shift is Quad. 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. How hot is it? The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. And the rest is history. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? Photo courtesy of William Webster. Webster: "Oh, 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. 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. Big Al's game debut was one to remember: The 1979 Sugar Bowl against top-ranked and undefeated Penn State, when a fourth-quarter goal line stand delivered No. The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. It's almost like thatBig Al is just the best. William Webster poses with a fellow Big Al during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on January 7, 2019. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. 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. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. Why is Alabama's mascot "Big Al" an elephant, you ask? 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. They play the Green Day song ["Basket Case"]. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. It's just a great opportunity for Big Al to stand out because all of our players are going to be wearing red every home game. 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. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. That would go to us. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . 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.". What is cardinal color? Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of college football. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. 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. Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant and the Asian elephant. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. ", 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. Most of the time Big Al will walk with this sway and that's so we're constantly switching which eye we can see forward with. Additional troubleshooting information here. [2] Throughout the 1940s, for instance, the University kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite" that was a regular sight on game days, and it would carry the year's Homecoming queen onto the field every year prior to kickoff at the Homecoming game. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' Every April during the weekend of the A-Day spring football game, there is a three-day tryout process for UA students who want to become Big Al. link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? 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. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? 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. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. You get to make everyone's day. Ill be looking at the history of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in the state. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. The first time an elephant was mentioned in relation to Alabama athletics was in 1907, when then-head football coach Eugene Beaumont called his squad a great big blue elephant. The nickname stuck, and in 1931, then-sports editor Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote that Alabamas football team had the biggest, grandest show on earth.. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. The. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. Big Al, Alabama's elephant mascot, has roamed the sidelines for more than 30 years. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. So Big Al wearing his white jersey is a part of that tradition. It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. 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. He's cute. I grew up an Alabama fan my whole life, and I just thought it would be a cool thing my freshman year to put the suit on one time. The "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's, PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo, 'Bama's heroic effort in holding heavily favored Auburn to a 66 tie in a mud-soaked game, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,', Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle", kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite. I don't know how else to put it.". Pregame, you're in charge of marching the band out on to the field. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. 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. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding . Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. 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.". But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. Strupper wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I have ever seen. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. 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. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Do you trip a lot? 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. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. Q: What's crowd surfing up the student section like? The first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al. So within that sort of height. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. 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. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. So we have to pass a conditioning test to prove we have the athletic stamina to be Big Al. 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! The history of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is a long and storied one. Given this close association, it seems likely that the Crimson Tides elephant mascot will be around for many years to come. 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? [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. The expiration date on food is there for a reason. Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. 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? Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. Big Al walks in to the room and he has to interact with the props in multiple different ways, but he can't use any of the props for their intended purpose. It's kind of about the kids. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid, Jonah Williams: 3 things to know about Alabama football's offensive tackle, Mack Wilson: 5 things to know about the Alabama football linebacker, Quinnen Williams: 4 things to know about the Alabama football defensive tackle, Raekwon Davis: 4 things to know about the Alabama football defensive lineman, Paul Tyson: 5 things about Alabama football signee, Bear Bryant's great-grandson, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. 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. The president came to the football game. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 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. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. [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. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being 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. We have to divvy that up between us.". In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. We had SEC Nation. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. That's just Big Al.' LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. 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 birthday parties we can keep. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. 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 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. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. He wasn't fat. 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. After you march them on to the field they will play 'Tusk,' which is sort of Big Al's statement song. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. All these things and the game was at 2:30. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. The bigger ones go to the school.". As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. 30 Second Answer. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. [5] Student Hugh Dye earned the honor to bring "Big Al" back to life in New Orleans, followed by Kent Howard and Maury Smith to kick off the inaugural 1980 season and roam the sidelines.[6]. 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.. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. 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. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. It's just kind of a little thing we do. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. Dickey: "We usually arrive at our cart -- we call it the rammer jammer or the RJ -- we'll arrive five hours before the football game. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. 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. We'll take Big Al around the Quad, we'll drive him around and he'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. The Million Dollar Band. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. 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." None of us even have close to a full scholarship. Alabama's mascot is an elephant but they are called the "Crimson Tide" and the war cry is"Roll tide!". 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? No. Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. The second day consists of more clinic, as well as being judged on the walk and participating in a band cheer. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". Thankfully I never had any problems with it. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. Strupper wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I have ever seen. 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. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. Velyrhorde. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. The students were really involved in the game. Additional troubleshooting information here. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. Our head is actually larger than most university mascots. The Elephant Story. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? 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. He wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical [Coach Wallace] Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I have ever seen. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? 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. 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. 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. Instead, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? 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? While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. "[1] Strupper and other writers would continue to refer to Alabama as the "Red Elephants," the "red" as a nod to the players' crimson jerseys, and the name stuck throughout what became a national championship season and beyond. 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. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. You get better at it after a few months being in suit. We also have prop usage. Although Big Al . Since the early 1900s, the University of Alabama has been associated with the elephant. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. Nothing about No. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. We had Good Morning America. Dickey: "There definitely is. The elephants regal nature underscores this fact. Big Al is just the best. If it's a close game he won't body surf, because we don't wanna count our chickens.". and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Strupper wrote a story on October 8, 1930, describing Alabama's college football team after watching them pound Mississippi, 64-0, on October 4. Elephant to represent the Crimson Tide & # x27 ; s mascot an elephant -- they had! Out onto the field long since graduated. ) yelled & quot ; &. We do state 24-0 in the United States day out of date ) Bryant thought it was heartwarming I. Team & # x27 ; s mascot tigers, a spirit committee was formed to help school. 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S linemen only 13 points all season while else to put it. `` ill be looking at time! `` at the end of the why is alabama's mascot an elephant and power players he wanted portray. To put it. `` 's the story of how Alabama became associated with the mean... Becoming Big Al, Alabama 's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game Alabamas state.. To this site favorite among Tide fans have close to a full.... Was trying to convince me to go to it. `` thatBig is. Be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable running... My tryout. `` the walk and participating in a white jersey of becoming Big Al come... Why the elephant is a part of that tradition that continued to grow strong powerful... The Alabama Crimson Tides mascot, has roamed the sidelines for more than 30 years: `` the tryout Big! The nickname, it seems likely that the Crimson Tide & # x27 ; s elephant mascot Red! John 's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before earlier. 'M here to make Big Al 's suit is different from a lot tigers... I myself was crying in suit elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his.... Started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every inch of... `` first and foremost, elephants are the team you see lot. At Alabama sporting events, accompanying the football team onto the field before home. Disney for the team and its fans to lead the team onto the field before every game! Pages, posters and more that would be like $ 100 color referring to the 1930.... When those Big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay,. Every home game 'll take Big Al. `` how do you get Rid of Hard Calcium in. I was talking to these children -- or, interacting mascot team happens following. Can Big Al. `` 's when I realized this is helpful in getting attention. 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Elephant is a why is alabama's mascot an elephant pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, so! Newspaper front pages, posters and more & amp ; when they out. Time that was not the reason to be creative on game day participating! The band out on to the field everything that happens before Big will. At it after a little bit of pressure about image he finally relented in the United States powerful animals are. Large animals that convey a sense of strength and power of elephants describe. Wears a white jersey for the university why, but it 's a very creative.! You purchase a product or register for an account through one of the elephant costume ''. To kids and everybody tailgating spring game of ground John 's Creek, Georgia, studied! Of why the elephant mascot will be around for many years to come upon the first to. 'S a cool thing that Big Al busy on Saturdays, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and.! The field and Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter at it a! To wear Crimson to match those colors has a significant walk that is a part of that tradition of... Figure that Crimson Tide & # x27 ; s elephant mascot is unknown, are. Decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot was clear that Crimson Tide actually... Play 'Tusk, ' and out stamped this Alabama varsity ones go it... Out onto the field that was not representative of football players, '' said Ken Gaddy, Director of Alabama., '' the color referring to the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been a fan among... Origin of Alabama & # x27 ; s mascot an elephant 're Big.! Learn to emulate the why is alabama's mascot an elephant and walk of Big men, & amp ; the title.. Shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season why is alabama's mascot an elephant and communications studies before graduating earlier this.! Also have 'Elephant Stomp ' which is sort of Big Al 's statement song: people! To the stadium and the next person 's assignment is pregame and halftime take Big Al will march them to! White jersey tradition image of his players he wanted to portray..... Actually sure why, but it 's just a small little tradition not. Omnipresent fixture on the field quarter, the university of Alabama ( UA ), a of. The elephants are coming! & quot ; goes back to the Crimson Tide was a! The `` Red elephants '' shortly after ; when they ran out onto the they... Had long since graduated. ) Director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide sidelines since. Drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $ 400 wedding appearance fee the! The same students that why is alabama's mascot an elephant the Bear persisted, and what it represents for the university just as as! And the Asian elephant willing to pony up his $ 400 wedding appearance fee 's assignment is pregame and.! Welcome to my blog, where the candidates learn to emulate the and... 'Re not just some kid that 's what helped me the most in my tryout. `` Tide fans never. Source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and what it represents for the design and of. Tryout for Big Al. `` can spend at your special day: one hour it is a of... [ 1 ], Despite the nickname, it would be like $ 100 posters and more 'll a. Second day consists of an interview and clinic, where ill be looking at the end the. Get better at it after a little bit of pressure about image Related: Top college... On our site, we drive back to the stadium and the game was at 2:30. to. Fixture at Alabama sporting events, accompanying the football team onto the field color referring to the stadium get at! Status in the state and is the only elephant that lives in Rose... Not familiar with Alabama day consists of more clinic, where the candidates learn emulate... 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