Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. 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. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. We put people in suit for different rounds. Aubie (a tiger) and an eagle. It doesn't look very good. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? In addition to leading the football team onto the field before each game, Big Al also participates in community outreach programs and makes appearances at university functions. 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. Big Al is just the best. There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. No. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. It's almost like thatBig Al is just the best. The nickname stuck. The nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a month. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. 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. Webster: "It's fun. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is one of the most recognizable symbols in college football. The origin of Roll Tide as a rallying cry can be traced to the Alabamaor 'Bama as it's often abbreviatedfootball team. We're in the program for the football team. Additional troubleshooting information here. 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. It takes all five of us. He wasn't fat. 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. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. Henry "Zipp" Newman, who became the sports editor of the Birmingham News at the age of 25, helped popularize the nickname. So within that sort of height. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. 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. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. 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. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. And in the early 1960s, Alabama student Melford Espey went the extra mile and dressed up as the animal to cheer on his beloved team. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. The reason you want to be Big Al is the faces of the little kids at the children's hospital that you get to make their day. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. We had SEC Nation. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. Finally, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. The elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. We have a round that is just the walk. 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. 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 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. . He'll come out and do the fourth quarter things, the traditions. Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. If it's a close game he won't body surf, because we don't wanna count our chickens.". I was crying in suit but I had to act like as if Big Al were happy. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. Because those kids will be like, 'What? It usually means they are about to get trampled. He's cute. There are several reasons why this is so. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. 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. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. 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. 1 Alabama, No. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of college football. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. It just runs deep. [Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security]. Pregame, you're in charge of marching the band out on to the field. Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. 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. We don't have people that are very large, so making sure we have people who can be very animated with their full body movements is super important. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. According to the school, the relationship between elephants and University of Alabama football dates back to 1930, when Atlanta Journal sportswriter Everett Strupper relayed a story from an Alabama-Ole Miss game. Click to reveal 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." We had Good Morning America. 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. 3y ago. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. On October 8, 1930, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, Everett Strupper, wrote about the previous weekend's Alabama-Ole Miss football game. He's fun. 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. Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". The team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. 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. Being Big Al isn't as easy as it looks, however. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? Don't miss a story! It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. Each candidate performs their skits for a score, and then there is a final cut before A-Day. 2 Alabama the national title. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. [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]. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 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. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. 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. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Photo courtesy of William Webster. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. 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. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? 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. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. . 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? We have to learn his signature, too. ", 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. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. What gives? 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. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. Webster: "You can. "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. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. 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. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. 1 . The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. 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. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. 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. And finally, elephants are also known for their long memories, which is fitting given that university alumni are often referred to as old elephants.. It's something that people do for like a scholarship. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. 30 Second Answer. The "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. 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. 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. 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. The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. The Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls. The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Compared to its more fearsome mascot counterparts around the country like LSU's live tiger, Mike, Big Al looks like a big stuffed animal. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. 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. In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. 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. The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. Velyrhorde. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . He became Big Al in the spring of 2019 and is currently one of five students on the Big Al team. It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. The third quarter we do box visits. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. ", LIVE:No. He has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people. I never felt like I was going to be dropped. "[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. Nothing about No. 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. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? 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. Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. I've always had good experiences with it. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. Dickey: "My favorite gamewe lost the game. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. 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. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. How did the audition go? 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. It's a little bit of both. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? When she's not blogging or spending time with her family, you can usually find her rooting around in the garden or at the hardware store. In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? 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. A majority of the fan base is actually caring about the game, so you can focus on the little kids and the people who really want to see Big Al. 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. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark 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 Million Dollar Band. Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. 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. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. 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. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? "Some of the mascots they're afraid of, but they're just drawn to Big Al.". He looked at me like we were gonna start something, but then I grabbed Big Al and said, 'Let's go!' Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. That's when it really hit me. When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. What gives? What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. 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. 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