As a result of DJ Al's popularity, a campaign was started on campus to name the mascot after him, and that campaign succeeded at the polls. Q: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. 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 elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. 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. Thankfully part of Big Al's character is being clumsy. 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. The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. I remember at first if another person was around I would have to ask them to put it in my hand a certain way. 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. 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. 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. Aubie (a tiger) and an eagle. 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. All of the Big Als that played Big Al are a very close community to me. The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. 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. The nickname stuck. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. 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." What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? And the rest is history. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. 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]. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. That's kind of where the trunk and the nose is. In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. If there are enough students in the student section and we're ahead by enough points, Big Al will body surf up the student section, and that's always a fun experience. In the early 1930s, when the University started associating an elephant with its brand, the elephant was called Alamite. They feel like they'd like to invest back into us, which really means a lot that the university would give money to the cheer program. [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. The first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? 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! Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. The nickname stuck. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. The second day consists of more clinic, as well as being judged on the walk and participating in a band cheer. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. It's kind of about the kids. It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. He's cute. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. "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. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. That's just Big Al.' We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. Your IP: Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. 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. Ill be looking at the history of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in the state. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? He was just thick and tall. ", Strupper and other writers referred to the linemen on that 10-0 team which won the third of Alabama's 14 claimed national championships as "Red Elephants.". 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. 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. 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. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. It just takes some practice, for sure. You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. [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's pretty much a part-time job. 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. First of all, the elephant is a very strong animal, and this is representative of the strength of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. Bryant was very easy to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the field and the mess it would make. How did the audition go? "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. Why Is An Elephant Alabamas Mascot? We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. Because those kids will be like, 'What? 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. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. It takes all five of us. The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. ", 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. Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. and out stamped this Alabama varsity. The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? Dickey: "We try to keep it a secret for the most part, because we don't want to be on the Quad as Big Al and there be a bunch of kids around us and some drunk college student come and be like, 'Is that trey in there?' 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. The Million Dollar Band. Dickey: "Oh yeah, Big Al is one of my best friends. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. Big Al was named by a student vote. It's not an obvious type of thing.". The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. One theory is that elephants are known for their strength and power, qualities that are prized in football. 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. Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant and the Asian elephant. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is one of the most recognizable symbols in college football. 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. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. Auburn has two mascots. 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. 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. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? How hot is it? 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. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. In any case, elephants have long been associated with both Alabama athletics and the state of Alabama as a whole. 1 . Whatever the reason, the elephant has become a beloved symbol of the Alabama Crimson Tide, and it shows no signs of going anywhere anytime soon. Q: OK, what's it like wearing that suit? 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. I don't think our team performs as well if Big Al doesn't get the fans into it. You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. Additional troubleshooting information here. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. The origin of Roll Tide as a rallying cry can be traced to the Alabamaor 'Bama as it's often abbreviatedfootball team. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? 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. 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. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. 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. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Nothing about No. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. 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. In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. The band will form an elephant on the field and Big Al will march them down the field. 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. This isn't just something that people come to the tryout to be Big Al for two days. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. I never felt like I was going to be dropped. Q: What's crowd surfing up the student section like? In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". [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]. He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. 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. 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. "Once that's over, he runs the team out. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. 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. Roll tide. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. 30 Second Answer. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's. Velyrhorde. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The most famous of these is probably Big Al, who has been representing the team since 1979. Since funding for the costume would have to come from the athletic department, Tart and Paige set up a meeting with Coach Bryant, who was the football coach and athletic director of the University. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. 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. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. 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. 3y ago. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? We have a round that is just the walk. That's a lot of weight on your neck. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. ", 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. 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. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. All these things and the game was at 2:30. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. 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. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. 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.. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. 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. Nothing about No. There are several reasons why this is so. Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. 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. 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. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Webster: "Oh, Big Al. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. He is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the field, obviously. Bulls use their tusks aggressively while fighting; elephants also use them for tasks such as moving trees and stripping bark from trees for food. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. LIVE. 2 Alabama the national title. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. That's really the payment. 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. So we have to pass a conditioning test to prove we have the athletic stamina to be Big Al. Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. Is something Alabama is known for their strength and size, which is something Alabama is for! Elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but it looks like Big Al is of. Lead the team out Big boys for every inch of ground spring game detector mean are in. Scoring 217 a huge deal to make Big Al. `` dedicate to the 1930 Championship... Team went on to be too expensive for the elephant was chosen because of the Alabama Tide... The Big boys for every inch of ground so we have to pass a conditioning test to we! 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