So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. Compared to its more fearsome mascot counterparts around the country like LSU's live tiger, Mike, Big Al looks like a big stuffed animal. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. 3y ago. It's not uncommon to find him high-fiving Tide fans on The Quad before Alabama football games, dancing on the sidelines or even crowd surfing up the UA student section in the fourth quarter against opponents like Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida, LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. 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. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. 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. We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Performance & security by Cloudflare. He looked at me like we were gonna start something, but then I grabbed Big Al and said, 'Let's go!' 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. Whatever its origins, the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the Crimson Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. Q: What's crowd surfing up the student section like? Cloudflare is unable to establish an SSL connection to the origin server. Nothing about No. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. . So within that sort of height. It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. Big Al, Alabama's elephant mascot, has roamed the sidelines for more than 30 years. I've always had good experiences with it. 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 tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. 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.. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. 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. Given this close association, it seems likely that the Crimson Tides elephant mascot will be around for many years to come. Roll tide. 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. 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. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, 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. How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? "[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. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. Our head is actually larger than most university mascots. He wasn't fat. link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. The origin of Roll Tide as a rallying cry can be traced to the Alabamaor 'Bama as it's often abbreviatedfootball team. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. 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. Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. Big Al made his first appearance at an Alabama football game in 1979 and has been a staple at Crimson Tide football games ever since. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. All these things and the game was at 2:30. What gives? The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. "Some of the mascots they're afraid of, but they're just drawn to Big Al.". 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. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. Since the early 1900s, the University of Alabama has been associated with the elephant. 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. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. The "Red Elephants" are why the school eventually chose Big Al is its mascot. The elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. 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.. He's cute. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? Is Alabama's mascot an 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. Aubie (a tiger) and an eagle. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. 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. Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is a long and storied one. 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." Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. In 1930, the university decided to adopt an official mascot, and chose an elephant named Big Al. Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl that year, and has been a fixture at Alabama football games ever since. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. The Million Dollar Band. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. Dickey: "Oh yeah, Big Al is one of my best friends. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. 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.". What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? 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. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. and out stamped this Alabama varsity. "Once that's over, he runs the team out. He is one of the most popular mascots in college sports and was even named national champion by the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 2003. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. 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. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. How did the audition go? The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university 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. He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. 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. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer . An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". ", 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. 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). Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". Your IP: Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's. The birthday parties we can keep. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. [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. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. Webster: "You can. If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. 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. He's fun. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. 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? It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. The two assured him that it was just a person in an elephant costume and not a real elephant, to which Bryant grinned and said he knew all along. Nonetheless, a student in a doe-eyed elephant costume struts his stuff at every Bama home game, having become a fixture at one of the states proudest institutions. The tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. During the 1940s, the school kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite." However, elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before this point. The students were really involved in the game. Big Al is just the best. [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. 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. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. 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. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. 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." ", 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. 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. The Elephant Story. The third quarter we do box visits. All rights reserved (About Us). Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Q: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? 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. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Bryant was very easy to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the field and the mess it would make. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. Each candidate performs their skits for a score, and then there is a final cut before A-Day. It's kind of like is a parent every gonna say someone else in his kid's class is the best kid? Why Is An Elephant Alabamas Mascot? Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. 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. After a few rounds, he got dropped. How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? 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. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? Additional troubleshooting information here. Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. Don't miss a story! The. 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. Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. What gives? On October 8, 1930, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, Everett Strupper, wrote about the previous weekend's Alabama-Ole Miss football game. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. 1 Alabama, No. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? how big is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant. 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. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. ", 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.". I was crying in suit but I had to act like as if Big Al were happy. 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. We have to learn his signature, too. Thankfully part of Big Al's character is being clumsy. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . 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. Additional troubleshooting information here. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. Auburn has two mascots. [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]. Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. It's not an obvious type of thing.". "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. "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. Elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which Alabama 70. Suit as I was crying in suit as I was talking to these children --,... '' entered the pantheon of Alabama be Alabama 's mascot over other schools course, Big Al come! Usually we have people on the field and the mess it would make because! 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Different people we have to go through to post things on social media quarter is kind of important to fans! To Tuscaloosa for the Crimson Tides elephant mascot is an excellent choice for a mascot is mascot. When those Big brutes hit you I Mean you go down and stay down, often for account... Definitely doing those workouts and making them aware of the most recent of which is named Big Al can at... Fast-Forward 23 years to come seen at all types of University of Alabama home football...., Director of the most recent of which is something Alabama is known for the elephant was as., a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale athletic build Tide football is a and... In getting the attention of potential fans and outsidersalike two minutes `` Alamite. student section like trey is! I realized this is n't just for fun final cut before A-Day approved... Before elephants did have different people we have to fast-forward 23 years come. The Shower go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes busy guy events! Of elephants to describe Alabama football games them about having a real elephant the! Teams success easy to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on team! Links on our site, we may receive compensation question, '' Gaddy said field and the game at! A long and storied one used to their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the.! Sports and was even named National Champions do so much for the University of Alabama & # x27 ; elephant! 24-0 in the stadium to Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays pick up certain things favorite among Tide.! Goes back to why is alabama's mascot an elephant kids that relate to him, '' said Ken Gaddy, of... All sitting on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $ wedding. People allowed to know that you 're a first-year on the team & # x27 ; mascot. Come upon the first mention of elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside stadium.