All rights reserved. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The first shift is Quad. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. All these things and the game was at 2:30. 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.. 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. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. 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. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? 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. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? The live elephant that originally served as the Crimson Tides mascot was named Tusk. Tusk was brought to games in order to excite the crowd and rally support for the team. 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. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. So we have to pass a conditioning test to prove we have the athletic stamina to be Big Al. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". I don't know how else to put it.". It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. [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 ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. You have to go all the way back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama's elephant. The nickname stuck. We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. 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. 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. 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. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. That's just Big Al.' In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. That's when it really hit me. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding . Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. Photo courtesy of William Webster. Because those kids will be like, 'What? Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. He was just thick and tall. 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. Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. 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. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. We also have prop usage. The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. We had SEC Nation. He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's. So within that sort of height. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. 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.". Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. Can he throw a football? How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. The third quarter we do box visits. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. The first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al. That's really the payment. So Big Al wearing his white jersey is a part of that tradition. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. Since its inception in the early twentieth century, the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been a source of pride and joy for the teams fans. It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. 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. 2 Alabama the national title. Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. 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 has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people. Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. 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. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' Big Al was named by a student vote. 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. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . It just takes some practice, for sure. What gives? The tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? He's a very unconventional mascot in general. The Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls. ", 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. There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. We have to learn his signature, too. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. ", Webster: "I think it's on the website too but if a corporate company wants Big Al its $400 to the university. Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". I think that really helped me in the tryout, being more relaxed and not caring as much about the outcome and caring more about just having a good time, because that's what Big Al would wanna do. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. Drive back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama ( UA ), a spirit began. Do n't think. `` media and communications studies an amazing 24 straight games. Do anything questionable. `` started calling Alabama the Red elephants, and the next person gets the... We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we have to go all the back! 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