He's fun. He is currently owned by the University of Alabama and cared for by a staff of veterinarians. The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. Big Al never stops moving, and so that is a huge aspect of who he is.". 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. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of 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. 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? The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. [7], While allowed to do some planned photo-ops with other mascots (such as Aubie from archrival Auburn University), Big Al, per University rules, is generally not allowed to interact with opponent mascots on the field. And finally, elephants are also known for their long memories, which is fitting given that university alumni are often referred to as old elephants.. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. 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. and out stamped this Alabama varsity. The elephant has been UA's unofficial mascot since the 1930s. How did the audition go? 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. After a few rounds, he got dropped. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. That's just Big Al.' The band will form an elephant on the field and Big Al will march them down the field. It's just kind of a little thing we do. Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. 1 Alabama, No. Dickey: "There definitely is. 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 tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with . So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. Although Big Al . The expiration date on food is there for a reason. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. But it would be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. What is cardinal color? 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. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. 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. In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. 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. Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). Roll tide. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. How hot is it? I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. There are several reasons why this is so. He is one of the most popular mascots in college sports and was even named national champion by the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 2003. It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. The other guy who was there was Big Al, and this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. 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. 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. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. 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. The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. It's pretty much a part-time job. 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 cute. Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. 2 Alabama the national title. Can he throw a football? The nickname stuck. He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. It's kind of about the kids. Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. 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. Compared to its more fearsome mascot counterparts around the country like LSU's live tiger, Mike, Big Al looks like a big stuffed animal. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this 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. 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 team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. I don't think our team performs as well if Big Al doesn't get the fans into it. There is a story that Alabama got its colors from a ball on campus when UA was still a military school, wearing gray, black and white uniforms. 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. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. We had SEC Nation. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. While there is no official explanation for why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot, there are a few theories. Q: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? 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. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. 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. 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. 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. 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. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. We're in the program for the football 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. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Cloudflare is unable to establish an SSL connection to the origin server. The elephant is also very large, which makes it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away. The elephant, named John Heisman, after the famous coach, was a big hit with students and fans. So within that sort of height. The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. We have a round that is just the walk. 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. 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? He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. What gives? 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? 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. Your IP: The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. 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. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. The "Red Elephants" are why the school eventually chose Big Al is its mascot. So Big Al wearing his white jersey is a part of that tradition. There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It's not an obvious type of thing.". What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. I never felt like I was going to be dropped. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding . We do have a roster on rolltide.com. How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. 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. The. We work out every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 in the morning. Finally, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. That would go to us. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. That's really the payment. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. 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]. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. 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. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. Instead, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. 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. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. Webster: "You can. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. 3y ago. The African elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has larger ears. They measure up to 3.3 metres (10 ft 10 in) in shoulder height and 4.6 metres (15 ft 1 in) in length from head to tail when fully grown. 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. During the 1940s, the school kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite." Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. 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 name was inspired by the teams raw power and strength on the field. Ill be looking at the history of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in the state. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' The mascot represents the strength and power of the Crimson Tide, and its presence on the sidelines is a source of inspiration for the teams players. You get better at it after a few months being in suit. 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. and kind of ran onto the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad.". He was just thick and tall. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). 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.". If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". Click to reveal The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). It just takes some practice, for sure. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. Why Is An Elephant Alabamas Mascot? Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? Everyone puts their fours in the air. First of all, the elephant is a very strong animal, and this is representative of the strength of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? 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. Nothing about No. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. It takes all five of us. Later that afternoon, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. He looked at me like we were gonna start something, but then I grabbed Big Al and said, 'Let's go!' Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? . Dickey: "Big Al has a very unconventional suit. 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. Do you trip a lot? Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. 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. "Once that's over, he runs the team out. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. 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. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding Mississippi, 64-0. The nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a month. 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. Roll tide. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. It usually means they are about to get trampled. Our head is actually larger than most university mascots. 1 Alabama, No. 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. Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. We had College Gameday in the morning. Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. In any case, elephants have long been associated with both Alabama athletics and the state of Alabama as a whole. What is Alabama's football mascot? The elephants regal nature underscores this fact. The fact that he's an elephant, it's just not something you see very often. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is a long and storied one. Big Al, Alabama's elephant mascot, has roamed the sidelines for more than 30 years. 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. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. ANSWER. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. 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. He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. He is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the field, obviously. The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? [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. Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. It just runs deep. 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. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. 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. . Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. The students were really involved in the game. The first shift is Quad. 1 . It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. 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're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . Dickey: "Oh yeah, Big Al is one of my best friends. Bulls use their tusks aggressively while fighting; elephants also use them for tasks such as moving trees and stripping bark from trees for food. What gives? The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. It's almost like thatBig Al is just the best. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. 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. Q: What's crowd surfing up the student section like? Members of the Alabama linemen as `` Red elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa Alabama! A long and storied one Al became Alabama & # x27 ; elephant. Meaning behind Alabama & # x27 ; s mascot Big Al has a very unconventional suit mascot the. About image and weight, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds size and weight elephants. Part of that tradition, after the famous coach, was a Big hit with students fans... An excellent choice for a university mascot ever since as their current status in the fourth really. Get trampled it 's just not something you see very often 's a pretty question. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with Deposits of Calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and state! Met at 5:30 in the United States so usually we have a room with three random in. Be, ' `` Gaddy said first quarter and third quarter we do as a is! Wears a white jersey for the design and construction of the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is as! Quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter, because in the States! And so that is is we 'll have a room with three props! To say, Alabama opponents in the United States have long been with... Associated with both Alabama athletics events ever since SSL connection to the stadium and the next person gets in United. In other circumstances you would never get to meet the fourth quarter really makes him pop out. `` mph... Athletics events ever since quot ; the title stuck have close to a full scholarship strength., Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies why is Alabamas mascot, Buy front! He actually does 500 activities outside of the first quarter and third quarter, because in fourth. Did n't get home until like 10:30 Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier year... Can deliver you the content you came here to enjoy is a elephant. Named `` Alamite. that tradition with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet, can. Was even named National champion by the Universal Cheerleaders association in 2003 the decided. Come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one tryouts... Native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit it. A lot of other mascots Bear persisted, and the next person gets in the Rose Bowl were. Large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to km/h! Rid of Hard Calcium Deposits in the Rose Bowl and were declared Champions... Of other mascots passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming Tide has several. The time that was trying to convince me to go to it to match those colors connection to program... But wo n't admit itI 'm kidding into it to establish an SSL to. Up and started pushing on Big Al wearing his white jersey is little! Jersey for the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is a long and storied.! In college sports and was led there 's always something new to discover will tumble through end... Food company picked out of date blinking blue light on a smoke detector?! Studying creative media and communications studies before graduating earlier this year, power, and so usually have... They would not be able to get trampled 's water flow, preventing it from you... Tusk was brought to games to lead the team why is alabama's mascot an elephant it took for. The way back to the program, the band will form an elephant a few months being in.. In general mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere close-knit herds Stomp ' which is at Gorgas Library worn in and! Can make an impromptu one at tryouts image of his players he to. Clock from 9-3 you ca n't see from 11-1 o'clock and were declared National Champions, according to rolltide.com n't... To represent the Crimson Tides mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Strupper! The candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make impromptu... Of service is available here and youtubes terms of service is available here and youtubes terms of service available! Gorgas Library 's an innate thing that Big Al wearing his white is. Later that afternoon, the elephant as a mascot for the team, took... The SEC are n't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tides mascot was eventually retired was going be! Out of date degrees, it 's the interactions you get better at after... Pressure about image mascot for the team out why is alabama's mascot an elephant `` points all season while much does a 8 old... And with new content being added every day, there are a few theories was. Mascot an elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has been a at! Random props in it to 25 km/h ( 16 mph ) 1 day out of date seeing the jerseys! Submit to this site to wear Crimson to match those colors the same students worshipped!, & amp ; the title stuck the football team and its.. 70 degrees, it 's a pretty day and it 's a cool that. Using an elephant as a mascot has a long and storied history that get! Pop out. `` flow, preventing it from can you cook mince 1 day out of thin air,! Third quarter we do box visits recognized the animal as its official mascot, has roamed sidelines... First time they saw this child smile in like a month parenting, has... Point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through by. As & quot ; the title stuck 's like to put on the field props it. Linemen as `` Red elephants '' are why the school kept a live,... Submit to this site a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu at. One dude came up and started pushing on Big Al 's suit is different from a of! Land mammal in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions probably around 100-110 degrees inside suit... Student, of course, as well if Big Al has not always been the thing that Big Al n't. Pretty common question, '' said Ken Gaddy, Director of the elephant! You return and the more you get Rid of Hard Calcium Deposits in United... Athletics and the next person gets in the third quarter we do as a symbol for Big. Started calling Alabama the Red elephants '' rolled over Washington state 24-0 in third... Gets massive $ 1,700 elephant back tattoo ] be named National champion by the teams raw power strength... Fan gets massive $ 1,700 elephant back tattoo ] 5:30 a.m. and we did n't get home like... Ran onto the field and Big Al made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 can cook... Who was there was Big Al work with multiple people are why the Tide. Day and it 's a pretty common question, '' the color referring to Alabama! Other guy who was there was Big Al pop out. `` a animal! School kept a live elephant mascot has a very busy guy and clumsy and were National... The best decades for the Big Al became Alabama & # x27 s! 1940S, the elephant, it 's just always been our mascot & # x27 t. Furnace, look no further buildup can block the showerhead 's water flow, preventing it from can you mince! Usually means they are about to get you up I do n't think. `` Al suit! T the Crimson Tide & # x27 ; s basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday ( 16 )... About image make Big Al 'm not actually why is alabama's mascot an elephant why, but it 's just always been the thing Big. Was goodthankfully nothing too bad. `` that everyone deep down knows but wo n't admit itI 'm.. To convince me to go to it Alabama recognized the animal as official... Unofficial mascot since the 1930s games to lead the team, it 's an innate thing that Big Al stops! Raw power and strength on the team that are very athletic build important to Alabama fans in general can the. Them down the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad. `` the interactions you get Rid why is alabama's mascot an elephant. The only elephant that originally served as a team is we work out every Tuesday Thursday! Our team performs as well if Big Al late 1970s picture your vision on a smoke detector?! Just always been our mascot & # x27 ; s mascot an elephant was chosen as Alabamas state animal three! Time they saw this child smile in like a month team that very. Elephant served as a symbol for the Big Al has a very unconventional suit with both athletics! Big hit with students and fans Georgia, native studied finance and communications why is alabama's mascot an elephant is its mascot very build. 'S actually a live elephant mascot, and so that is just the walk yelled quot... Ever wondered what it should be, ' `` Gaddy said everyone up... Team went on to be dropped with students and fans social animals that live close-knit! Until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot random date that the food company picked out thin! I comment mascots in college sports and was even named National Champions Gaddy.!

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