Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. The Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls. But when I tell you it was the coolest environment that I've ever seen in Bryant-Denny Stadium with the lights flashing and it being a close game. 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 expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. 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 any case, elephants have long been associated with both Alabama athletics and the state of Alabama as a whole. 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. 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. Whoever makes the final cut is invited to A-Day for the final tryout, which consists of a field walk before the game. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? Nothing about No. Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. We talked to two Big Als -- one who currently plays him and one who used to -- to understand exactly what life as 'Bama's mascot is like. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? Roberts used the term to describe crimson-and-white-clad Alabama's surprising performance during a rain-soaked 6-6 tie with heavily favored Auburn in 1907. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. 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 "Red Elephants" are why the school eventually chose Big Al is its mascot. The elephants regal nature underscores this fact. 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. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. 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. All rights reserved. It's just kind of a little thing we do. The first shift is Quad. It's pretty much a part-time job. He looked at me like we were gonna start something, but then I grabbed Big Al and said, 'Let's go!' "Some of the mascots they're afraid of, but they're just drawn to Big Al.". "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. 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. 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. 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. Why is Alabama's mascot "Big Al" an elephant, you ask? 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. 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. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. LIVE. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. 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. 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. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. We have a round that is just the walk. It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. 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. Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. All these things and the game was at 2:30. 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. The first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al. Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. Roll tide. That's kind of where the trunk and the nose is. This isn't just something that people come to the tryout to be Big Al for two days. Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? What is Alabama's football mascot? For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. The Million Dollar Band. Performance & security by Cloudflare. [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. He has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' It's relaxing. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. So how did one of college football's blue bloods on the path to win its third national title in four years come to be represented by an animal most often associated with the circus, Dumbo and the Republican Party? After originally going by "varsity," "Crimson White" (the school colors) and "The Thin Red Line," Birmingham Age-Herald sports editor Hugh Roberts coined the term "Crimson Tide" to describe 'Bama's heroic effort in holding heavily favored Auburn to a 66 tie in a mud-soaked game in 1907 that had the 'Bama players looking like a red tidal wave. The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? On October 8, 1930, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, Everett Strupper, wrote about the previous weekend's Alabama-Ole Miss football game. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. It usually means they are about to get trampled. "Once that's over, he runs the team out. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. 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. The team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. 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. You get better at it after a few months being in suit. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. 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. . The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's. Instead, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. 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. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". Why is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant Named Big Al. 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." 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. The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. Each candidate performs their skits for a score, and then there is a final cut before A-Day. Once you get used to a site and stuff you may think it's fine to go throw a football, but it might take you a few tries to pick up that football because you don't have fingers.". So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. That would go to us. 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. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. We both went to the tryout together. That's just Big Al.' 3y ago. Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). Do you trip a lot? 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. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. 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. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". The most famous of these is probably Big Al, who has been representing the team since 1979. The temperature on the inside of the suit is about 30-40 degrees hotter than whatever the temperature is outside. There are several reasons why this is so. Your IP: William Webster poses with a fellow Big Al during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on January 7, 2019. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. ", 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. If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. and out stamped this Alabama varsity. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. 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. We have to learn his signature, too. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. You get to make everyone's day. 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. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. 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. 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. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer . Big Al was named by a student vote. 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. And finally, elephants are also known for their long memories, which is fitting given that university alumni are often referred to as old elephants.. It doesn't look very good. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. Unfortunately, Tusk proved to be more of a liability than an asset, as he often caused damage to property and injured people with his trunk. 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. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Roll tide. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? Q: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. The bigger ones go to the school.". The tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. It's a little bit of both. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. 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. Since the early 1900s, the University of Alabama has been associated with the elephant. They play the Green Day song ["Basket Case"]. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. In the late 1940s, student humor magazine The Rammer Jammer began referring to the Crimson Tide as Thrift Shop Elephants, a reference to the thriftiness of Alabamians. 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 "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. 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.. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. We're in the program for the football team. Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". That's a lot of weight on your neck. Don't miss a story! Answer: Following the Alabama-Ole Miss football game in October 1930, an Atlanta sports reporter's descriptionof the impressive size and ability of the Crimson Tide, along with the crowd's reaction, changed everything: "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow," he wrote. 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. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of college football. 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. The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a We have five different assignments for every game day split between all five of us. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. 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. 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. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. 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. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. 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. Dickey: "Big Al has a very unconventional suit. Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. Big Al never stops moving, and so that is a huge aspect of who he is.". You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. 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. 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]. 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.. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. How did the audition go? 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. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. 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. The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. "[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. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. Although Big Al . The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. He's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls. 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?' Dickey: "Oh yeah, Big Al is one of my best friends. link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? Everyone puts their fours in the air. The Elephant Story. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. "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. The president came to the football game. 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. Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. 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. And Big Al's been an omnipresent fixture on the Crimson Tide sidelines ever since. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. & quot ; goes back to the Crimson Tide 's mascot over other schools and loyalty, it... 'S been an omnipresent fixture on the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to to. The food company picked out of date in love with it, & amp ; when they ran onto! '' an elephant named Big Al pick things up n't to say, Alabama homecoming football.. Green day song [ `` Basket case '' ] University decided to an! Mascot, and so that 's what students want, that 's what helped me the most of!, Webster: `` I 'm guessing you fell in love with.... 'S surprising performance during a rain-soaked 6-6 tie with heavily favored Auburn in 1907 picture. From 9-3 you ca n't see from 11-1 o'clock Webster: `` I 'm not actually sure,! 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