The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. 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. 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. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? The third quarter we do box visits. One possibility is that it began as a joking reference to an 1890s incident in which an Birmingham Zoo elephant escaped and spent two weeks roaming around the city. 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 Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. By contacting the University of Kentucky and a few other schools, Tart discovered that their mascots were designed and constructed by the Walt Disney Company. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Each candidate performs their skits for a score, and then there is a final cut before A-Day. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The students were really involved in the game. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. 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. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. 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 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 Elephant Story. 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. Whatever its origins, the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the Crimson Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise. Later that afternoon, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts. In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. How hot is it? "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. 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? They play the Green Day song ["Basket Case"]. Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. 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. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. 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: "I think it's on the website too but if a corporate company wants Big Al its $400 to the university. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. It's pretty much a part-time job. 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. Given this close association, it seems likely that the Crimson Tides elephant mascot will be around for many years to come. 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. Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". We put people in suit for different rounds. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. While there is no official explanation for why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot, there are a few theories. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. 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. The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. It usually means they are about to get trampled. Q: I guess Big Al can't be too heavy then Webster: "Yeah, there was one year that this guy tried out who was 6-foot-7. In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? 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. how big is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. The expiration date on food is there for a reason. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. The tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. 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 an obvious type of thing.". But it would be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. 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. The Million Dollar Band. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. We both went to the tryout together. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. You get to make everyone's day. Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. . Dickey: "There definitely is. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. 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. It just takes some practice, for sure. Nothing about No. 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 is one of the most popular mascots in college sports and was even named national champion by the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 2003. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. At the time of the vote, there was a popular DJ on campus by the name of Al Brown, who DJ'd many of the largest campus parties, including those hosted by members of the football team. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. 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. Compared to its more fearsome mascot counterparts around the country like LSU's live tiger, Mike, Big Al looks like a big stuffed animal. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. Roll tide. Because those kids will be like, 'What? It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. 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. "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. The best experience I ever had as Big Al was when I was at a children's hospital. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. 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. 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. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. Additional troubleshooting information here. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of college football. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike. 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. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's, PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo, 'Bama's heroic effort in holding heavily favored Auburn to a 66 tie in a mud-soaked game, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,', Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle", kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? We'll take Big Al around the Quad, we'll drive him around and he'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating. The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. 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. 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. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. We had Good Morning America. 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. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. Thankfully I never had any problems with it. 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. 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. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. Webster: "It's fun. Do you trip a lot? With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. Your IP: What gives? 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. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. Whatever the reason, elephants have been associated with Alabama football for almost a century now, and shows no signs of going away any time soon. 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.". The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. 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 mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. There's pressure in doing the right thing and making sure Big Al is a positive image for the university, but it's also kind of relaxing having a good football team. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. Why Is An Elephant Alabamas Mascot? All these things and the game was at 2:30. We were up for all of those morning shows. He wasn't fat. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. Strupper wrote a story on October 8, 1930, describing Alabama's college football team after watching them pound Mississippi, 64-0, on October 4. Thankfully part of Big Al's character is being clumsy. Henry "Zipp" Newman, who became the sports editor of the Birmingham News at the age of 25, helped popularize the nickname. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size.". How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? It's relaxing. Although Big Al . We're not just some kid that's dressing up. Our head is actually larger than most university mascots. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. He's cute. 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. 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. 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. [Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security]. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. The second day consists of more clinic, as well as being judged on the walk and participating in a band cheer. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Auburn has two mascots. 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