why is alabama's mascot an elephant
[3], In the early 1960s, Melford Espey, Jr., then a student, was the first to wear an elephant head costume to portray the Crimson Tide's unofficial mascot. 30 Second Answer. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Each candidate performs their skits for a score, and then there is a final cut before A-Day. 1 . 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. It doesn't look very good. 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. It's something that people do for like a scholarship. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. 3y ago. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a Because those kids will be like, 'What? Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. It usually means they are about to get trampled. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. 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. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' Compared to its more fearsome mascot counterparts around the country like LSU's live tiger, Mike, Big Al looks like a big stuffed animal. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. 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 "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 167.114.26.66 Aubie (a tiger) and an eagle. 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. One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. "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.". From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. 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. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. 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. Later that afternoon, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. They always get us to the top.". It just takes some practice, for sure. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. 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 "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. The Million Dollar Band. 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. Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. It's not an obvious type of thing.". Additional troubleshooting information here. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. He has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people. The fact that he's an elephant, it's just not something you see very often. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. First of all, the elephant is a very strong animal, and this is representative of the strength of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. The best experience I ever had as Big Al was when I was at a children's hospital. It's kind of about the kids. 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.. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. It's just kind of a little thing we do. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. 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. 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. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. All these things and the game was at 2:30. In order to clear up the Bama faculty and staff's curiosity over the origin of the ever-present pachyderm, director emeritus of alumni affairs at the time, Jefferson Coleman, wrote a memo to legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant in 1977. The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. ", 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. He is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the field, obviously. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. It's pretty much a part-time job. 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. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. We had Good Morning America. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. 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. [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. And Big Al's been an omnipresent fixture on the Crimson Tide sidelines ever since. 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. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. [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. 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. 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. Bulls use their tusks aggressively while fighting; elephants also use them for tasks such as moving trees and stripping bark from trees for food. Henry "Zipp" Newman, who became the sports editor of the Birmingham News at the age of 25, helped popularize the nickname. He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. There's actually not as much attention on Big Al because of how good our program is, which is kind of nice in a way, because not everybody is relying on Big Al. 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. That would go to us. 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 nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? The African elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has larger ears. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. The origin of Roll Tide as a rallying cry can be traced to the Alabamaor 'Bama as it's often abbreviatedfootball team. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". 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. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. Big Al, Alabama's elephant mascot, has roamed the sidelines for more than 30 years. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant and the Asian elephant. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is a long and storied one. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. and kind of ran onto the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad.". 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. 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. So whether you're looking for guidance on how to make your home more energy efficient or just want some inspiration for dinner tonight, be sure to check out Arew! 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. 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. 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]. The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. Whoever makes the final cut is invited to A-Day for the final tryout, which consists of a field walk before the game. I don't know how else to put it.". Q: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? 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. Nothing about No. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. Dickey: "There definitely is. There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. 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. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". 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. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow," wrote Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal when describing the Tide's domination of Ole Miss on Oct. 8, 1930. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. That's kind of where the trunk and the nose is. 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. Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. ANSWER. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. The. 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. 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 never stops moving, and so that is a huge aspect of who he is.". 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. In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. 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. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? For example, it paints them red to hide in the cherry tree or red, green, yellow and purple to hide in the jelly bean jar! So what took so long for the Alabama administration to adopt the animal as the school's official mascot? "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. 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. 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. There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. Why is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant Named Big Al. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Pregame, you're in charge of marching the band out on to the field. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. You have to go all the way back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama's elephant. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. . It just runs deep. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? 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. That's just Big Al.' Webster: "It's fun. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. We have to learn his signature, too. He told Paige that several schools in the Southeastern Conference had obtained mascot costumes and proposed that the University of Alabama should get one as well. Additional troubleshooting information here. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. 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. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? You won't know what the props are beforehand. All rights reserved. In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. 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. Nothing about No. 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. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. Q: OK, what's it like wearing that suit? Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. 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. So we have to pass a conditioning test to prove we have the athletic stamina to be Big Al. 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. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. ", Strupper and other writers referred to the linemen on that 10-0 team which won the third of Alabama's 14 claimed national championships as "Red Elephants.". That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. 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. In addition to leading the football team onto the field before each game, Big Al also participates in community outreach programs and makes appearances at university functions. The elephant is also very large, which makes it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? Auburn has two mascots. 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. The first shift is Quad. 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. The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. That does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98 degrees. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. Click to reveal 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. 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. Nonetheless, a student in a doe-eyed elephant costume struts his stuff at every Bama home game, having become a fixture at one of the states proudest institutions. Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. One of the most recognizable mascots in all of sports, the elephant has been associated with the University of Alabamas Crimson Tide since the late 19th century. In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. In any case, elephants have long been associated with both Alabama athletics and the state of Alabama as a whole. I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? 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. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. ", Webster: "I think it's on the website too but if a corporate company wants Big Al its $400 to the university. Do you trip a lot? How hot is it? In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. 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. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. The most famous of these is probably Big Al, who has been representing the team since 1979. He looked at me like we were gonna start something, but then I grabbed Big Al and said, 'Let's go!' 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.. No. The nickname stuck. So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. We put people in suit for different rounds. Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. Q: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. The nickname stuck. The elephant, named John Heisman, after the famous coach, was a big hit with students and fans. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. Given this close association, it seems likely that the Crimson Tides elephant mascot will be around for many years to come. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. 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. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. The elephant in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with No. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. 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