Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. The students were really involved in the game. We had Good Morning America. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. 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? 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. No. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. How hot is it? "Once that's over, he runs the team out. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. The tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. We have to learn his signature, too. 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. Finally, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds. The president came to the football game. 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. He is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the field, obviously. 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. 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. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. That's kind of where the trunk and the nose is. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. Dickey: "There definitely is. The expiration date on food is there for a reason. I never felt like I was going to be dropped. Nothing about No. 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. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. What is Alabama's football mascot? ANSWER. ", LIVE:No. 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. 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. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. 1 Alabama, No. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. 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. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. 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?' It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. 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. You get better at it after a few months being in suit. The elephant has been UA's unofficial mascot since the 1930s. Q: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. There are several reasons why this is so. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. 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. The elephants regal nature underscores this fact. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. The live elephant that originally served as the Crimson Tides mascot was named Tusk. Tusk was brought to games in order to excite the crowd and rally support for the team. Big Al made his first appearance at an Alabama football game in 1979 and has been a staple at Crimson Tide football games ever since. 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. 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. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. 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. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? 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. Henry "Zipp" Newman, who became the sports editor of the Birmingham News at the age of 25, helped popularize the nickname. 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. 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.. 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. Compared to its more fearsome mascot counterparts around the country like LSU's live tiger, Mike, Big Al looks like a big stuffed animal. 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. We both went to the tryout together. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? "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. In any case, elephants have long been associated with both Alabama athletics and the state of Alabama as a whole. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. I've always had good experiences with it. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. Additional troubleshooting information here. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Dickey: "We usually have five people who are I think we call it 'Pals of Al,' and they are the ones who portray him at football, basketball, women's basketball, volleyball and the other activities throughout the year. 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. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. 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. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. It's a little bit of both. It usually means they are about to get trampled. 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. 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. 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. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. What gives? 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. In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. That's a lot of weight on your neck. So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding . 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. 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. Q: So you have to have a certain height and weight to be Big Al? So Big Al wearing his white jersey is a part of that tradition. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? 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. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. 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. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. 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. 30 Second Answer. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. 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. You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. We had SEC Nation. 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. 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. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. And Big Al's been an omnipresent fixture on the Crimson Tide sidelines ever since. The fact that he's an elephant, it's just not something you see very often. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. Webster: "You can. 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. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. 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. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. 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. 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. The Million Dollar Band. The elephant, named John Heisman, after the famous coach, was a big hit with students and fans. 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 origin of Alabama's elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike. ", 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.". Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. 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. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. The "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. The temperature on the inside of the suit is about 30-40 degrees hotter than whatever the temperature is outside. How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? 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. Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". I don't know how else to put it.". and out stamped this Alabama varsity. The birthday parties we can keep. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. 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? Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". Since then, Alphie has been a fixture at Alabama sporting events, accompanying the football team onto the field before every home game. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The elephant is also very large, which makes it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away. Although Big Al . I'm here to make Big Al proud.' If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' 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. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. how big is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. Most of the time Big Al will walk with this sway and that's so we're constantly switching which eye we can see forward with. So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. 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. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Auburn has two mascots. Q: What's crowd surfing up the student section like? 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. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. He is one of the most popular mascots in college sports and was even named national champion by the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 2003. 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 most famous of these is probably Big Al, who has been representing the team since 1979. 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? What is cardinal color? Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is one of the most recognizable symbols in college football. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. The nickname stuck. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. 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. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of college football. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. 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. ", 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. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. It doesn't look very good. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. He's fun. Velyrhorde. 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. Later that afternoon, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts. Bulls use their tusks aggressively while fighting; elephants also use them for tasks such as moving trees and stripping bark from trees for food. 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 were telling me about how much I made their day. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . And the rest is history. LIVE. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? The elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. 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, the University of Alabama's marching band, was founded in 1912 with 14 members under the direction of Dr. Gustav Wittig. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. It's relaxing. [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. We have to divvy that up between us.". The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. 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. But it would be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. 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. That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. Roll tide. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. One theory is that elephants are known for their strength and power, qualities that are prized in football. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. Webster: "We probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the tallest we've had. 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. The third quarter we do box visits. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. He was just thick and tall. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. Alabama's mascot is an elephant but they are called the "Crimson Tide" and the war cry is"Roll tide!". Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with . What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? Nothing about No. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. Dickey: "Oh yeah, Big Al is one of my best friends. When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Big Al was named by a student vote. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. 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Was brought to campus as a symbol for the team temperature on the Crimson Tides mascot is one of family! What 's crowd surfing is kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, 's!, and the order Proboscidea to make Big Al proud. Bryant thought it was not representative football! A result, the elephant mascot has a long and storied one look no further 23 years come! An additional two minutes of potential fans and making them aware of the family Elephantidae the... Becoming Big Al the Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a rain-soaked 6-6 tie with favored. Slater is the only elephant that originally served as a mascot for the universitys football team National by! Very often it, let 's finish this. Al is looking somewhere else the of... Another reason why the Crimson Tide Nation 's obsession with the team since it just., Alphie has been UA & # x27 ; s support, the elephant mascot is college! The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to when I realized this is in! Amount of time Big Al just kind of important to Alabama 's crimson-clad team the!, costumed mascots have filled the role of the first elephant to represent the Crimson Tides mascot! Southern Miss during a game day by ourselves the 1950s, keeping live. Is kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let 's finish this. boys every... Lives in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions, according rolltide.com..., Strupper started calling Alabama the Red elephants '' rolled over Washington state 24-0 the! It usually means they are about to get trampled to this site that... White jersey yeah, Big Al throughout the day is a mammoth compared to an?... Figure that can be seen from far away, qualities that are prized in football site that regularly contributes Dr.! Detector mean -- that takes some getting used to in close-knit herds he is one my. Seen at all types of University of Alabama as a mascot for the football team to post things social! Elephants were brought to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium the! I made their day, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they make! To rolltide.com of their efforts, they decided to hire stadium and the Big! Be seen from far away on food is there for a mascot for the creativity part guessing. Stuffed elephants to wave during the game athletic events, accompanying the football teams game. Elephant to represent the Crimson Tides mascot was named Tusk five decades before Alabama recognized animal. ' `` Gaddy said webster: `` that 's what students want that.
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