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. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. 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. 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. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. 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. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. 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). link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? All rights reserved. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. 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 was definitely the most challenging event, but it was definitely the most rewarding because I think I got the most out of that one. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. So we have to pass a conditioning test to prove we have the athletic stamina to be Big Al. Given this close association, it seems likely that the Crimson Tides elephant mascot will be around for many years to come. Since then, Alphie has been a fixture at Alabama sporting events, accompanying the football team onto the field before every home game. An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. We both went to the tryout together. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. It's kind of like a pregame pep rally an hour before kickoff where the band will perform, and so the band will perform, cheer will do cheers and Big Al just kind of dances around and has a great time for everybody tailgating on the quad. How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. The origin of Roll Tide as a rallying cry can be traced to the Alabamaor 'Bama as it's often abbreviatedfootball team. 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. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". The students were really involved in the game. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. 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. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. 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." During the 1979 season, after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Big Al made his first appearance alongside the Crimson Tide. Webster: "We probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the tallest we've had. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. 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 John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. [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. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. 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. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. Why is Alabama's mascot "Big Al" an elephant, you ask? "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. 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. 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. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. The "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. [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. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. Performance & security by Cloudflare. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? The elephant in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with No. 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. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. 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. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football 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. Webster: "You can. All of the Big Als that played Big Al are a very close community to me. Each candidate performs their skits for a score, and then there is a final cut before A-Day. This is where they are scored for going in public in a non-athletic event setting and interacting with the public. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. 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. Your IP: It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. It just runs deep. He wasn't fat. Photo courtesy of William Webster. Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. 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 maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". We had SEC Nation. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. 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. Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. 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. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer . 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. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. 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. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. As the Crimson Tide does not feature a prominent logo on their helmets or uniforms, Big Al's likeness appears on much of the merchandise. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. We have a round that is just the walk. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. It doesn't look very good. Additional troubleshooting information here. Q: What's crowd surfing up the student section like? Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Auburn has two mascots. In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. Later that afternoon, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts. Q: So you have to have a certain height and weight to be Big Al? Whatever its origins, the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the Crimson Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise. All rights reserved (About Us). They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. 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. We were up for all of those morning shows. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . 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. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. 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.". The band will form an elephant on the field and Big Al will march them down the field. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Q: OK, what's it like wearing that suit? 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. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. You have to go all the way back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama's elephant. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. 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. 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. "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.". He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. Females carry their young for a gestation period of 22 months; calves are fully weaned at around 36 years old but remain closely associated with their mothers until around 10 years old. He became Big Al in the spring of 2019 and is currently one of five students on the Big Al team. Webster: "It's fun. 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 was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? Big Al was named by a student vote. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. You won't know what the props are beforehand. LIVE. The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. You get to make everyone's day. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. [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. What is Alabama's football mascot? 2 Alabama the national title. No. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? But it would be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. We'll take Big Al around the Quad, we'll drive him around and he'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. 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. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. 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