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. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. 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. So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. Premo-Porretta national championship in bold, "The story behind Alabama's elephant mascot", "Espey was one of UA's most loyal alumni", "Original Big Al Costume Moved to UA's Bryant Museum University of Alabama News", "Original Big Al costume added to Paul W. Bryant Museum", "10 Questions with Crimson Tide Mascot Big Al", College of Communication and Information Sciences, Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_Al_(mascot)&oldid=1118445329, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 October 2022, at 01:50. 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. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. The first shift is Quad. The Crimson Tide's mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. So within that sort of height. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. I don't know how else to put it.". The. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. 30 Second Answer. Big Al was named by a student vote. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. 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. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. 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. Ill be looking at the history of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in the state. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. What gives? Nothing about No. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. 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 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. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. Thankfully I never had any problems with it. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. No. 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. And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. 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. [Related: PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader]. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The president came to the football game. [7], While allowed to do some planned photo-ops with other mascots (such as Aubie from archrival Auburn University), Big Al, per University rules, is generally not allowed to interact with opponent mascots on the field. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". 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. 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. That's when it really hit me. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. I don't think our team performs as well if Big Al doesn't get the fans into it. Since the early 1900s, the University of Alabama has been associated with the elephant. 1 Alabama, No. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. 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. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Aubie (a tiger) and an eagle. 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. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's. 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. It just takes some practice, for sure. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. The nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a month. 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. 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. The elephant, named John Heisman, after the famous coach, was a big hit with students and fans. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!' Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. Alabama's mascot is an elephant but they are called the "Crimson Tide" and the war cry is"Roll tide!". In the early 1930s, when the University started associating an elephant with its brand, the elephant was called Alamite. Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". Q: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. But when I tell you it was the coolest environment that I've ever seen in Bryant-Denny Stadium with the lights flashing and it being a close game. 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. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. 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." 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. The fact that he's an elephant, it's just not something you see very often. One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. The biggest thing to look for in someone who wants to be a Big Al is are they creative enough to think on the spot and are they animated enough? Webster: "We probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the tallest we've had. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This isn't just something that people come to the tryout to be Big Al for two days. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. The man who Bryant tasked with spearheading Big Al's creation was none other than Espey, who by that time was working as an Alabama administrator. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. 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! He looked at me like we were gonna start something, but then I grabbed Big Al and said, 'Let's go!' The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. 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. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. 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. All of the Big Als that played Big Al are a very close community to me. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. Nothing about No. 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. 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. 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 Million Dollar Band. 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. ", Webster: "I think it's on the website too but if a corporate company wants Big Al its $400 to the university. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. Dickey: "Big Al has a very unconventional suit. Adult elephants typically weigh 57 tonnes (5,0007,000 kg), although some males have been recorded at up to 12 tonnes (12,000 kg). It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. 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. The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. That's a lot of weight on your neck. There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. Don't miss a story! He is known for his enthusiastic pers. It's just kind of a little thing we do. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. The elephant is also very large, which makes it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. 1 Alabama, No. 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. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. 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. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. It's relaxing. He'll come out and do the fourth quarter things, the traditions. 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. ", VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security, PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader, PHOTO: Passed out Georgia football fan becomes infamous, Alabama fans' family portrait includes baby as football, PHOTOS: Top 10 ugliest college football helmets ever, WAGS of college football players ft. USC's Matt Barkley, PHOTOS: Insane H.S. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. 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. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss 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. First of all, the elephant is a very strong animal, and this is representative of the strength of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. It's a little bit of both. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. Velyrhorde. 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. 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.". We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. Henry "Zipp" Newman, who became the sports editor of the Birmingham News at the age of 25, helped popularize the nickname. Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. 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). 1 . You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. All these things and the game was at 2:30. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. 2 Alabama the national title. 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. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? 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?' 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.. That's really the payment. 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