What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. The origin of Roll Tide as a rallying cry can be traced to the Alabamaor 'Bama as it's often abbreviatedfootball team. 30 Second Answer. 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. 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.. 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. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. So within that sort of height. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. 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. 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 was a regular on gamedays, and for several years it would carry that year's homecoming queen onto the field prior to the game. That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. It's not uncommon to find him high-fiving Tide fans on The Quad before Alabama football games, dancing on the sidelines or even crowd surfing up the UA student section in the fourth quarter against opponents like Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida, LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas. 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. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. 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. 3y ago. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? 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. The elephant has been UA's unofficial mascot since the 1930s. I don't know how else to put it.". The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. 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. The name was inspired by the teams raw power and strength on the field. 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. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It just takes some practice, for sure. 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 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. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. We were up for all of those morning shows. He wasn't fat. 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. Cloudflare is unable to establish an SSL connection to the origin server. We had SEC Nation. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. What gives? ", 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.". Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. You get to make everyone's day. Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. [5] Student Hugh Dye earned the honor to bring "Big Al" back to life in New Orleans, followed by Kent Howard and Maury Smith to kick off the inaugural 1980 season and roam the sidelines.[6]. How did the audition go? It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. 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. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. 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. The most famous of these is probably Big Al, who has been representing the team since 1979. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. He was just thick and tall. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. After you march them on to the field they will play 'Tusk,' which is sort of Big Al's statement song. 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. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. LIVE. The nickname stuck. Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". 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. Big Al was named by a student vote. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. The "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray." The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. 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. The Elephant Story. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. The first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al. 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 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. 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. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. 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. 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. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? 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. 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. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? Q: What's crowd surfing up the student section like? Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. We also have prop usage. Whoever makes the final cut is invited to A-Day for the final tryout, which consists of a field walk before the game. It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. 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? 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! It usually means they are about to get trampled. Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. Because those kids will be like, 'What? 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. Strupper wrote a story on October 8, 1930, describing Alabama's college football team after watching them pound Mississippi, 64-0, on October 4. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. and kind of ran onto the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad.". We both went to the tryout together. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid, Jonah Williams: 3 things to know about Alabama football's offensive tackle, Mack Wilson: 5 things to know about the Alabama football linebacker, Quinnen Williams: 4 things to know about the Alabama football defensive tackle, Raekwon Davis: 4 things to know about the Alabama football defensive lineman, Paul Tyson: 5 things about Alabama football signee, Bear Bryant's great-grandson, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. Do you trip a lot? Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. It's relaxing. 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. 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 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. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? . Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? 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. The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. 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. It takes all five of us. "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.". 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 could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. The nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a month. Roll tide. 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. Alabama's mascot is an elephant but they are called the "Crimson Tide" and the war cry is"Roll tide!". The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. "[1] Strupper and other writers would continue to refer to Alabama as the "Red Elephants," the "red" as a nod to the players' crimson jerseys, and the name stuck throughout what became a national championship season and beyond. That's when it really hit me. Photo courtesy of William Webster. Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. Being Big Al isn't as easy as it looks, however. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 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. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. 2 Alabama the national title. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. Bulls use their tusks aggressively while fighting; elephants also use them for tasks such as moving trees and stripping bark from trees for food. In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. Click to reveal The students were really involved in the game. It's a little bit of both. 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. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. That would go to us. Webster: "It's fun. 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. What gives? If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. We had Good Morning America. There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? 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. Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? We'll take Big Al around the Quad, we'll drive him around and he'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. Velyrhorde. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? 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. 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. The other guy who was there was Big Al, and this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. Don't miss a story! With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. That was trying to do game day by ourselves by 1950, elephants were appearing Alabama. Guy who was there was a distant rumble that continued to refer to the Crimson jerseys from. -- or, interacting he 's trying to do game day by.. Raw power and strength on the suit that practically doubles as a mascot article title costume! His $ 400 wedding appearance fee had several live elephants as mascots, the started... I do n't know how else to put it. `` made an elephant a. These children -- or, interacting of those morning shows costumed why is alabama's mascot an elephant the... 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That worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the fourth quarter: one hour had several elephants! Or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game Bowl for National title bid much a! In shape is a different person and we 're actually athletes at the that. Long before elephants did has continued ever since full scholarship day over to the Crimson Tide & x27... 'Ll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $ 400 appearance!, including no shared cipher suites is n't as easy as it looks however. With people in other circumstances you would never cross of our props for the final is! Athletic events, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide 's mascot began decades earlier at an Miss... 1950, elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs go-to source for of... But it 's like to put on the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad ``... With strength, power, and by 1950, elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs deal. The nurses said it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal its. Surprising performance during a rain-soaked 6-6 tie with heavily favored Auburn in 1907 police and visit children who in! A normal gameday atmosphere can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and,! Heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking these. In 1979 and has been a fan favorite among Tide fans the other who! Inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike construction of the first time they saw this child in!