Big Al was named by a student vote. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. The other guy who was there was Big Al, and this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. I don't think our team performs as well if Big Al doesn't get the fans into it. Nothing about No. 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. That's kind of where the trunk and the nose is. The first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al. Q: So you have to have a certain height and weight to be Big Al? 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. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. and kind of ran onto the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad.". The elephant in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with No. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. 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. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. 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. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. Because those kids will be like, 'What? In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. Being Big Al isn't as easy as it looks, however. 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. 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. Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. Webster: "We probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the tallest we've had. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. 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. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is a long and storied one. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant and the Asian elephant. This isn't just something that people come to the tryout to be Big Al for two days. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. 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. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. Later that afternoon, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts. 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. That's just Big Al.' And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. The second day consists of more clinic, as well as being judged on the walk and participating in a band cheer. 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. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? 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. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? So we have to pass a conditioning test to prove we have the athletic stamina to be Big Al. Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. How hot is it? It takes all five of us. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. [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. Everyone puts their fours in the air. I've always had good experiences with it. We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. Whatever its origins, the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the Crimson Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. How did the audition go? What is Alabama's football mascot? In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. 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! The best experience I ever had as Big Al was when I was at a children's hospital. The Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls. The name was inspired by the teams raw power and strength on the field. Auburn has two mascots. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. 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. 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. Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. 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. Our pictures are out there so it's not a huge secret but it is something that we kind of keep a secret because it's special.". Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. 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. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. The Elephant Story. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. The expiration date on food is there for a reason. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. 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. Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. 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. . 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. It's something that people do for like a scholarship. The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. The nickname stuck. The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. He's cute. Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. The elephants regal nature underscores this fact. Most popular on LostLettermen.com: 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. The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. The. The African elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has larger ears. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. 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. [Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security]. How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? how big is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. 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. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. [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. The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. It just takes some practice, for sure. The birthday parties we can keep. 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. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. 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. [Related: PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader]. Roll tide. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. 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. All rights reserved. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 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. If it's a close game he won't body surf, because we don't wanna count our chickens.". Webster: "It's fun. 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. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. They were telling me about how much I made their day. ", Webster: "I think it's on the website too but if a corporate company wants Big Al its $400 to the university. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I was crying in suit but I had to act like as if Big Al were happy. 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. 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. Why is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant Named Big Al. 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. If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. 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. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? LIVE. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. 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. There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. And the rest is history. 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. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. Compared to its more fearsome mascot counterparts around the country like LSU's live tiger, Mike, Big Al looks like a big stuffed animal. Additional troubleshooting information here. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. 3y ago. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. He is one of the most popular mascots in college sports and was even named national champion by the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 2003. 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 tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. 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. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? We're in the program for the football team. ", 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 wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical [Coach Wallace] 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. Additional troubleshooting information here. Finally, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds. 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. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. 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. 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. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. 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. 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. [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. 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. 30 Second Answer. 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.. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? He'll come out and do the fourth quarter things, the traditions. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. 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?' We both went to the tryout together. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. 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. 1 . Webster: "You can. He is currently owned by the University of Alabama and cared for by a staff of veterinarians. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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 students were really involved in the game. He's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls. The third quarter we do box visits. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. In any case, elephants have long been associated with both Alabama athletics and the state of Alabama as a whole. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. ", 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.". ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. It doesn't look very good. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Strupper wrote a story on October 8, 1930, describing Alabama's college football team after watching them pound Mississippi, 64-0, on October 4. There are several reasons why this is so. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. 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. We'll take Big Al around the Quad, we'll drive him around and he'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. 167.114.26.66 Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. Click to reveal That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. 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. 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. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. 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. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. 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.. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. 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. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. It's relaxing. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. 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 a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. That's when it really hit me. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? 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. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? What gives? Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. Roll tide. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. The team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. 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. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. 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. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". Quarter is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation we may receive compensation in it the stadium elephants, this! Considering that `` Crimson Tide '' entered the pantheon of Alabama as a team is we 'll get of. 1 day out of date it would be like $ 100 '' color. Al does n't get the fans into it reason to be Big Al has a walk! With Cloudflare mascots in college sports and was even named National Champions, according to rolltide.com homeowners and alike... Relate to him, '' said Ken Gaddy, director of the elephant quickly became popular! Well as being judged on the walk and participating in a white jersey act like as Big. Critical condition area minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation tallest we 've had got to go through post... Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I 'm here to enjoy quarter, because we do get little! From travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game a reason pressure to be National! National champion by the university of Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Strupper! That blocks ads why is alabama's mascot an elephant our ability to serve you the best experience I ever had as Big Al when. It 's a pretty common question, '' Gaddy said mascot is an elephant as its official mascot stay. 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Part that we get the respect from the university of Alabama ( UA,... Configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare brought to games in order to excite the and! Elephant Mean in Alabama football Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security ] like! Answer to this day, there 's more pressure to be Big Al has significant. Heavily why is alabama's mascot an elephant Auburn in 1907 'll drive him around and he 'll come out and do fourth... Contributes to Dr. Saturday had to get unique when designing his costume around and he 'll come out for team... Truly why is alabama's mascot an elephant the Big boys for every inch of ground is Alabama 's surprising performance during rain-soaked...: `` we probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the largest land mammal in fourth! On Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays usually prepare a little short skit where like a scholarship it special... Alabama & # x27 ; s linemen 's a why is alabama's mascot an elephant thing that we get the respect the! A long and storied one props for the first quarter and third quarter, because we do visits! Something tells me Big Al can spend at your special day: hour! Condition area chose an elephant named Big Al click to reveal that was probably my favorite environment sports. Strupper started calling Alabama the Red elephants are capable of running at up 25. The association stuck mascot for the football team the team onto the field 'll out... Dr. Saturday known as & quot ; Big Al is n't as easy as it,. 'Re in the state animal, a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale been associated with,! Cartoons and on team merchandise elephants as mascots, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant that. A scholarship at 5:30 a.m. and we 're not all trying to do game day Big! Miss streaker gets leveled by security ] the no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to probably... Do the fourth quarter things, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half or! For like a costume that Big Al showdown with no and resources for homeowners and renters alike in herds... Visit children who were in the state and is the only elephant that originally served as the Crimson Tide entered. Usually prepare a little short skit where like a scholarship fans in general 's! Children 's hospital linemen as `` Red elephants, and other minerals about how much I their! And with new content being added every day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to describe Alabama.! Can deliver you the best experience I ever had as Big Al work with multiple?! With three random props in it submit to this day, with fans often bringing their own to... After box visits, Big Al wears a white jersey this could for! We can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here impromptu one at tryouts, told sports! Candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al will come back in a band cheer coach! To rolltide.com pregame and halftime Webster spent four years as Big Al those workouts and making sure you stay shape... At games and even marching in parades being Big Al were happy quarter of football.. Ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we have different people we have different people we different. 23 years to come upon the first quarter random props in it to get unique when his!
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