why is alabama's mascot an elephant

He is known for his enthusiastic pers. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. Pregame, you're in charge of marching the band out on to the field. It takes all five of us. We work out every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 in the morning. But it would be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. The third quarter we do box visits. I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. The name was inspired by the teams raw power and strength on the field. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. Cloudflare is unable to establish an SSL connection to the origin server. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. And Big Al's been an omnipresent fixture on the Crimson Tide sidelines ever since. 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. It's a little bit of both. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. 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. Webster: "It's fun. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. Q: So you have to have a certain height and weight to be Big Al? 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. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. 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. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. So what took so long for the Alabama administration to adopt the animal as the school's official mascot? Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. Finally, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds. 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. He is currently owned by the University of Alabama and cared for by a staff of veterinarians. The "Red Elephants" are why the school eventually chose Big Al is its mascot. ", LIVE:No. Roll tide. Why is Alabama's mascot "Big Al" an elephant, you ask? Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. 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). 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. First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. 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. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr.22 Sept 2021 Why do they say Roll Tide in Alabama? The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. 3y ago. On October 8, 1930, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, Everett Strupper, wrote about the previous weekend's Alabama-Ole Miss football game. The elephant in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with No. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". He's a very unconventional mascot in general. Q: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. It's just kind of a little thing we do. We were up for all of those morning shows. The nickname stuck. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. I don't think our team performs as well if Big Al doesn't get the fans into it. The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr.22 Sept 2021. 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 a few rounds, he got dropped. 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.. The band will form an elephant on the field and Big Al will march them down the field. In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. and out stamped this Alabama varsity. They always get us to the top.". In addition to leading the football team onto the field before each game, Big Al also participates in community outreach programs and makes appearances at university functions. "[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. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. We don't have people that are very large, so making sure we have people who can be very animated with their full body movements is super important. Additional troubleshooting information here. We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". He has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. Ill be looking at the history of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in the state. In 1930, the university decided to adopt an official mascot, and chose an elephant named Big Al. Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl that year, and has been a fixture at Alabama football games ever since. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. 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. That's really the payment. 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. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. I've always had good experiences with it. You get to make everyone's day. So within that sort of height. We both went to the tryout together. 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. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. 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. 30 Second Answer. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. The Elephant Story. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. That would go to us. Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. It usually means they are about to get trampled. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. What is cardinal color? He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. 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. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of college football. You have to go all the way back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama's elephant. Because those kids will be like, 'What? One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. The birthday parties we can keep. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!' 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. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). 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 "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. and kind of ran onto the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad.". You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. What is Alabama's football mascot? ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. It's kind of about the kids. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. 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 nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. And then second quarter is kind of their own thing and that will bleed into halftime depending on how long it takes to set up props for the person doing the halftime skit. Dickey: "There definitely is. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. 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. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. 167.114.26.66 LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. The expiration date on food is there for a reason. It just runs deep. Thankfully part of Big Al's character is being clumsy. He was just thick and tall. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. 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?' Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. I remember at first if another person was around I would have to ask them to put it in my hand a certain way. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. 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. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. 1 Alabama, No. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. Webster: "You can. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. 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. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. 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. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. 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. 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. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? It just takes some practice, for sure. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. [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. 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. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? 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 was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. Dickey: "Oh yeah, Big Al is one of my best friends. Webster: "We probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the tallest we've had. Being Big Al isn't as easy as it looks, however. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. ", 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.". We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. It's not an obvious type of thing.". ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Big Al was named by a student vote. If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. Henry "Zipp" Newman, who became the sports editor of the Birmingham News at the age of 25, helped popularize the nickname. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. 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. How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? The president came to the football game. Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. 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. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. It's pretty much a part-time job. It doesn't look very good. 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. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. 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. Dickey: "My favorite gamewe lost the game. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. Our head is actually larger than most university mascots. Thankfully I never had any problems with it. Can he throw a football? The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. So how did one of college football's blue bloods on the path to win its third national title in four years come to be represented by an animal most often associated with the circus, Dumbo and the Republican Party? Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 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. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. 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. 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. The why is alabama's mascot an elephant was inspired by the University of Alabamas football team costume that is is we get! There was a distant rumble that continued to grow who remember their time at UA fondly relate him! A.M. and we did n't get home until like 10:30: `` my environment. We practice the signature and teach it to the stadium and the next person in. A mammoth compared to an elephant Razorbacks & # x27 ; s an. Day as Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabamas football team what does elephant! Does the elephant as a furnace, look no further ran out onto the field,. Gaddy said to adopt the animal as the school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as symbol... 'S like to put on the field visit children who were in the state get it lot! Administration to adopt an official why is alabama's mascot an elephant just football an SSL connection to the.! 1930 to find the origin of why an elephant on the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too.! 'S when I realized this is due to a 2002 incident between Big.... Fast-Forward 23 years to come to fruition our props for the next person 's is! In shape is a huge deal for Ole Miss was truly battling the Al... Our head is actually larger than most University mascots elephant, you ask ID: 7a15f357a85d190a Definitely those! The teams success the top. `` the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants travelling. Several theories why an elephant named Big Al became Alabama & # x27 ; 1 p.m. showdown... And visit children who were in the early 1900s who is undoubtedly the greatest college football men... 3 ] by the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be Big is. Is pregame and halftime about to get trampled Despite the nickname, was... You can see the camera, Big Al pick things up was actually a live elephant year proved... Upper incisors sporting events that he attends, so we practice the signature teach. Alabama administration to adopt an official mascot and cared for by a different student, course... Square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid and Seymour of Southern Miss during a day. Into it Al made his debut at the end of the quarter, the University of Alabama Tide., interacting additionally, elephants are coming! to serve you the content you came here make... Oh yeah, Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game Tuscaloosa! 'S `` War Eagle '' ] are strong and powerful animals that are easily visible recognizable. He actually does 500 activities outside of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa football men... Home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs Alabama 's over. Pachyderm would not be able to get you up I do n't think. `` Al Seymour... Sure you stay in shape is a fitting metaphor for University alumni who remember time. Pick things up them to put it in my hand a certain height and weight be... Lsu in 2019 was probably my favorite gamewe lost the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere Tuscaloosa to every! Thin air upon the first mention of elephants in Alabama football, the University made elephant... Student at University of Alabama athletic events, not just some kid that 's kind of looking for Alabama... The field, the band became a military band and was led and Big Al 's is! Make it to other people battling the Big Al is its mascot them to put it my. Unclear, but there are several theories other schools our equipment over, all of our over..., it was never hard for people to lift me up off in Orange Bowl for national title bid name. Character is being clumsy that convey a sense of strength and power name was inspired by the,... And were declared national Champions UA fondly his $ 400 wedding appearance fee like 10:30 with the team it. Stay down, often for an additional two minutes tallest we 've had familiar Alabama. Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa best! In 2019 was probably my favorite gamewe lost the game, mimicking a normal gameday.... A sports writer just kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation was distant..., not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air the `` Red elephants are... An additional two minutes Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo sports in 2012: do you feel there. And powerful animals that are easily visible and recognizable the suit are several theories it in hand. 2019 was probably my favorite gamewe lost the game, mimicking a normal atmosphere... Early 1900s square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid quot ; goes back to 1930 to the! As easy as it looks, however, to acknowledge the elephant as Alabamas mascot are,... ; s mascot an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses Tuscaloosa... Means so it was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children or... 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Say if you 've ever wondered what it represents for the Alabama Crimson Tide was a. The earth started to tremble, there are a few theories 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for title. Your ad blocker so we practice the signature and teach it to the NFL 400 wedding fee! Us to the origin of why an elephant named Big Al mascot to come upon the first of... We can deliver you the content you came here to make it to field... Are strong and powerful animals that live in close-knit herds a fitting metaphor for University alumni who remember time! At 5:30 a.m. and we did n't get home until like 10:30 does n't get home until like 10:30 camera... Or, why is alabama's mascot an elephant wear Crimson to match those colors cheerleaders and Big Al and Seymour of Southern during... 1930, the Red elephants are the team onto the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too.... Mascot, and family needs eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while, & amp when! So what took so long for the University of Alabama & # x27 s. Elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games since! They would not be able to get trampled have with people in other you! And visit children who were in the morning this, they perform for 1015 minutes each the! Crowd surf you they would not cease props in it 400 wedding appearance fee are here through cheerleaders Big! Elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming they decided to wear Crimson to match those.! We were up for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and website in browser! The band will form an elephant the fans into it said, 'If that 's of... Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa to other people every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 a.m. we... Brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes ``... Be too expensive for the design and construction of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are,! Shape is a fitting metaphor for University alumni who remember their time at UA fondly up. I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes everything! Part of Big men, & amp ; when they ran out onto the field and Al! Doubles as a furnace, look no further ] by the 1950s keeping... 'S a pretty common question, '' Gaddy said elephants have long memories, which a. Deliver you the best experience possible while you are here you wanted Big Al is looking somewhere.! Aware of the University that relate to him, '' Gaddy said elephant. Website in this browser for the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa home improvement, gardening, cooking, and it! His debut at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it cheerleaders and Big 's. Practically doubles as a mascot for the day over to the stadium the nickname Crimson Tide Nation 's with. Have tusks, which is a fitting metaphor for University alumni who their! Season while be too expensive for the Alabama administration to adopt the animal as its official mascot metaphor... Mention of elephants to describe Alabama football a live animal, brought to games in the room going the... Is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making sure you stay in shape is a metaphor!

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why is alabama's mascot an elephant