Buzz
It might seem peculiar that an elephant, an animal not native to North America, let alone Tuscaloosa, represents the University of Alabama’s football team. Yet, at every home game, a student donning a doe-eyed elephant costume proudly showcases the mascot, having become a staple at one of Alabama’s most esteemed institutions. But why an elephant?
The connection between the University of Alabama and elephants reportedly began in 1930 when Atlanta Journal sportswriter Everett Strupper recounted an incident during an Alabama-Ole Miss game. 'At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble,' he wrote. 'There was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity.' Strupper described the team as 'unmatched in size,' and noted that the players appeared to have 'nearly doubled in size' compared to the previous year. This led him to refer to the team as the 'Red Elephants,' and the nickname stuck.
Although the elephant became synonymous with the team, it wasn’t until decades later that Big Al, the official mascot, was born. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would dress in an elephant costume to entertain the crowd, earning the approval of legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. With Bryant’s backing, the university made the elephant the team’s official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his grand debut at the Sugar Bowl—portrayed by a different student, as Espey had already graduated by then.
Big Al can now be spotted at a variety of University of Alabama athletic events, extending beyond just football games. He’ll even make an appearance at your wedding, as long as you're ready to pay his $400 fee. However, there’s a limit: Big Al can only stay for a maximum of one hour. Roll tide.
