Big Al
Big Al is the costumed mascot for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.
The use of an elephant to represent Alabama's football program dates to an October 8, 1930 article about the Alabama-Ole Miss game. The writer quoted a fan yelling "Here come the elephants" as the team rumbled onto the field. The name's popularity grew through the season, which ended with a national championship.
The costumed "Big Al" mascot was debuted in the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when the Tide beat Penn State for the national championship. He was named by student vote. Various names were put before the student body, who were allowed to complete ballots at the Student Union and SUPe Store. "Big Al", was also the name of a 'well-known about campus' member of the University of Alabama Rugby Football club, Alfred Lee Brown. Brown was known as the "DJ" for the club's after-match parties. When the members of the Rugby Club saw that "Big Al" was among the selections, they lobbied the attendees of the club's somewhat infamous parties to come to the Student Union and vote for that name.
References
- "Espey was one of UA’s most loyal alumni" (March 12, 2010) Tuscaloosa News