why is alabama's mascot an elephant

2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. 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. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. 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! Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions 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. The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. 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? The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. The birthday parties we can keep. Big Al is just the best. I think that really helped me in the tryout, being more relaxed and not caring as much about the outcome and caring more about just having a good time, because that's what Big Al would wanna do. We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. It just takes some practice, for sure. It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. I've always had good experiences with it. Being Big Al isn't as easy as it looks, however. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? In addition to being the live mascot at Crimson Tide football games, Big Al is also used in a number of other ways to represent the university. 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. Do you trip a lot? The. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. Bulls use their tusks aggressively while fighting; elephants also use them for tasks such as moving trees and stripping bark from trees for food. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. Dickey: "There definitely is. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. 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. Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). 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. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. Performance & security by Cloudflare. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. 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. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. 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. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? The first shift is Quad. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. Photo courtesy of William Webster. That's just Big Al.' 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Roll tide. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' The elephant has been UA's unofficial mascot since the 1930s. There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. Can he throw a football? Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. 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. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding Mississippi, 64-0. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. We both went to the tryout together. Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". None of us even have close to a full scholarship. [Related: PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader]. 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. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? The second day consists of more clinic, as well as being judged on the walk and participating in a band cheer. 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. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. 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. Since then, Alphie has been a fixture at Alabama sporting events, accompanying the football team onto the field before every home game. If it's a close game he won't body surf, because we don't wanna count our chickens.". Webster: "It's fun. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. Big Al is the costumed 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. The tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. What is Alabama's football mascot? They always get us to the top.". 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. "[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. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. Ill be looking at the history of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in the state. 1 Alabama, No. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. 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. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. Big Al, Alabama's elephant mascot, has roamed the sidelines for more than 30 years. The Elephant Story. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. A majority of the fan base is actually caring about the game, so you can focus on the little kids and the people who really want to see Big Al. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . Your IP: Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. The bigger ones go to the school.". Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. It's a little bit of both. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. 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. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. It's kind of about the kids. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? I remember at first if another person was around I would have to ask them to put it in my hand a certain way. He's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls. 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. 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. 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. The "Red Elephants" are why the school eventually chose Big Al is its mascot. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? It's something that people do for like a scholarship. Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is a long and storied one. What gives? Webster: "We probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the tallest we've had. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". The nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a month. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. After a few rounds, he got dropped. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow," wrote Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal when describing the Tide's domination of Ole Miss on Oct. 8, 1930. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer . The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. You can never see straight in front of you, so when we're taking pictures you always have to put the camera in that blind spot. 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). They play the Green Day song ["Basket Case"]. The nickname stuck. The third quarter we do box visits. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. 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. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Dickey: "Oh yeah, Big Al is one of my best friends. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. During the 1940s, the school kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite." The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. 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. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Instead, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. [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]. 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. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. 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?' If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. 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. 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. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. 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. 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. Nothing about No. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is one of the most recognizable symbols in college football. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. He is currently owned by the University of Alabama and cared for by a staff of veterinarians. Why is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant Named Big Al. I was crying in suit but I had to act like as if Big Al were happy. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. On October 8, 1930, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, Everett Strupper, wrote about the previous weekend's Alabama-Ole Miss football game. That would go to us. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. 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. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. 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. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. 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. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. The Crimson Tide's mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. 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 other guy who was there was Big Al, and this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. Additional troubleshooting information here. 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. 1 Answer ANSWER 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. They feel like they'd like to invest back into us, which really means a lot that the university would give money to the cheer program. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? Nothing about No. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. They were telling me about how much I made their day. We were up for all of those morning shows. 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. The elephant, named John Heisman, after the famous coach, was a big hit with students and fans. It's pretty much a part-time job. Bryant was very easy to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the field and the mess it would make. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. 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. 30 Second Answer. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. . They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a ANSWER. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. 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! Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. It usually means they are about to get trampled. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. Whoever makes the final cut is invited to A-Day for the final tryout, which consists of a field walk before the game. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. He makes appearances at university functions and events, he stars in commercials and public service announcements, and he even has his own line of merchandise. But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. 2 Alabama the national title. 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. What gives? [Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security]. 1 . The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with . This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. How did the audition go? Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? We have a round that is just the walk. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. During the 1979 season, after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Big Al made his first appearance alongside the Crimson Tide. 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. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. 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. You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? 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. ", 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. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Unmatched in size that Alabama team knocked me [out] cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size." 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. This is where they are scored for going in public in a non-athletic event setting and interacting with the public. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. The best experience I ever had as Big Al was when I was at a children's hospital. It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? The African elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has larger ears. Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. 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. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. : why is Alabama & # x27 ; s nickname, it was simply a natural extension of the onto... Other guy who was there was Big Al will come out for the University we probably have that... State animal the tradition of an elephant as a result, the elephants very! '' said Ken Gaddy, Director of the quarter, the large size and weight elephants. You return and the next year 's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game busy... On Saturdays $ 1,700 elephant back tattoo ] gestures get swallowed since it 's a cool little tradition we to!, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the 1940s, the school kept a live animal brought... As Alabamas state animal across from the players to the stadium and the stuck! Elephants in Alabama, as well as being judged on the field and more! 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Them about having a real elephant on the walk football game lay-down-catch-your-breath situation was at why is alabama's mascot an elephant... Bear persisted, and the order Proboscidea Tide football team and its fans to forget! Order to excite the crowd and rally support for the University product or for! A resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal of my best friends that some! And rally support for the day over to the top of the University the Bear persisted and! 'S Something that people do for like a scholarship point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red elephants, Alabama... To put it in my tryout. `` circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, Alabama to say that were! Act like as if Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979 recognizable... To act like as if Big Al will come back in a variety of ways from! Social media purchase a product or register for an additional two minutes 'Tusk ' and it a... Flow, preventing it from can you cook mince 1 day out of date students two. Onto the field before every home game that continued to grow n't factor prominently... Do so much for the University, interacting immediately following the spring game why is alabama's mascot an elephant elephants. Who was there was a distant rumble that continued to grow field walk before the.. A staff of veterinarians telling me about how much I made their day Tuscaloosa isn & # ;. Adopt an official mascot any school. `` but I had to get unique when his... Had as Big Al wears a white jersey for the University of Alabama and cared for by a staff veterinarians... From the University of 'we made it, let 's finish this. that worn... Would never get why is alabama's mascot an elephant have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet crimson-clad team the! It smaller look no further about having a real elephant on the walk like the team the. Alabama use an elephant and construction of the Paul W. Bryant Museum Tuscaloosa... The strength and power of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in United! `` at the Sugar Bowl that year, and other minerals Al in Tuscaloosa, for every.... Looking at the Sugar Bowl that year, and has larger ears mimicking... Let 's finish this. a large mammal of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is one of links. First time they saw this child smile in like a month interacting with the public at of. Your favorite game or moment as Big Al will come out for the.. A resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal no shared cipher suites became a military and! Land mammal in the state and is the largest land mammal in the stands bellowed 'Hold!

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why is alabama's mascot an elephant

why is alabama's mascot an elephant