Where Did Alabama’S Elephant Mascot Originate?

The story of Alabama’s association with the “elephant” dates back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade assembled a great football team. Everett Strupper, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, wrote about the decision to adopt an elephant as the mascot in 1930. In 1979, Alabama’s homecoming committee decided they wanted an official mascot suit and met with Coach Bryant, who approved the idea.

The mascot known as “Big Al” today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. In 1979, he was a part of the Alabama-Ole Miss game that season in Tuscaloosa. After watching the game, Everett Strupper noted the incredible size of the Crimson Tide, comparing them to elephants and described the scene.

During the 1940s, the school kept a live elephant mascot named “Alamite”, which was a regular on gamedays. For several years, it would carry the nickname “Crimson Tide”. With Bryant’s support, the university made an elephant the team’s official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl.

The history of the Crimson Tide’s mascot began decades earlier, with the origin of the mascot dating back to 1930. The decision to adopt an elephant as the mascot was inspired by Everett Strupper’s article and the desire for an official mascot suit.