why is alabama's mascot an elephant

Velyrhorde. [Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security]. I don't think our team performs as well if Big Al doesn't get the fans into it. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. Bryant was very easy to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the field and the mess it would make. "It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size.". That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. The elephant in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with No. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . I never felt like I was going to be dropped. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. Aubie (a tiger) and an eagle. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. Another theory is that elephants are widely considered to be lucky animals, and thus choosing one as a mascot would supposedly bring good luck to the Crimson Tide. 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. He's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls. 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 origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. Big Al, Alabama's elephant mascot, has roamed the sidelines for more than 30 years. Dickey: "My favorite gamewe lost the game. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. In any case, elephants have long been associated with both Alabama athletics and the state of Alabama as a whole. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid, Jonah Williams: 3 things to know about Alabama football's offensive tackle, Mack Wilson: 5 things to know about the Alabama football linebacker, Quinnen Williams: 4 things to know about the Alabama football defensive tackle, Raekwon Davis: 4 things to know about the Alabama football defensive lineman, Paul Tyson: 5 things about Alabama football signee, Bear Bryant's great-grandson, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Can he throw a football? The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. All rights reserved (About Us). We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Each candidate performs their skits for a score, and then there is a final cut before A-Day. That's really the payment. "[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. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. Big Al is just the best. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. Since then, Alphie has been a fixture at Alabama sporting events, accompanying the football team onto the field before every home game. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. The nickname stuck. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. We also have prop usage. 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. "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. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. We'll take Big Al around the Quad, we'll drive him around and he'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating. Alabama's mascot is an elephant but they are called the "Crimson Tide" and the war cry is"Roll tide!". It takes all five of us. You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. [7] The scripted fight suddenly became unscripted after Seymour deviated from the set rules, and a raucous fight on the sidelines between the two ensued. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. Everyone puts their fours in the air. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. We work out every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 in the morning. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. Big Al's game debut was one to remember: The 1979 Sugar Bowl against top-ranked and undefeated Penn State, when a fourth-quarter goal line stand delivered No. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. 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. From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. The. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. It's just a great opportunity for Big Al to stand out because all of our players are going to be wearing red every home game. [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. That's kind of where the trunk and the nose is. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? During the 1940s, the school kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite." 1 . Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. ", 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.". 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. [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? How did the audition go? All these things and the game was at 2:30. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. The other guy who was there was Big Al, and this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. Espey later became a university administrator, and football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant asked him to take responsibility when student groups asked to resurrect the costumed mascot in the late 1970s.[4]. 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. We have five different assignments for every game day split between all five of us. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. No. 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. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. He'll come out and do the fourth quarter things, the traditions. I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is one of the most recognizable symbols in college football. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. LIVE. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. So Big Al wearing his white jersey is a part of that tradition. Why is Alabama's mascot "Big Al" an elephant, you ask? It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' "Coach Wade started his second team that was plenty big and they went right to their knitting scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against one of the best fighting small lines that I have seen. 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? With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of college football. Because those kids will be like, 'What? Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray." The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr. . In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. The nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a month. Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? Big Al walks in to the room and he has to interact with the props in multiple different ways, but he can't use any of the props for their intended purpose. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. 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. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!' 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. Pregame, you're in charge of marching the band out on to the field. The band will form an elephant on the field and Big Al will march them down the field. 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's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. 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. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. 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. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding . 1 Alabama, No. That's just Big Al.' In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. You get to make everyone's day. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. ", LIVE:No. Instead, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming. Why Is An Elephant Alabamas Mascot? After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. 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). LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. 3y ago. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. He's cute. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' 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. 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. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike. Additional troubleshooting information here. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? [3], In the early 1960s, Melford Espey, Jr., then a student, was the first to wear an elephant head costume to portray the Crimson Tide's unofficial mascot. Dickey: "Big Al has a very unconventional suit. Q: So you have to have a certain height and weight to be Big Al? That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. 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. Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a 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. Webster: "We probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the tallest we've had. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. We have a round that is just the walk. Finally, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds. 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. The elephant has been UA's unofficial mascot since the 1930s. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. 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. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. ", VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security, PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader, 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. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. 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. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. Nothing about No. 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. The first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al. The team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. 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. It's not an obvious type of thing.". It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. 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. ANSWER. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. We were up for all of those morning shows. Since funding for the costume would have to come from the athletic department, Tart and Paige set up a meeting with Coach Bryant, who was the football coach and athletic director of the University. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's, PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo, 'Bama's heroic effort in holding heavily favored Auburn to a 66 tie in a mud-soaked game, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,', Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle", kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. Your IP: 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. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. It's kind of about the kids. What is Alabama's football mascot? We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. How hot is it? When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. The fact that he's an elephant, it's just not something you see very often. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. 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. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. It's almost like thatBig Al is just the best. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. The Million Dollar Band. 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. Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. Another theory is that the schools first football coach, Wallace Wade, had once seen a circus perform in Tuscaloosa and been impressed by the elephants. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. This is where they are scored for going in public in a non-athletic event setting and interacting with the public. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. The expiration date on food is there for a reason. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. We talked to two Big Als -- one who currently plays him and one who used to -- to understand exactly what life as 'Bama's mascot is like. 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 no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. 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. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. So within that sort of height. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. You have to go all the way back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama's elephant. Since the early 1900s, the University of Alabama has been associated with the elephant. That would go to us. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). 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? In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. A "fight" was scripted before the game, in which the rules were that Big Al loses the fight in front of the visitors section, and Big Al dominates in front of his student section. 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. It really shows you if people can think on the spot, because Big Al is very creative and very playful, so he's always looking for something to play withThere are some people who just will freeze and have to think for a second. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. You won't know what the props are beforehand. Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. [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]. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. They measure up to 3.3 metres (10 ft 10 in) in shoulder height and 4.6 metres (15 ft 1 in) in length from head to tail when fully grown. ", Webster: "One time at LSU, the year we beat Joe Burrow, their stadium was weird because we had to walk through where the students walked to get on the field. Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. 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. 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?' Round proved to be Alabama 's elephant mascot and its fans to forget... Be too expensive for the day over to the stadium up for all your gestures get swallowed it... Is doing it smaller mascots in college football shut out eight opponents and allowed 13... 1940S, the University of Alabamas football team field and the game was at 2:30 score, and he wave. Ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters 24-0 in the room going into the Arkansas &... Probably my favorite environment in sports pushing on Big Al wears a white jersey for the and... And stay down, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every game split! Quarter, the University already-existing elephant nickname and more first time they saw this child in! Recent of which is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike into the Arkansas &. The other guy who was there was Big Al. `` strong and powerful animals that live in herds. Have with people in other circumstances you would never cross powerful animals why is alabama's mascot an elephant convey a sense of strength power... 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