The University of Alabama’s association with the elephant wasn’t an official adoption, but rather a nickname that organically evolved and stuck. The origins trace back to the 1930 football season, a year that saw the Crimson Tide become a dominant force in college football under Coach Wallace Wade.
A pivotal moment in solidifying the elephant imagery came on October 8, 1930. Everett Strupper, a sports writer for the Atlanta Journal, penned a vivid account of the Alabama-Mississippi game he’d witnessed in Tuscaloosa. Strupper described Alabama’s powerful team as a “Wade machine,” emphasizing their size, strength, and exceptional blocking. He recounted how Wade’s second-string players, also impressively large, easily scored against a valiant but smaller Ole Miss team.
1930 Alabama Football Team: The origin of the “Elephant” mascot.
Strupper’s most impactful observation came at the end of the first quarter. He described a growing rumble and a fan shouting, “Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!” as Alabama’s varsity team took the field. Strupper was awestruck by the sheer size of the players, remarking they looked twice as big as the previous year.
This evocative description resonated. Strupper and other sportswriters began referring to Alabama’s linemen as “Red Elephants,” a nod to their crimson jerseys. The moniker “Red Elephants” eventually evolved into simply “Elephants.”
Elephant Statue: A symbol of Alabama’s football legacy.
The 1930 Alabama team’s undefeated 10-0 season, culminating in a Rose Bowl victory against Washington State, further cemented the “Elephant” association. Their dominant performance, allowing only 13 points all season while scoring 217, showcased the power and size that the elephant symbolized.
While Alabama officially adopted Big Al, a costumed elephant mascot, much later in 1979, the team’s connection to the elephant had already become deeply ingrained in its identity, thanks to the evocative imagery of a 1930s sportswriter. The elephant, symbolizing strength, size, and dominance, perfectly captured the essence of Alabama football.
