What was alabamas mascot before the elephant

A decade later came another four-legged live animal. Alabama alumni in Phoenix presented the football team "a little burro" in , according to multiple newspaper clippings. The team was traveling west for the Rose Bowl game with Washington State when the mascot was given.

Heflin was also the name of a Democrat who was serving in the U. Senate from Alabama. The Arizona Daily Star referred to the donkey's name as "Poison. Alabama won, This was a considerably different era in college football mascots.

The Anniston Star later in featured a photo of the mascot from a football game between the United State Naval Militia team and convicts from the Sing Sing prison. Representing the prisoners was a pony painted with black and white stripes. A return to the Rose Bowl in refined Alabama mascots. Live elephant years. The mascot action picked up in the s. The decade after getting the elephant label, Alabama got an actual elephant.

Alamite, followed by Alamite the Second became part of the school's tradition. He played a big role in homecoming festivities since the homecoming queen would triumphantly ride him into the stadium.

It wasn't without controversy, according to a story in the Crimson White student newspaper. Athletics director Frank Thomas told the paper that others in the athletic department were concerned since elephants are "associated with a heavy, cumbersome team. Thomas didn't want a mascot of any kind but conceded that students want one, especially for homecoming. The elephant situation became a punchline at the University of Miami when Alabama visited for homecoming in A Miami News story referred to Alabama's mascot "if that's what you can call it!

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Thank you for your support! Learn More About Ad Blockers. Big Al. In the s, live elephants were hired from traveling circuses passing by for each homecoming. In the s, the elephant head costume was worn for the first time.

Big Al is generally not allowed to interact with other university mascots after a fight ensued in