The elephant mascot at the University of Alabama seems incongruous to its nickname “The Crimson Tide” – just as Auburn’s tigers and “War Eagle” battle cry can be confusing. But like all legends, they begin with good stories.

Let’s take a look at how an elephant, one eventually named Big Al, came to represent the University of Alabama.

Although Big Al didn’t take form as the official university mascot until 1980, the story began 50 years earlier.

Click through the gallery at the top of this story to see more vintage photos of Big Al.

First “elephant” nickname

In 1930, sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal (now AJC) wrote a story about the massive size of UA Coach Wade Wallace’s team, according to the University of Alabama website .

In his enthusiastic description, Str

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