Visions of Mascot Grandeur

Sure, Big Al can play the drums, schmooze with crowds of adoring Crimson Tide fans, and shake his cute little elephant tail across the turf at Alabama half-time shows. But, at the end of the day, he is just a student in an oversized elephant mascot costume. Alabama's student government association (SGA) seeks to change that. The only thing superior to Big Al as far as pre-game pomp goes might be acquiring the largest land mammal on earth - a real elephant.
LSU has Mike the Tiger and Auburn has an eagle, so true 'Bama pride should reflect extreme dedication with an elephant on campus, at least, that's what SGA thinks. "Football in the south is second only to breathing," says SGA president R.B. Walker. In our phone interview, Walker stressed how the student committee looking into the matter was still in its preliminary planning stages. The many options include simply renting an elephant for games, purchasing one, or sponsoring one from afar. "We are not taking this lightly, we want to make the elephant as happy and comfortable as possible," says Walker.