Like most University's, The University of Alabama has many stories. Some myth, some truth. Some good, some bad. Some are just weird, as in the story of the Alabama mascot, "Big Al". The nickname and other mascot "The Crimson Tide". Another, is the story of the fight song, "Yea Alabama" and why does it include schools we no longer play? And, where on Earth did "Rammer Jammer" come from? Also, why is Alabama's band called " "The Million Dollar Band"? Hmmmmmm, let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we.
Big Al.
Bama's adorable, soft, cuddly, lovable mascot! He is always dancing, running around with the cheerleaders trying to get the fans excited. He has pictures made with adoring fans and crying babies. He has been known to playfully kick opposing teams mascots! Oops! His history goes back almost one hundred years ago and it wasn't soft or sweet.
1930 - Coach Wallace Wade's teams were always well coached and excellent blockers. They were very large, aggressive, very tough. It was said when these guys knocked you down, you stayed down for an extra couple of minutes. The story goes that in the 1st quarter, Coach Wade played his second string. They scored a touchdown and held Ole Miss. Atlanta Journal Sports Writer, Everett Strupper, wrote, "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. "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." Other sports writers caught on and soon everyone was calling Alabama “The Red Elephants”. This 1930 team only allowed 13 points scored on them the entire season. The regular season ended with a 10-0 record. Alabama made another Rose Bowl appearance against Washington State. The Tide won by a score of 24-0 and were the National Champions.
There is a second, less known story about the elephant. It seems there was a man who owned a luggage company in Alabama. His son was attending the college. The owner, J.D. Rosenberger outfitted the team luggage tags for good look in the 1927 Rose Bowl. The trademark was an elephant standing on a trunk. When the team got to Pasadena a columnist made mention of the very large players and the elephant tags on their luggage.
Which do you believe? Perhaps both?
What does Tide have to do with the University of Alabama?
Alabama’s other mascot, “Crimson Tide”? Also has two story’s. Story one.
Early in football history, the team was called the “varsity” or the “crimson white”. The actual first name given this team was the “Thin Red Line”. This name was used until 1907. In the Iron Bowl game (Alabama vs Auburn) the teams met on a very wet, mud red field. Auburn was expected to win by a great number. That didn’t happen. Instead the game ended in a 6-6 tie. After the game, Alabama’s white jerseys were crimson red from the red mud. Hugh Roberts, who was the sports editor for a Birmingham newspaper made his headline “Crimson Tied”. So began the Crimson Tide.
Story two. Alabama was a big underdog going into the 1925 Rose Bowl against Washington. However, Alabama pulled off the upset. A Los Angeles new writer said that Washington was washed away by a “powerful crimson tide”. The name stuck.
Alabama has a fight song that includes teams they don’t play.
“Yea Alabama”
Rammer Jammer, the student newspaper held a contest for composing a fight song. The winner was Ethelred Lundy (Epp) Sykes, a student in the School of Engineering and also the editor of the newspaper. The song calls out teams that are no longer played, such as the “Ramblin Wreck” from Georgia Tech, referenced in the song as the “yellow jackets”. Also the University of the South aka “Swewanee” no longer competes in Division 1 sports. Also the Georgia “Bulldogs” are normally only played once every six years unless the two teams meet in the SEC Championship or as in this past year, the National Championship Game which Alabama won 26-23 in overtime. It may be time to rethink the lyrics of this almost one hundred year old song.
Rammer Jammer Cheer
Some say it is unsportsmanlike, fans love it. Rammer-Jammer was the name of the Student Newspaper in the 1920’s. The term “Yellow Hammer” refers to the Alabama State Bird. They lyrics are as follows, Rammer Jammer, Yellow Hammer, Give ‘em Hell Alabama. Today it is not used except at the end of a game, when victory is achieved. First the band, cheerleaders and fans call out the opposing team such as, Tennessee “Vols” or Auburn Tigers, which for this cheer are known just as “Auburn”.
“Hey Auburn, Hey Auburn”
We just beat the hell out of you!
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
Give ‘em Hell, Alabama!
This is then followed by “Yea Alabama” fight song.
To hear both, Rammer Jammer and Yea Alabama, click on the link. Please excuse the commercial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJxPtnUgd2Y
Why is Alabama’s band called the million dollar band?
The Million Dollar Band Story. As with every other tradition at Bama, there are two story’s.
The main story goes that Alabama’s football team was having an off season. They traveled to Georgia Tech, where the Coach from the “Ramblin Wreck” stated, "Your football team isn't worth a nickel, but you have a million dollar band." The name stuck.
The other story is, the team was traveling to Georgia Tech and the band had to raise money to travel with them. They sought out funds from businesses in the area and wound up with enough money to travel to ride in “tourist sleeper” to the game. After Alabama’s bad loss of 33-7 an Atlanta sportswriter commented to W. C. “Champ”Pickens, "You don't have much of a team; what do you have at Alabama?" Pickens replied, "A Million Dollar Band."
Which is the correct story? Does it matter? (In 2003 the band became the twenty-second band to be honored with the Sudler Trophy, given by the Sousa Foundation to recognize "collegiate marching bands of particular excellence that have made outstanding contributions to the American way of life." Additionally, the Million Dollar Band has been nationally televised more than any other college marching band in the country.) Wiki
So the traditions, mascots and millions carry on at the University of Alabama.
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