Is anyone else aware of this or heard anything about it... WOW, I hope this true!!!

A Magical Moment
By Gilbert Lowell

"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."
I doubt Everett Strupper could foresee what that one passage would create
the day he put it in his article for the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
In the ultra-competitive SEC, coaches and school officials are looking for
that extra something that might bring in a few more dollars or that prize
recruit. The University of Alabama, obviously, doesn't need much more to
impress recruits and donors. They have the Bryant Museum, 12 National
Championships, 21 SEC Championships, a 94,000 seat stadium, Nick Saban, and
this fall, Albatross.
Albatross, a 9,000 pound African elephant, will make her debut September 1,
2007 in Tuscaloosa. Quoting one university official who asked to remain
anonymous; "Most universities have that 'magical moment' prior to the start
of the game. Auburn has the eagle flight. Florida State has the Seminole
that rides out on his horse. USC has the horse riding Trojan. As a program,
we were looking for that 'magical moment', and with Albatross, I think we
have found it. Also, Bo Bice is working on a song titled 'This is Alabama
Football' and our production staff is working on a video that will play as
the team and Albatross makes their entrance. I think our fans will love what
we have in store for them this season."
A magical moment indeed - the closest any program could come, as far as
size, would be Colorado when "Ralphie", a 2,000 pound buffalo, makes his
entrance, but even he is dwarfed when compared to Albatross.
Roger Brakett, the man responsible for watching over Albatross, says that
fans are in for a gigantic treat on September 1. "The university doesn't
have the means to take care of a full grown elephant, but luckily, the
Birmingham Zoo was gracious enough to let her live on their elephant
grounds. We have had this idea for a couple of years now, but, as I'm sure
you can imagine, getting an elephant use to 90 something thousand people is
next to impossible. She was a circus elephant with Barnum and Bailey for 8
years, so she is use to crowds, its just been a chore trying to get her use
to such an enormous crowd."
Roger is sure Albatross will be ready come September 1. "Alba will be ready,
the question is, will Western Carolina and the fans be ready for her?"
In sports writing, you are never sure what your next article will revolve
around, but come Sunday, September 2, I am sure my article will start with;
"At the start of the game, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant
rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed,
'Hold your horses, Albatross is coming', and out stamped the mighty
elephant, and the Crimson Tide soon followed, and a magical moment it was."

About Gilbert Lowell
Gilbert Lowell covers the University of Alabama for The Lincoln Daily.
Contact Gilbert Lowell
Phone: 205-763-9210
Fax: 205-763-7239

This was posted the other day, & shot down as bogus.

Ok, knew it was to good to be true...

sorry you got your hopes up dude
the article is fake

Why in the world would they let a 9,000lb animal loose on the field. Just use your brain and think of the destruction that would result if the elephant got pissed off. There is no way to control it.

I remember an elephant being brought in for some event around homecoming when I was in school at UA. That would have been somewhere between '79 and '84. I seem to remember that it was rumored that Coach Bryant was unhappy with the results in some way, but I don't recall the details. Does anyone else remember that (and the details that I don't remember)? It might have even been called something like "Elephant Stomp," but I could be totally wrong about that part.

David

Definitely a fake--and thankfully so.

I, for one, am glad Bama has never bought into the senseless flash of impressing people with their "30 second traditions" such as at Clemson, Florida State, Colorado, etc. Bama continues to impress me with their subdued, yet nationally recognizable, traditions--conservative unis, a talented band that doesn't need to dance, and the look in the opponents' eyes when they realize they're up against THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE, one of the most storied programs in football history. They might be talking trash, but they know what they're up against. Tradition is a powerful ally...

We DON'T need anything named "Albatross"...

An elephant leaves a big mess to clean up on the field...

However, not nearly as big a mess as the last "Albatross" that we just sent back to Miami...or wherever...

quote:

Originally posted by Mahout:
An elephant leaves a big mess to clean up on the field...

...

Thats what freshman pledges are for!

I not gonna say it would be pretty cool but I dont think I'd be comfortable with a 9,000 pound animal being in front of such a large and loud crowd. I've seen that show when animals attack and I'd rather not be on it.

It happened in 1982, the Friday night before Homecoming. If I remember correctly it was right before the Alabama concert that night.

They were parading the elephant around the field and the crowd hushed as Coach Bryant came to the mike. "If that elephant hurts my field, I'll personally shoot it myself", Bryant growled. The crowd roared.

quote:

Originally posted by david309:
I remember an elephant being brought in for some event around homecoming when I was in school at UA. That would have been somewhere between '79 and '84. I seem to remember that it was rumored that Coach Bryant was unhappy with the results in some way, but I don't recall the details. Does anyone else remember that (and the details that I don't remember)? It might have even been called something like "Elephant Stomp," but I could be totally wrong about that part.

David

it could be caged just like the hog in Ark and the Tiger in Baton Rouge. and would be the greatest thing on any field anywhere. too cool if it were to happen.

It has been discussed for years.

Lincoln Alabama doesn't have a local newspaper and one of the phone numbers given is for a farmer in Lincoln. Lincoln is one of those places where they doubled their population when they installed the second red light.

quote:

Originally posted by dtothep:
I not gonna say it would be pretty cool but I dont think I'd be comfortable with a 9,000 pound animal being in front of such a large and loud crowd. I've seen that show when animals attack and I'd rather not be on it.

Elephants are known to get spooked and stampede too.

Imagine the horror if they to shoot it in front of 92000 people.