This is an opinion column

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I recently had lunch with a friend who asked an interesting question, “Why doesn’t ComebackTown publish a column evaluating whether the University of Alabama should have a live mascot like many other colleges and universities.”

My first reaction was that ComebackTown concentrates on columns about Birmingham–a piece about the University of Alabama might not be appropriate.

Then I got to thinking.

I’m a graduate of Alabama and passionate about Alabama football.

Alabama football plays a major role in living in Birmingham.

So at the risk of losing 50% of the Auburn audience and another 50% of PETA advocates, why not address a burning question related to U of A?

I did some research and here’s what I found…

These colleges have amazing live mascots

LSU has Mike VII, a live tiger, who lives in a 15,000-square-foot habitat that costs $3 million.

The Arkansas Razorbacks tote around a 350 pound wild boar, Tusk VI, to their football games.

The University of Texas takes great pride in Bevo, a longhorn steer, weighing shy of a ton with horns stretching 7 feet tip to top.

The University of North Alabama boasts, Leo III and Una, the only live lion mascots in the country living on a college campus.

Then, of course, Auburn has Aurea and War Eagle VIII, eagles who circle Jordan-Hare Stadium to the cries of “Warrrrrr Eagle!”

Other college live mascots include:

• The University of Southern California, Traveler IX, a purebred Andalusian horse
• Colorado State, Cam the Ram
• U.S. Naval Academy, Bill, the Goat
• The University of Colorado, Ralphie the Buffalo
• Baylor University, 263 pound Black bear, Lady.

There is precedent for a live Alabama elephant mascot

According to SBNation, Beginning in the 1930s the Alabama football team was called “the red elephants.

“In the 1940s, a live elephant mascot named ‘Alamite’ was a regular sight on game days in Tuscaloosa…For several years it was traditional for the pachyderm to lead the homecoming parade and Alamite would also bear that year’s queen onto the field prior to the game.

“…By the mid-1950s, Alamite gave way to a mascot-for-a-day that would be brought in for the homecoming parade and other activities. Reportedly, the cost of keeping the giant animal proved too expensive for the university.

“The University of Alabama’s ‘Spirit Planning Committee,’ a group that included representatives from numerous campus organizations, would spearhead the effort to bring a live elephant to campus as part of homecoming celebrations. These temporary mascots were usually from traveling circuses and would often appear in their performing regalia.”

Yes, it would be a good bit more expensive to house an elephant than Auburn’s eagles, but Auburn has a second mascot, Aubie, the Tiger.

Maybe if Alabama purchased a live pachyderm, it would goad Auburn into buying a live tiger that might eat its pesky birds.

Roll Tide!

Video below was actually 1947.

David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).

Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. [email protected]