Robertsdale High School graduate Tyler Carnathan is the latest in what has seemingly become a trend for Bama-bound RHS grads. He is the illustrious “Big Al,” mascot to Alabama’s Crimson Tide. Carnathan graduated from Robertsdale in 2005, continuing to the University of Alabama. He tried out for the position in March, and rolled out onto the field with the Tide for the first time in the 2007 season. He is the second Robertsdale graduate to have this honor. The other grad was Dusty McDaniel, Class of 1996.

His sister, Morgan Carnathan, also a Robertsdale High student and head of the cheerleading squad said, “it’s a little weird knowing that’s my brother, but it’s a lot of fun seeing him out there on game day.”

When asked what the most challenging aspect of being Big Al was, Tyler replied, “It can be physically and mentally challenging. Physically, just because, at any given time it’s around 30 to 40 degrees hotter in the suit than outside; plus there’s no breeze. So when you have a 90 degree day it’s around 120 degrees in that suit. Then you’re in the suit anywhere from an hour, to an hour and fifteen minutes depending on how long a quarter lasts, so it can definitely be demanding.”

Mentally it can be frustrating sometimes, because obviously Big Al doesn’t talk. He wasn’t given a mouth, so sometimes at certain games (I don’t want to name any colleges) the fans are very crude. And you’re like, ‘are you kidding?’ It can be kind of hard to have people totally down-talking you when you’re just out there to have a good time. But it’s worth it. I have a blast.”

Carnathan then graciously added, “It is definitely an honor to represent Robertsdale in such a way. People always want to know where the Big Als are from. Most are from around the Tuscaloosa area, some from Birmingham. People ask where I’m from and I get to tell them Robertsdale, a little city by the beach. I also feel very honored to know that I get to represent my entire high school in this way, and what better way than to be a goofball in front of thousands of people.”

The University first became associated with the elephant during the 1930 season under the leadership of Coach Wallace Wade. Sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal published a story regarding the Alabama-Mississippi game he had seen earlier that week.

Strupper said, “That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I’ve ever seen. When those big brutes hit you, I mean you go down, and stay down, often for an additional two minutes,” referring first to the second string Wade had started the game with. He then remarked, “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.”

From this point forward, Strupper as well as others began to refer to the Alabama defensive line as “Red Elephants.” From this subtle beginning, the simile began to grow steadily until the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when Big Al made his debut as the Tide’s first mascot. It was at this game that Alabama turned back Penn State at the goal line to defeat its rival 14-7 and earn another national championship. From then on, Big Al was there to stay; the resplendent ambassador to the impassioned masses.