What was Alabama's mascot before the elephant?

Before adopting the elephant as its mascot, the University of Alabama's mascot was a live bear named "Alabama" that was used in the early 20th century. The bear was replaced by the elephant in the 1930s after sports writer Everett "Cotton" Smith referred to the football team as the "Crimson Tide" and likened their powerful performance to an elephant. The elephant mascot, known as "Big Al," has since become a prominent symbol of the university's athletic spirit.