Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Education

Live Elephant = Ultimate Home Field Advantage

November 09, 2007 05:51 PM ET | Alison Go | Permanent Link | Print

The University of Alabama's student government is worried about school spirit at football games—and a live elephant may just be their heaven-sent solution, the Crimson White reports. A government resolution points out that other SEC schools like Tennessee (hound dog, 70 pounds), Louisiana State (tiger, 520 pounds), and Auburn (eagle, 14 pounds) have their own live mascots; why shouldn't 10,000 pounds of pachyderm march for the Crimson Tide?

Student officials will begin researching the logistics of an "Operation Crimson Dumbo Drop," since, as you can imagine, "you can't just throw an elephant in the middle of the Quad," points out one student. "It has to be thought through."

Tags: University of Alabama | Southeastern Conference

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Reader Comments

Live Elephant = Ultimate Home Field Advantage

So the students of UA want to have the biggest animal on earth -- to flaunt to opponents!

One student has the right idea.... "It has to be thought through."

I'm sure the committee to investigate a mascot of this size will, no doubt, find an elephant to be the most undesirable. The elephant is a "family animal" that requires companions of the same species... many companions. The HERDs of elephants seen on the African plains are not grouped together by chance. It is imprinted within their genetics to be a member of a HERD. Mothers and offspring, along with her many female relatives, will be life-long members of a HERD.

A single elephant in captivity cannot be a member of a HERD. Elephants held in captivity will develop unnatural behaviors and may create unforeseen 'issues'. Are you ready to deal with an angry elephant bent on its own freedom?

The intelligence of the committee will over-rule any action to bring a lone elephant to campus. A single elephant, held in captivity, is plainly against the animal's natural instincts. I'm sure the decision will be to DROP "Operation Crimson Dumbo Drop".

Thanks,

-- DJ --

Midwest USA

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About The Paper Trail

Being a college graduate and all, writer Alison Go is uniquely qualified to sift through thousands of student newspaper headlines every day to bring you the latest, most important, or just plain weirdest news from campuses across the country. Heard bigger news or a crazier story? Send tips to papertrail@usnews.com.

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