Any follow up--
> > > 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
> > > 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
_
