It’s been nearly a decade since a live tiger roamed the sidelines at LSU football games, and now, the governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, is advocating for the return of this long-standing, yet controversial, tradition. This push comes shortly after LSU turned down a separate request from the governor involving the national anthem at football games.
The history of LSU’s live tiger mascot dates back to 1896 when the Tigers nickname was adopted, inspired by the moniker given to Louisiana troops who fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. In 1935, students raised $750 to adopt a real tiger cub from an Arkansas petting zoo, naming him “Mike.” Thus began a legacy of live tiger mascots that became synonymous with LSU football, with the big cats often making appearances at both home and away games for decades.
The tradition continued through a series of live tigers, each named Mike, who resided on LSU’s Baton Rouge campus. However, the practice of bringing Mike to games ended after the passing of Mike VI in 2015. Mike VI was the last live mascot to make the journey from his state-of-the-art, $3 million habitat adjacent to Tiger Stadium to the football field. His final scheduled appearance was during a game between LSU and McNeese State that was ultimately called off due to inclement weather.
Following Mike VI’s death, LSU decided that future mascots would no longer participate in game-day festivities due to concerns about the stress caused by the stadium environment. Mike VII, the current mascot, was donated to the university in 2017 and has since remained in his 15,000-square-foot enclosure, where he has become a beloved fixture on campus but does not attend games.
RELATED: College Football Fan’s Viral Reaction to Spotting Ted Cruz
Recently, however, reports from the Louisiana Illuminator revealed that the dean of LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine met with Governor Landry and three state officials with veterinary backgrounds to discuss the possibility of reviving the tradition of bringing the live tiger to games. While details of the meeting remain sparse, it is clear that the idea has sparked debate, especially given the ethical considerations surrounding the treatment of live animals in such environments.
This news surfaced shortly after LSU rejected another request from Governor Landry to have football players present on the field during the national anthem. The university promptly responded to the suggestion of bringing Mike VII back to the sidelines, with a spokesperson for the school firmly stating, “LSU will not bring Mike VII to the Nicholls game and is not in discussions to bring Mike to any games this season.”
State Representative Wayne McMahen, an LSU veterinary school graduate and one of the officials present during the meeting with Landry, echoed the university’s stance. He suggested that the request to return Mike VII to the field may have stemmed from a wealthy donor lobbying the governor. However, McMahen agreed with LSU’s decision to keep Mike in his current habitat, citing concerns for the animal’s well-being.
While many universities across the country still incorporate live animals into their game-day traditions, such as Colorado’s Ralphie the Buffalo, Oklahoma’s Sooner Schooner, and Auburn’s War Eagle, it seems LSU is not eager to rejoin that group.
The decision to retire the tradition of having a live tiger on the field has been largely driven by a growing understanding of animal welfare, with LSU maintaining that Mike VII’s habitat is where he belongs, away from the noise and stress of the stadium.
For now, it appears that Mike VII will remain in his spacious, comfortable enclosure, and LSU will continue to honor its tiger mascot in a more ethical and modern way, despite the push from some to return to the traditions of the past.
The debate, however, highlights a broader conversation about the role of live animal mascots in college sports, and whether the nostalgia of these traditions outweighs the responsibility to ensure the animals’ well-being.
