Mike the Tiger
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Mike the Tiger, a live Bengal tiger, is the official mascot of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and serves as the graphic image of LSU sports. Mike V is the fifth and current live tiger since 1936 to act as the university's mascot. Since the 1950s, Mike has also been portrayed by a costumed student.
LSU's men's and women's sports teams are called the Fighting Tigers and Lady Tigers, respectively, and the university's football team plays its home games in Tiger Stadium. LSU first adopted its "Tigers" nickname in the fall of 1896. The moniker is a reference to the state's Confederate heritage; the Louisiana troops of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia became known as the Tigers during the Civil War in recognition of the bravery of two New Orleans brigades, the Tiger Rifles and the Washington Artillery (whose logo featured a snarling tiger's head).[1]
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[edit] History of Mike the Tiger
[edit] Mike I (1936-1956)
Born on October 10, 1935, the first Mike was purchased from the Little Rock Zoo with money raised by collecting 25 cents from each LSU student. Originally named Sheik, the new mascot was renamed in honor of Mike Chambers, LSU's athletic trainer at the time, who was the person most responsible for bringing him to the school. Mike assumed his duties as the living symbol of LSU only three days after arriving on campus on October 21, 1936 . In the 1950s, Mike was kidnapped by Tulane fans before a Tiger-Green Wave football game. He was found, abandoned, in New Orleans -- he and his cage sprayed Tulane green. Mike I lived for 20 years before dying of kidney disease in 1956.
[edit] Mike II (1956-1958)
A few days after Mike I's death, a resolution endorsing the purchase of another tiger was introduced in the Louisiana legislature and a fund was set up by LSU students to underwrite the cost. Mike II had a short but somewhat mysterious life. He was born on February 28, 1956 at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans and was chosen because his paws were larger than those of the other cubs.[2] He was unveiled on September 29, 1956, during the opening game of the new football season. Legend has it that less than a month after his arrival at LSU, Mike II died of pneumonia, at only eight months of age, during a six-game losing streak and that a second Mike II was secretly brought in as a ringer. To explain Mike's absence, and after much rumor, the LSU student newspaper, The Daily Reveille, printed a statement that the young tiger needed time alone to adjust to his new home and position as mascot, with its attendant excitement. All rumors of Mike II's death and replacement were denied. The official story is that Mike II reigned for only one football season before his death on May 15, 1958 in Audubon Zoo of complications associated with multiple fractures to his left rear leg.[2]
[edit] Mike III (1958-1976)
Mike III was born on November 26, 1957 and arrived from the Seattle Zoo just in time for LSU's 1958 National Championship football season. During Mike III's 18-year reign, LSU also won three Southeastern Conference football championships (1958, 1961, 1970) and eight of 13 bowl games. Mike III died of pneumonia in 1976 after the only losing LSU football season of his lifetime. The mascot's death affected the students and faculty so greatly that the vet at the time, W. Sheldon Bivin, said he would never allow another tiger to die on campus. [3]
[edit] Mike IV (1976-1990)
Mike IV, originally called Jerry, was born at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida in 1974. He was donated by August A. Busch III and was two years old when he came to LSU in August 1976. One memorable incident involving Mike IV began in the early-morning hours of November 28, 1981 when pranksters cut the locks on Mike's cage. The tiger roamed freely for hours, attacked a small tree, and appeared to be enjoying himself before becoming trapped in the Track Stadium near his cage. Three tranquilizer shots later, the wandering mascot was returned to his home without further incident and awoke without ill effects.[2] Mike IV reigned for 14 years and retired in 1990 to the Baton Rouge Zoo where he lived until his death in 1995 at the age of 21.
[edit] Mike V (1990-present)
The current mascot, Mike V, is considered to have the best personality of all the tigers that have served as LSU's symbol. Originally named Stevie, he was donated by Dr. Thomas and Caroline Atchison of the Animal House Zoological Park in Moulton, Alabama. Born on October 18, 1989, the 7-pound baby tiger was introduced to LSU fans at a basketball game in February 1990. In his (so far) 17-year reign, Mike V has seen an LSU football team win another National Championship (in 2003) and been given both a new trailer and a massive renovation of his enclosure.
In March 2007, Mike V officially began a three-stage retirement. His personal vet, David Baker, cited his age and health as reasons. Mike V will retain his mascot status and live in his on-campus habitat until his full retirement at some point in the future, but the costumed student mascot will no longer try to get him to roar during football games at Tiger Stadium -- unless Mike feels like it.
[edit] New Habitat
In 2005, a new $3 million habitat was created for Mike. The Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF) raised funds, entirely from private sources, to subsidize the construction project. The habitat features state-of-the-art technologies and includes among its amenities lush plantings, a waterfall, a flowing stream that empties into a wading pond, and rocky plateaus. The new habitat ranks among the largest and finest Tiger preserves in the country and expanded Mike's home from 2,000 to 15,000 square feet. It also features research, conservation, and husbandry programs, as well as educational, interpretive, and recreational activities.
[edit] Retirement
After the death of Mike III in 1976 while he was still LSU's active mascot, a three-stage retirement plan was instituted for the tigers: [3]
- Stage 1: He no longer participates in pre-game events such as the roar before the game.
- Stage 2: He stops attending the games altogether.
- Stage 3: He retires to another location.
[edit] Traditions
- On home football game days, Mike's cage on wheels is parked by the opponent's locker room at the southeast end of Tiger Stadium. Opposing players must pass by Mike's cage in order to reach their locker room.
- With his cage topped by the LSU cheerleaders, Mike rides through Tiger Stadium before the start of home games.
- According to tradition, LSU will score a touchdown for every one of Mike's roars on game day.
[edit] Further Reading
- David G. Baker and W. Sheldon Bivin, Mike the Tiger: The Roar of LSU, LSU Press (2003) ISBN 0-8071-2888-0
- David G. Baker and Margaret Taylor Stewart, Tales of Mike the Tiger: Facts and Fun for Everyone LSU Press (2006) ISBN 0-8071-3118-0
[edit] References
- ^ Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr., Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Units, 1861-1865, LSU Press (1996) ISBN 0-8071-2102-9
- ^ a b c David G. Baker and W. Sheldon Bivin, Mike the Tiger: The Roar of LSU, LSU Press (2003) ISBN 0-8071-2888-0
- ^ a b LSU's Mike the Tiger starting retirement
