LSU Tigers

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TIGERS
Although LSU adopted the Tiger nickname in the same time period that many other schools were selecting ferocious animals as their nickname source, the Tiger term lept into LSU tradition as a tribute to a group of State Civil War heroes.

The LSU “Tiger” nickname first roared into existence in the midst of the school’s undefeated 1896 season. The name reflected the honor once achieved by another band of Louisiana men that had distinguished themselves on the field of battle during the “War Between the States.” The Confederate soldiers consisting of New Orleans Zouaves and Donaldsonville Cannoneers were dubbed as the fighting band of Louisiana Tigers by other Southern troops thanks to their fighting spirit displayed at the Battle of Shenandoah. LSU’s nickname became more closely matched with the state’s military heritage in 1955 when it evolved into the “Fighting Tigers.”

MIKE THE TIGER

While many schools have voided their practice of keeping live mascots, LSU’s love affair with Mike the tiger continues to purr along. Mike V’s circling of the Tiger Stadium field prior to kickoff with the cheerleaders on top of his cage is a well established LSU game day tradition. When Mike’s not roaring with approval at a football game, he resides at his home located across from Tiger Stadium. The facility offers fans a great view of the university symbol while he enjoys the perks of two separate living areas that include amenities such as a pool, giant scratching post, climbing platform and an indoor home that helps Mike avoid inclement weather.

Mike’s mascot legacy is intertwined so much with the excitement of an LSU game that he’s mentioned prominently in the LSU spirit song, Hey, Fightin’ Tigers. The tune that urges victory for LSU incorporates Mike in the third stanza.
“You’ve got to go for a touchdown

run up the score. Make Mike the Tiger stand right up and roar.
ROAR! "

Mike the Tiger strolled into his mascot role for the first time in 1935 when he replaced a papier-mâché Tiger that had been in use. Mike I was purchased from the Little Rock Zoo for $750 and was transferred for a one year stay at the Baton Rouge Zoo before his home was built near Tiger Stadium. LSU’s first mascot served for 20 years before dying of pneumonia during an LSU six-game losing streak in 1957. In an effort to help purple and gold fans from losing all hope, Mike’s death wasn’t revealed until the football team won later in the year.

Pneumonia struck the LSU mascot family quickly again when Mike II died in the spring of 1958. He had become a part of Tiger lore after being born at the Audubon Park Zoo in New Orleans .

LSU’s next representative in the Tiger Den, was Mike III who arrived just in time to roar with delight over the school’s 1958 football national championship season. Mike III enjoyed 18 years as the mascot after arriving from Seattle. Mike III died after the 1975 football season, the first losing campaign during his rein.

Next in line was Mike IV, who served 14 years with the Tigers before retiring of old age. The Tampa native died in 1995 at the age of 21.

LSU’s current cat is Mike V. He hails from Alabama, but has roared for the Tigers since his 1990 arrival in Baton Rouge.
Since the first Tiger stepped into LSU tradition, several colorful Tiger tales have emerged through the years. Because each pregame growl was supposed to equal an LSU touchdown,

Tiger faithful would pound on his cage in an effort to prompt Mike to bellow out several touchdowns. The act was later deemed to potentially be cruel and therefore was replaced with recorded tiger roars played on the stadium’s loudspeakers.

Prior to Mike making his pregame tour around Tiger Stadium’s field in his wheeled cage, he makes his presence known to the opposition. Visiting teams get a close-up “eye of the tiger” look when they have to walk right by his cage that’s placed near the entrance of their locker room.

In the spirit of the movie Born Free, Mike has escaped his cage on a couple of occasions with the help of pranksters. LSU’s storied rivalry with Tulane has prompted the Greenies to set their sights on the tiger. Mike I was once kidnapped by a group of Tulane students prior to the LSU-Tulane contest. Several years ago another chapter was written in this mascot saga when the locks on Mike IV’s cage were cut the week of the Tulane game. The tiger roamed freely and knocked down several small pine trees before he was captured in LSU’s track stadium after police had used the calming effects of tranquilizer guns.

Mike once regularly traveled to road games to support the football team. However, a 1970 auto accident en route to a game caused his cage to overturn, forcing Mike off the travel squad. Limited road appearances since then have included Mardi Gras parades, Sugar Bowls and LSU basketball games in the Superdome located in New Orleans.
 

LSU fans love their LSU Tiger Merchandise. You will see tiger fans all over Baton Rouge on a Saturday morning sporting their purple products.