What Is The Mascot Of Lsu?

Mike the Tiger is the official live mascot of Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and serves as the graphic image of all LSU athletics teams. The tradition of having a live Bengal tiger as a mascot began in 1936, with Mike I arriving on campus on October 21, 1936. The current mascot, Mike VII, is one of only two live tiger college mascots in the U.S. and is the only live tiger living on a college campus in the U.S. Mike the Tiger lives across the street from the football stadium in a 15,000 square foot habitat complete with a waterfall, swimming pond, and lush vegetation.

Mike the Tiger has been an enduring emblem of the university, with several mascots serving as its representative. Mike III served as LSU’s mascot for eighteen years, winning the national championship in football and three SEC championships during his lifetime. He lives across the street from the football stadium in a 15,000 square foot habitat complete with a waterfall, swimming pond, and lush vegetation.

Two of LSU’s Tiger mascots (Mike 1 and Mike III) lived 19 years, Mike IV lived 20 years 9 months and 18 days, and Mike V lived 17 years. The average lifespan for a tiger in the U.S. is around 17 years. Mike the Tiger is LSU’s biggest fan and is around at various charity events when not cheering on his fellow Tigers at sporting events.

Why are LSU Tigers?

Contrary to popular belief, the name “Tigers” was not derived from Mike the Tiger. Instead, it was inspired by a group of Confederate soldiers who called themselves the “Louisiana Tigers.” This designation has been used by Louisiana soldiers since the Mexican-American War.

Does LSU still have Mike the Tiger?

Mike the Tiger is the only live tiger on a college campus in the U. S., located on North Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge. It is situated between Bernie Moore Track Stadium and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and is across the street from Tiger Stadium. Visitors can park on North Stadium Drive and adjacent to Tiger Stadium. Mike is usually outside between 8 a. m. and 8 p. m., including weekends and holidays. Yard work is scheduled each Thursday morning, so Mike remains inside until it is completed.

What school does LSU stand for?

Louisiana State University is the flagship institution of Louisiana, aiming to be a leading research-extensive institution that challenges undergraduate and graduate students to achieve the highest levels of intellectual and personal development. LSU is not just an institution of higher education; it is a community and a culture dedicated to changing lives through learning, research, and community engagement. It is one of 24 universities nationwide holding land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant designations, and one of eight with a law, dental, medical, veterinary, and elite MBA program.

Why is LSU so famous?

Louisiana State University—Baton Rouge (LSU), a public institution founded in 1860, has made significant strides in addressing global issues through its heavy grant and research programs. With a total undergraduate enrollment of 32, 574 (fall 2023), LSU is located in the southeastern part of Louisiana, near the Mississippi River. The university offers a semester-based academic calendar and has ranked 179th in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges.

Students can choose from over a dozen colleges, including the E. J. Ourso College of Business, the College of Engineering, and the law school. Outside the classroom, students can explore over 350 student organizations or visit unique facilities like the Hilltop Arboretum and the Louisiana Museum of Natural History. Sports enthusiasts can also visit the Andonie Museum, which teaches about LSU athletics history.

LSU Tigers varsity teams compete in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference. Notable alumni include four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal and Lyndon Johnson’s vice president, Hubert Humphrey. In-state tuition and fees are $11, 954 and out-of-state tuition and fees are $28, 631.

Is the LSU Tiger a Bengal?

Since 1936, Louisiana State University has been officially associated with the Bengal tiger as its mascot.

Why is LSU called Fighting Tigers?

The Louisiana Tigers, a unit of infantrymen from Louisiana, were celebrated for their courage and valour during the American Civil War.

Is LSU an elite school?

LSU is a prestigious and ancient university known for its excellence in research and community outreach. With land-, sea-, and space-grant designations, it is among the top 1 percent of universities in the nation. These designations attract top scholars who collaborate across disciplines to learn from and research with acclaimed professors. LSU is a top-tier research powerhouse, focused on tackling the world’s most pressing issues. Students and professors work together to find solutions, sharing knowledge that will transform the globe.

In 2022, LSU will be the first university to put technology on the moon, built by students. LSU has also contributed to improving medicine for inflammatory diseases, testing a Hyperloop pod at SpaceX, proving Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, and mitigating coastal land loss. LSU’s commitment to inclusion and diversity is key to its innovation and discovery. Students from all 50 states and 100 countries are taking notice, and LSU has enrolled the largest and most academically talented incoming classes each of the past three years.

How much did LSU pay for Mike?

A group of LSU students raised $750 to purchase a tiger, originally named Sheik, from the Little Rock Zoo. The cub was named Mike I in honor of Chambers, who brought him to LSU. On October 21, 1936, LSU students staged a campus strike to welcome the new tiger mascot, Mike I. Mike I ruled at LSU for nearly twenty years, traveling with the team and serving as the mascot. He died on June 29, 1956, of complications related to kidney disease.

Mike the Tiger symbolized the heart and soul of LSU athletics. A fund was established to perpetuate his memory by mounting his pelt in a lifelike manner and displaying him at the Louisiana Museum of Natural History.

What is the real LSU mascot?

LSU’s mascot, Mike, is a live Bengal tiger that has been a part of the institution since its early days in Baton Rouge. He has been present on the campus since the 1950s, accompanying the Tiger teams and participating in public events with the objective of promoting LSU athletics. In 2002 and 2003, Mike was bestowed the title of “Most Collegiate Mascot” at the UCA Collegiate Camp. His habitat is situated in close proximity to Tiger Stadium.

Why is the LSU mascot named Mike?

Mike, the first LSU mascot, was purchased from the Little Rock Zoo in 1935 and renamed Sheik in honor of LSU’s athletic trainer, Mike Chambers. He assumed his duties as the living symbol of LSU three days after arriving on campus in 1936. In the 1950s, Mike was kidnapped by Tulane fans before a Tiger-Green Wave football game, but was found and returned safely in New Orleans.

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, born in 1956, had a short but mysterious life, being chosen due to his larger paws. He was unveiled on September 29, 1956, during the opening game of the new football season. Legend has it that Mike II died of pneumonia at only eight months of age, during a six-game losing streak. A second Mike II was secretly brought in as a ringer.

Mike III, born in 1957, arrived just in time for LSU’s 1958 National Championship football season. During his 18-year reign, LSU won three Southeastern Conference football championships (1958, 1961, 1970) and eight of 13 bowl games. Mike III died of old age in 1976 after the only losing LSU football season of his lifetime. The vet at the time, W. Sheldon Bivin, said he would never allow another tiger to die on campus.

What is LSU school nickname?

Louisiana State University (LSU) is an American public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, founded in 1860. It is the flagship institution of the Louisiana State University System and is home to over 28, 000 undergraduate and 4, 500 graduate students across 14 schools and colleges. LSU is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” and operates 800 sponsored research projects funded by various agencies.

The university is one of eight universities in the United States with dental, law, veterinary, medical, and Master of Business Administration programs. The main campus, dedicated in 1926, consists of over 250 buildings designed by Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio.