Mike the Tiger is the mascot of Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and serves as the graphic image of LSU sports. The tiger is the name of both the live and costumed mascots, with the current mascot and his two immediate predecessors being live Bengal tigers. The tradition of having a live tiger as a mascot began in 1936, with Mike I arriving on campus on October 21, 1936. The current tiger is Mike VII, and the first three tigers were purchased from zoos, while the remaining tigers were donated by sanctuaries and rescue facilities.
Mike the Tiger’s name was changed to Mike for Mike Chambers, who served as LSU’s athletic trainer when the first mascot was purchased. The Louisiana tigers were a Zouave unit called the tiger rifles within the 1st Louisiana regiment, composed of Irish and German immigrants. LSU students staged a campus strike equal to none to welcome their new tiger mascot to campus. Mike I would assume his duties only three days after arriving on campus.
The Louisiana State University tiger mascot, Mike VI, was born July 23, 2005, and came to LSU when he was two years old. At the time of his arrival at LSU, he was two years old. 2023 marks 87 years for LSU’s live mascot program. Mike the Tiger gradually permeated LSU’s identity, with early references in student publications and mentions in student publications about wearing Zouave uniforms to distinguish themselves at camp in Virginia. According to a petition, LSU’s mascot honors a Confederate regiment called Louisiana’s Tigers that represented the state in the Civil War.
📹 Tale of 2 Tigers: How Clemson, LSU, Tennessee got their mascots
Maryville College history professor Dr. Aaron Astor explains how Clemson, Tennessee and LSU chose their mascots.
Who takes care of Mike the Tiger at LSU?
Mike the Tiger, a large cat at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, is cared for by Dr. David Baker, a personal veterinarian. Two veterinary students work with him for two years before graduating. Mike eats 140 pounds of food weekly, consisting of a formulated zoo carnivore diet, consisting of beef and vitamins and minerals. Supplements like B vitamins and Vitamin E capsules are added for healthy skin and hair coat.
All medical procedures requiring anesthesia are performed at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, with simple procedures performed in his night house. The zoo provides a variety of specialized services to support Mike’s well-being.
Why are LSU geaux tigers?
The Geaux Tigers cheer, a popular tradition for LSU athletics, is derived from the French Cajun name “-eaux”. Fans often issue newcomers endearing French names, with coaches being targeted for humor. The cheer is particularly popular when LSU plays their rival, Ole Miss, where fans shout “Geaux to Hell Ole Miss. Geaux to hell” frequently, with signs throughout the stadium. Ole Miss fans typically respond with “Go to hell, LSU!” The tradition began in 1959 when Coach Paul Dietzel hired a plane to litter the LSU campus with flyers saying “Go to Hell, LSU!” and Ole Miss fans responded by littering the Ole Miss campus with flyers saying “Go to Hell, Ole Miss!” The tradition has stuck ever since.
LSU’s famous cheer before games and during games is about famous food in Louisiana, “Hot boudin, cold coush-coush, come on tigers, push push push”. This cheer is pronounced poosh to rhyme with coush-coush, a Cajun dish typically served for breakfast. The origin of this cheer is claimed by Tulane University and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, both of which have similar versions ending with their respective team names.
What is the history of the Louisiana Tigers?
The Louisiana Tigers, under the command of Major Chatham Roberdeau Wheat, constituted a battalion of soldiers in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Wheat was a typical Southern gentleman from Virginia.
Where did LSU get the name Fighting tigers?
The petition explains that LSU’s first football coach, Dr. Charles E. Coates, wrote about the origins of the name “Louisiana Tigers” in a 1937 alumni column. The name was applied to the New Orleans Zouaves, Donaldsonville Cannoniers, and other Louisiana companies sent to Virginia during the Civil War. These companies were known for their hard fighting and ability to get into the hardest parts of the fighting. The name was later added to the New Orleans papers and became a permanent possession. Author Dan Hardesty confirmed this in his book, LSU: The Louisiana Tigers.
How did Purdue get its mascot?
Purdue University, a world leader in engineering research and development, has been known for its athletes recruited from the rail yards and the use of high-end equipment. The university’s mascot, the Boilermaker Special, was a mini-locomotive mounted on a vehicle frame and branded with the university’s logo. It has been four decades in the making since its original model, which was a mini-locomotive mounted atop a vehicle frame. Currently, the Boilermaker Special VIII is acclaimed as the “world’s largest, fastest, heaviest, and loudest collegiate mascot”.
Another beloved mascot representing Purdue University is Purdue Pete, who has undergone five makeovers since his birth in 1940. California artist Art Evans was hired by the University Bookstore to craft a logo representing a life-like boilermaker tradesman. This little figure was found on clothing items, Purdue memorabilia, and more. In 1956, an ambitious mechanical engineering student dressed in foam rubber padding, football shoulder pads, long black pants, sweater with a P, and a papier-mâché head.
With help from fellow classmates, the student transformed Purdue Pete into a real human mascot. Over the years, the bulky 36 pound papier-mâché head has been replaced with a 10 pound head made of composite materials, allowing Purdue Pete to cheer on the Boilermakers and rally fans. Purdue Pete is an icon on Purdue University’s campus, greeting incoming students and their families, taking photos with fans at sporting events, and capturing the Boilermaker spirit.
How did Auburn get the name tigers?
Auburn’s official mascot is Aubie the Tiger, and all athletic teams are nicknamed the Tigers. The nickname “Tigers” comes from Oliver Goldsmith’s poem “The Deserted Village”. The Auburn Family believes that the team is the Tigers who yell “War Eagle”, and the Auburn Creed, written by George Petrie, is the core of the Auburn family. The “War Eagle” is a cherished tradition, a greeting, and a battle cry, striking a chord with all who understand its meaning. The Auburn Creed is a beloved Auburn doctrine, and the phrase is a reminder of the Tigers’ determination and determination to fight for their rights.
Does LSU keep a 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.
How did Baylor get their mascot?
Baylor University adopted the nickname “Bears” in 1914, but it wasn’t until the 1920s that a real bear mascot was introduced. The first live bear, named Ted, was made available by the troops of the 107th Engineers during World War I. Ted made his first appearance at the 1917 Baylor-Texas A and M football game. Since then, the use of bears at Baylor football and basketball games has become a fixture, alongside players, cheerleaders, and bands.
Joe College, the best-known bear, was brought to Baylor by Bill Boyd, a Baylor student, who bought the bear from a zoo that went broke and offered to take care of it in exchange for free tuition. The tradition of live bears as mascots has continued since.
How did UCLA get its mascot?
The UCLA mascot, the Bruin, was selected by students following a vote by the UC Berkeley student body, which had previously considered the Bears and Bruins as potential mascots. The Bruin continues to serve as a symbol of UCLA pride to the present day.
What is the history behind LSU?
LSU, a military institution, originated in 1859 when the State Legislature founded the Seminary of Learning of the State of Louisiana. The first session was held on January 2, 1860, with William Tecumseh Sherman as the first Superintendent and Professor of Engineering. Sherman’s early influence on LSU’s rules and regulations stemmed from his education at West Point, where he adopted many of the practices and methods of instruction and discipline used at the school.
The institution was modeled on the Virginia Military Institute or the Citadel, a place where leaders were trained. Shortly after opening, the Board of Supervisors recommended to the State Legislature that the school be made military by law, which was approved by the Assembly and changed the institution’s name to Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy.
How much did LSU pay for Mike?
A collective of students amassed a sum of $750, with each individual contributing 25 cents, with the objective of procuring a two-hundred-pound, one-year-old tiger from the Little Rock Zoo. The cub, originally named Sheik, was renamed in honor of Chambers, who facilitated its transfer to LSU.
📹 WHAT FOOTBALL TEAMS HAVE TIGER MASCOTS? 🔥
She named the five college football teams with a tiger mascot we’re looking at missou Clemson Auburn three go go tiger mascot …
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