In a recent statement, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry expressed his strong support for reviving the tradition of having a live tiger mascot at Louisiana State University (LSU) football games. This tradition, which has been absent for nearly a decade, involves showcasing the university's Bengal tiger mascot on the field before home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.
Historical Context
Historically, the live tiger, known as Mike, would be paraded through the stadium in a trailer accompanied by LSU cheerleaders before home games. The cage containing the tiger would be positioned next to the visiting team's locker room, forcing the opposing players to walk past it. This tradition included appearances at significant events such as the 198 Sugar Bowl and the Superdome in New Orleans in 1991.
Current Situation and Opposition
The current live mascot, Mike VII, an 8-year-old, 345-pound tiger donated to the university from a sanctuary in 2017, is not brought onto the field during games. Instead, visitors can view him in his spacious 15,000-square-foot enclosure located on campus adjacent to the stadium. However, the proposal to reinstate the tradition of having Mike VII on the field has faced strong opposition from animal rights advocates, particularly People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
PETA has urged Governor Landry to reconsider the tradition, labeling it as harmful and risky to the tiger's well-being. They emphasized that tigers are naturally solitary creatures who do not belong in boisterous football stadiums . Despite this opposition, Landry suggested that everyone who feels uneasy about this should take a step back and relax.
University's Stance and Educational Efforts
LSU has maintained that it is providing a sanctuary for a tiger in need while also striving to educate the public about irresponsible breeding and the challenges faced by tigers that are kept illegally or inappropriately in captivity across the U.S. The university has not publicly indicated its willingness to reinstate the tradition, but Governor Landry remains optimistic about the opportunity.
Other Live Mascots
LSU is not the only institution with a live mascot. Other notable examples include Yale University's bulldog, Handsome Dan; Bevo the Longhorn from the University of Texas at Austin, who makes an entrance before football games; and Ralphie the Buffalo from the University of Colorado, who runs across the field with her handlers prior to kickoff.
