Mike VI will make his Tiger Stadium debut at Saturday’s football game.
The Bengal-Siberian tiger has been in his campus pad since Sept. 1, but has yet to make a physical appearance in Death Valley.
Ginger Guttner, School of Veterinary Medicine spokeswoman, said the tiger has adjusted to his habitat well.
“Obviously, he would not be right on the field if Dr. [David] Baker did not feel he was ready,” Guttner said. Baker is Mike’s attending veterinarian.
Senior Associate Athletic Director Herb Vincent said music, including the University’s fight song, was played near Mike’s habitat about two weeks ago to assimilate him to the different sounds he could expect on a game day.
Vincent said fans should expect a normal procession for Mike before Saturday’s game. Previous mascots have been paraded around the stadium in a rolling cage with the cheerleading squad sitting atop the enclosure.
“We’re looking forward to having Mike at the game, and we’re anxious to have him in attendance,” he said.
Zane Busbee, landscape architecture junior, said he plans to attend the game.
“I think the crowd is going to go crazy,” he said.
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]