The Bowl Championship Series National Championship will take place in the first week of 2008, the Chinese year of the tiger, and students want him in New Orleans.
“It has been such a special season that it would be cool if Mike actually got to come since it’s his first year,” said Deane Bryson, business junior who created the Facebook.com group “Bring Mike to the Dome.”
But School of Veterinary Medicine officials said it may not happen.
“As of right now, there are no plans to bring him to the championship,” said Ginger Guttner, spokesman for the Vet School. “The decision is up to Dr. [David] Baker.”
Baker is Mike’s attending veterinarian.
While Bryson said he respects the Vet School’s expertise, he wishes they would give it more consideration. This game is monumental, and Mike has made longer trips than to New Orleans, he said.
Guttner said Mike did “very well” on his trip from the Great Cats of Indiana animal sanctuary Mike once called home. Mike made the trip from his hometown in a plane, and the possible trip to New Orleans would likely be by car.
The Vet School began limiting Mike’s travel in 1970, when his cage overturned on Airline Highway on a road trip to an away game.
Rob Craig, executive director of Great Cats of Indiana, said he feels like a “proud parent” and is very happy about the national publicity Mike has received.
Every year, the University opens its doors to newcomers to “college life.” This semester, it welcomed a special new addition to campus.
When Mike V passed away in May, the campus community lost a treasured part of the University.
Baker soon announced plans to fill Mike V’s place.
Mike VI, a 2-year-old Bengal-Siberian mix formerly named Roscoe, landed in Baton Rouge in late August. He soon claimed the title of Mike VI and already has done what only one other tiger has done: made it to the BCS National Championship.
The product of a persistent tigress and a “weaker than we thought fence between their enclosure and the boys next door” has had an eventful semester.
The Indiana-raised tiger won the title of Mike VI after two weeks in his campus habitat.
“He is one of the nicest tigers we have had, and he went to one of the best places he could go,” Craig said.
Craig said he is still keeping up with Mike through e-mails with the Vet School. He and his wife also had the chance to come accompany Mike on his first ride through Tiger Stadium.
“LSU was fantastic,” Craig said. “Everybody was friendly and courteous. We were very impressed.”
On the Great Cats of Indiana Web site, Craig tells how he and his wife were given tickets to Mike’s first game against Florida by an alumnus they met on campus.
“We walked onto your campus … with plans to tailgate, watch Mike VI make his first stadium appearance, then start the 15-hour drive home. The FIRST alum we ran into at Mike’s enclosure heard we didn’t have tickets … 30 minutes later we had tickets in hand,” Craig said.
Not everyone back home misses Mike.
“The guy that used to be the big bully and take all [Mike’s siblings’] food isn’t there anymore,” Craig said laughingly.
And most students are pleased with the Bengal-Siberian addition to campus. Mike has been welcomed with open arms in Baton Rouge, attracting thousands of visitors to his cage this semester.
“I have visited, and it was heartwarming,” said Leigh Erin Priddy, biochemistry sophomore. “We all go visit him once a week. And every time I have a bad day, I go see him because he makes me feel better.”
Kimberly Langfor, marketing senior, said Mike is unique.
“I transferred from Virginia Tech. So it’s cool having a mascot on campus. He makes the campus more distinctive and boosts school spirit,” she said.
Students said Mike’s game appearances make all the difference.
“It was overwhelming; it got really loud, probably the loudest game I’ve ever been to,” Trent Marcelle, environmental engineering junior, said of Mike’s first appearance in Death Valley at the game against Florida.
LSU Cheerleading Captain Jamie Mascari said Mike brings a new level of excitement to the games for fans and the cheerleaders.
“We absolutely love to get on top of that cage. We almost fight over who gets to do it because we take turns. We always look forward to that,” she said.
Mascari said the best part is “the little kids. Their faces are priceless. It gives me goose-bumps to see that they’re so excited.”
Guttner said Mike VI acclimated well to the craze of Tiger Stadium.
“He did fine – just sat in his trailer and looked around,” Guttner said.
Although many people have visited Mike, canine friends aren’t invited. The Vet School put up signs around his cage asking that dogs not be brought to visit the tiger.
“We were afraid he would break a tooth because he wants to play. The dogs didn’t seem to be enjoying it either. It was stressful for them, too. That’s why we had the signs put up,” Guttner said.
Mike seems to be adjusting well to his new life.
“He’s gained quite a bit of weight since he got here,” Guttner said. “He’s now close to 400 pounds.”
And he’s still growing.