Editor’s Note: Members of Team Mike were granted anonymity for this story because the organization does not disclose Mike’s human identities.
All eyes inevitably follow him when he walks into a room.
He never speaks, but he always shows up. He stalks the sidelines at almost every LSU sporting event — rain or shine.
Mike the Tiger, arguably the face of LSU, has appeared at weddings, birthday parties and even on “Good Morning America.”
Auditions for Mike are held on an as-needed basis — most recently this weekend.
“We could be juggling four athletic events in the same weekend,” said LSU Spirit Coordinator Pauline Zernott. “But Mike can never be at two events at the same time.”
So how does Mike make appearances at home and away games in the same day?
“Mike’s got his own private jet,” one current Mike said.
Or maybe just a few dedicated individuals who make up Team Mike.
Potential team members spent three days this weekend learning how to become Mike. Candidates had to learn Mike’s special pregame walk and casual walk.
Judges graded prospective Mikes on their walk, character, improvisation skills and interview. The judges look for “a collegiate, clean-cut person that is going to represent the University well,” Zernott said.
Mike has no specific height requirement, but the transition between Mikes must be seamless. A potential candidate must be able to step into the role instantly, Zernott said.
“They need to be able to make Mike come to life,” Zernott said. “If they don’t portray that, you can easily see it.”
Current and former members of Team Mike stressed to potential candidates the commitment it takes to be Mike.
“There’s only been about four Mikes a year since 1958,” said a former member of Team Mike. “It’s a big responsibility.”
The judges asked candidates why they wanted to join the team. One candidate wanted to be Mike since high school.
“It’s about touching lives,” another candidate said.
The Team Mike captain said Mike must be first priority, especially in the fall.
“Your weekends are totally committed to Mike during football season,” the captain said.
Every Mike must also follow rules. Members of Team Mike never speak or respond to their own names while in character.
They can’t be seen outside their suit or do anything to put LSU in a bad light.
And everything has to be larger than life for Mike.
“When you get in the suit, you’re not yourself. You have a completely different personality,” a Team Mike member said. “Your job is to entertain a crowd. As long as it’s not offensive, anything is fair game.”
Members of the team said interacting with strangers makes the job fun. But some fans can be unpredictable or dangerous, especially at away games.
“When Kentucky beat us three years ago, some fans stormed the field, ripped Mike’s head off and started punching him,” one Mike said. “You’re pretty much defenseless in the suit.”
But there are hundreds of positive interactions for every bad one. One Mike said his visit to a children’s hospital made him realize the impact of what he does.
“Some of those kids probably hadn’t smiled in months,” Mike said.
Being Mike can be a thankless job. Team Mike members get some of the perks of being an NCAA athlete, but don’t get full scholarships.
That’s why it takes a certain kind of person to be Mike, a former team member said.
“You really have to have that heart,” he said.
Mike must be mentally and physically tough. A current Mike said the suit is about 30 degrees hotter than room temperature.
The position can also be lonely because the identities of Mike are secret.”You’re publicly known, but it’s the man behind the suit nobody knows,” a former Mike said.
But the challenge of leading a double life can also be fun, a current Mike said.
Current and former Mikes said sharing the experience with other members of the team helps.
“You can’t be an independent person if you want to be Mike,” a current team member said.
Team members said being Mike has opened up doors for them.
“The program meant a lot to me,” one former Mike said. “LSU sent me all over.”
Another former Mike said he loved the job because of the people he met and worked with.
A current Mike said some of his experiences included riding in a private jet and limo with LSU coaches Les Miles, Trent Johnson and Van Chancellor.
“I’ve shaken hands with Kevin Faulk,” said the Mike. “I’ve gone skydiving in the suit.”
The experience stays with team members forever, one former Mike said.
“Once you’re Mike, you’ll always be Mike,” the former Mike said. “You don’t just leave it behind.”
Contact Katherine Terrell at [email protected]