In 2015 Mike VI was brought out for the final time during the LSU vs. McNeese game in Tiger Stadium. The practice was discontinued as Mike VI began showing adverse reactions to the loud noise, bright lights and overall stress of Tiger Stadium.
The tradition of bringing out a live tiger mascot was brought back following urges from Gov. Jeff Landry, who pushed for the return of a visit from a live tiger in Death Valley.
A new tiger was towed in his cage, onto the field during the LSU vs. Alabama game. The cage remained parked on the southeastern corner of Tiger Stadium for approximately five minutes while the band was booming, the crowd was screaming and a bright spotlight was shown on the tiger.
LSU students have been vocal about where they stand on bringing a tiger back into the stadium. Student organizations have petitioned against bringing back a live tiger, garnering over 15,000 signatures. Some students at the game observed that the tiger appeared to be panting and did not look comfortable. Ethan Elmer, a computer science major, is actively drafting a student senate resolution against the practice.
“I think it’s really disgusting,” Elmer said. “I think Jeff Landry is using it to try and posture himself as somebody who cares about Louisiana and LSU, but that’s not our tiger. We don’t have a connection to that tiger, and they’re putting it through unnecessary harm.”
Isabella Michael, a pre-nursing major, believes that bringing a live animal onto the field is animal abuse. She believes it will just cause stress and overwhelm students and the tiger.
“Even though it isn’t Mike in the cage it is still animal abuse, and it’s probably just as well going to get overwhelmed and overstimulated,” Michael said. “I don’t see the point of it.”
Katelyn Fioretti, a psychology major, also disagrees with Gov. Landry and does not like the idea of a live tiger being on the field.
“That is so traumatizing for the tiger,” Fioretti said.
Other students echoed similar sentiments like Erin Donaldson, a political science major, agrees that there will be unnecessary stress placed on the young tiger, who is not even LSU’s actual mascot. She also mentioned that the weather conditions would not help with the overstimulation.
“By using a different tiger, LSU gets off scot free for any emotional damages they may face,” Donaldson said. “It’s also going to rain, and it will be hot, so the weather conditions will add unnecessary stress.”
Kelsey Womack, a political communications major, believes the issue reflects LSU’s values and that it is a disgrace to the university. Another political communication major, Connor Radford, thinks it’s an interesting aspect of LSU’s history.
“It’s our mascot, but that poor caged tiger, with all those people, is messed up,” Radford said. “You can change it around all you want.”
Kinesiology major, Lillian Sherman, believes there is no point in it.
“It’s animal abuse and disgraceful to the university,” Sherman said. “Anyone who says it’s for ‘tradition’ forgets that tradition can easily be toxic.”
Somia Pace, a nursing major, said the tiger will just get overstimulated in the stadium and when it does, it will freak everyone out.
“I think it’s absolutely putrid and disgusting that they’re bringing a live tiger into the stadium,” John May, a marketing major, said. “That’s animal cruelty.”
The consensus of students is that if Death Valley has the power to become renowned as the most difficult place to play football, then it must be the worst place for an unknowing tiger to suddenly be placed in the center of the commotion.