Gov. Jeff Landry told reporters at an unrelated Tuesday morning press conference he was enthused and pushing toward getting LSU’s live mascot Mike the Tiger to once again tour Death Valley’s turf.

“How ’bout we honor Mike VI by bringing us a live tiger on the field?” he said, responding to a question that asked if fans would be seeing the live tiger in the stadium later this year. 

The conference was held at LSU’s Memorial Tower. Landry was there to sign an executive order that he said was intended to strengthen collegiate freedom of speech.

Since Mike VII took over as the university’s mascot in 2017, he has never been placed inside the stadium during a game, unlike his predecessor Mike VI, who was hauled in a caged trailer around the perimeter of the field and passed away from cancer in 2016. Mike VI was brought into the stadium for games until 2015, continuing a longstanding tradition that dates back to the very first live tiger mascots.

Since early September, Landry and a handful of other politicians have pushed for getting Mike back on the field, even talking to the dean of LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

Since adopting Mike VII, the university has been clear in its stance that Mike was housed on the university as a sanctuary, with a dedicated veterinary staff and habitat that costs millions.

Landry said bringing back Mike “is an unbelievable opportunity.” He shared a personal story, recounting a conversation he had with the governor of Nebraska, who recalled it was “one of the most intimidating experiences” and when he played in Tiger Stadium during his college football days was something he’d “never forget.”

When Landry asked the crowd if students would like to see a live tiger on the field, some of the students in the crowd expressed concern. Other students then cheered louder, supporting bringing back Mike to the field.

In response to the concerns, Landry said the care that Mike the Tiger receives as a resident of LSU’s sanctuary allows him better care and treatment and that those resources should count toward getting Mike back on the field of Tiger Stadium.

“Tigers that live out in the wild, they don’t get an opportunity to go around the corner and see a veterinarian,” he said.

LSU has not yet commented on whether this tradition will be reinstated. LSU students are, broadly, opposed to bringing Mike back on the field. 

“Everybody that has some anxiety over this needs to calm down,” Landry said.