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Game Day: Mike the Tiger’s Way Most LSU students, alumni, and fans make LSU football games a part of their Saturdays during the fall. Game days normally consist of tailgating, the pre-game show, and of course the game in Death Valley. Some Tiger fans camp out in the parking lots near the stadium, tailgate wearing their purple and gold, chant “Tiger Bait” to the opposing team’s fans, and watch The Golden Band from Tigerland march down the hill in front of Mike the Tiger’s enclosure. LSU supporters have a routine on game day filled with tradition and spirit. However, there is another LSU supporter who has a routine of his own on game day — Mike the Tiger.
Around 6 a.m. on game day, Mike the Tiger’s veterinary-student caretakers put Mike inside his tiger house, from which he can be loaded into his cage-on-wheels for the game. According to Dr. David Baker, Mike’s personal veterinarian and director of LSU’s Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Mike realizes that it is game day when he sees the large crowds and wants to watch the Tiger fans tailgate. About two hours prior to the game, Mike is loaded into his cage-on-wheels while approximately 1,000 Tiger fans watch. Baker says that Mike seems to want to get into his trailer and participate in game day. “Generally as we start raising the gates, he’ll get down and try to lift the gates with his muzzle, and then he jumps right into the trailer,” Baker explained. Mike’s trailer is parked next to the opposing team’s locker room until about 20 minutes before the game. LSU’s opponents must make their way past Mike in his cage-on-wheels to reach the field.
“The opposing team is always very interested in Mike. The players make comments about Mike’s size or the fact that LSU has a tiger. Sometimes they tease one another about taking Mike on. They definitely notice that Mike is there. The whole purpose is for him to intimidate the opposing team,” explains Baker. One of LSU’s traditions is for Mike to parade around the field with the LSU cheerleaders perched on top of his cage-on-wheels. Mike’s trailer stops in front of the Tiger Band and the student section. LSU tradition dictates that the Tigers will score a touchdown for every time Mike growls before the game. According to Baker, Mike the Tiger does not appear to like Mike the Mascot, or any other mascot for that matter. Mike tends to roar at the mascot almost every time he sees him, predicting a touchdown for LSU and exciting the crowd inside Death Valley.
Tiger fans watch the large screens located at each end of the field as Mike the Tiger roars at the mascot. Each of the tiger’s roars are followed by the roar of the crowd filling Tiger Stadium. According to Baker, Mike the Mascot was not available to elicit a growl from Mike the Tiger at one game. Instead, the Tiger Band’s drum major, with his plumed hat, did the job. “There was something different about the guy, and I think that bothered Mike. He roared at the drum major, but it was not as aggressive,” explained Baker. After Mike’s famous roars, he then sits on the opposing team’s side during the national anthem and the LSU Alma Mater. Once the game begins, Mike returns to his enclosure where he eats and rests from the day’s activities. Written by Erin Fink | LSU Office of University Relations
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