LSU Tigers Mascot, LSU Cheerleaders, and LSU Traditions
LSU TIGERS MASCOT, CHEELEADERS, AND TRADITIONS
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LSU Tigers Mascot
LSU Traditions
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LSU Tigers Mascot
Mike V, Mike the Tiger
Mike the Tiger is the official mascot of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and serves as the graphic image of LSU sports, by tradition a live Bengal tiger. Mike V was the fifth live tiger since 1936 to act as the university's mascot. Mike VI is a Bengali-Siberian hybrid.
Since the 1950's, Mike the Tiger has also been portrayed by a costumed student. Costumed Mike appears at most LSU sporting events and also appears at several LSU Tigers related functions.
LSU's mens and womens sports teams are called the Fighting Tigers and Lady Tigers, respectively, and the university's football team plays its home games in Tiger Stadium. LSU first adopted its Tigers nickname in the fall of 1896. The moniker is a reference to the states Confederate heritage. The Louisiana troops of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia became known as the Tigers during the Civil War.
On home football game days, Mike's cage on wheels is parked by the opponent's locker room at the southeast end of Tiger Stadium. Opposing players must pass by Mike's cage in order to reach their locker room.
According to tradition, LSU will score a touchdown for every one of Mike's roars on game day.
