Citizendia
Your Ad Here

Mike V
Mike V
Mike V, Dec. 2006
Mike V, Dec. 2006

Mike the Tiger is the official mascot of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and serves as the graphic image of LSU sports. The term mascot – defined as a term for any person animal or object thought to bring Luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, generally known as Louisiana State University or LSU, is a public, Coeducational Baton Rouge (French Bâton-Rouge ˌbætən ˈruːdʒ in English, and in French) is the capital city of Louisiana. By tradition the tiger is a live Bengal tiger, although the last two tigers were of mixed breeds. The Bengal tiger, or Royal Bengal tiger ( Panthera tigris tigris or Panthera tigris bengalensis) is a Subspecies of Tiger primarily Mike V was a Bengali-Indochinese mix, while Mike VI is a Bengali-Siberian hybrid. [1]

Since the 1950s, 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-related functions. In August of 2007, Costumed Mike was featured on a This Is Sportscenter Commercial with LSU alum Shaquille O'Neal. This is SportsCenter is the name of a series of comical television commercials run by ESPN to promote their SportsCenter sports news show Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (born March 6 1972 frequently referred to simply as " Shaq " is an African American Professional basketball [2]

LSU's men's and women's sports teams are called the Fighting Tigers and Lady Tigers, respectively, and the university's football team plays its home games in Tiger Stadium. Tiger Stadium is the home field of Louisiana State University American football team. LSU first adopted its "Tigers" nickname in the fall of 1896. The moniker is a reference to the state's Confederate heritage; the Louisiana troops of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia became known as the Tigers during the Civil War in recognition of the bravery of two New Orleans brigades, the Tiger Rifles and the Washington Artillery (whose logo featured a snarling tiger's head). The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana The Louisiana Tigers was the common nickname for certain Infantry troops from the state of Louisiana in the Confederate States Army during the [3]


Contents

History of Mike the Tiger

Mike I (1936-1956)

Born on October 10, 1935, the first Mike was purchased from the Little Rock Zoo with money raised by collecting 25 cents from each LSU student. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Little Rock Zoo is located in Little Rock Arkansas, USA. It is the only Zoo in the state and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Originally named Sheik, the new mascot was renamed in honor of Mike Chambers, LSU's athletic trainer at the time, who was the person most responsible for bringing him to the school. Mike assumed his duties as the living symbol of LSU only three days after arriving on campus on October 21, 1936 . Events 1512 - Martin Luther joins the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg. Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In the 1950s, Mike was kidnapped by Tulane fans before a Tiger-Green Wave football game. Tulane University is a private, Nonsectarian, Coeducational Research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was found, abandoned, in New Orleans -- he and his cage sprayed Tulane green. Mike I lived for 20 years before dying of kidney disease in 1956. Nephrology (from Greek nephros, " Kidney " and λόγος Logos, "speech" lit Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He has been displayed in the LSU Natural Sciences Museum on the campus in Baton Rouge.

Mike II (1956-1958)

A few days after Mike I's death, a resolution endorsing the purchase of another tiger was introduced in the Louisiana legislature and a fund was set up by LSU students to underwrite the cost. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation Mike II had a short but somewhat mysterious life. He was born on February 28, 1956 at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans and was chosen because his paws were larger than those of the other cubs. Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Audubon Zoo is a Zoo located in New Orleans Louisiana. It is part of the Audubon Nature Institute which also manages the Aquarium of the [4] He was unveiled on September 29, 1956, during the opening game of the new football season. Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. Legend has it that less than a month after his arrival at LSU, Mike II died of pneumonia, at only eight months of age, during a six-game losing streak and that a second Mike II was secretly brought in as a ringer. To explain Mike's absence, and after much rumor, the LSU student newspaper, The Daily Reveille, printed a statement that the young tiger needed time alone to adjust to his new home and position as mascot, with its attendant excitement. The Daily Reveille is the Student newspaper for Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge Louisiana. All rumors of Mike II's death and replacement were denied. The official story is that Mike II reigned for only one football season before his death on May 15, 1958 in Audubon Zoo of complications associated with multiple fractures to his left rear leg. Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Audubon Zoo is a Zoo located in New Orleans Louisiana. It is part of the Audubon Nature Institute which also manages the Aquarium of the [4]

Mike III (1958-1976)

Mike III was born on November 26, 1957 and arrived from the Seattle Zoo just in time for LSU's 1958 National Championship football season. Events 43 BC - The Second Triumvirate alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus ("Octavian" later "Caesar Augustus" Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) The 1958 LSU Tigers football team won the AP and Coaches Poll National Championships, the first recognized national championship for LSU in the poll During Mike III's 18-year reign, LSU also won three Southeastern Conference football championships (1958, 1961, 1970) and eight of 13 bowl games. The Southeastern Conference (SEC is a College Athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which operates in the southeastern Mike III died of pneumonia in 1976 after the only losing LSU football season of his lifetime. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The mascot's death affected the students and faculty so greatly that the vet at the time, W. Sheldon Bivin, said he would never allow another tiger to die on campus. [5]

Mike IV (1976-1990)

Mike IV, originally called Jerry, was born at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida in 1974. Busch Gardens is the name of two Amusement parks in the United States, and a planned amusement park in Dubai, owned and operated by Busch Entertainment Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. He was donated by August A. Busch III and was two years old when he came to LSU in August 1976. August Anheuser Busch III (born June 16, 1937) is the great-grandson of Anheuser-Busch founder Adolphus Busch and was the company's Chairman Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. One memorable incident involving Mike IV began in the early-morning hours of November 28, 1981 when pranksters cut the locks on Mike's cage. For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 The tiger roamed freely for hours, attacked a small tree, and appeared to be enjoying himself before becoming trapped in the Track Stadium near his cage. Three tranquilizer shots later, the wandering mascot was returned to his home without further incident and awoke without ill effects. [4] Mike IV reigned for 14 years and retired in 1990 to the Baton Rouge Zoo where he lived until his death in 1995 at the age of 21. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995

Mike V (1990-2007)

Mike V, Dec. 2006
Mike V, Dec. 2006

Mike V was considered to have the best personality of all the tigers that have served as LSU's symbol. Originally named Stevie, he was donated by Dr. Thomas and Caroline Atchison of the Animal House Zoological Park in Moulton, Alabama. Moulton is a city in Lawrence County, Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. Born on October 18, 1989, the 7-pound baby tiger was introduced to LSU fans at a basketball game in February 1990. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) In his 17-year reign, Mike V saw an LSU football team win another National Championship (in 2003) and received both a new trailer and a massive renovation of his enclosure. The 2003 LSU Tigers football team won the BCS National Championship the first national championship for LSU since 1958

In March 2007, Mike V officially began a three-stage retirement. His personal vet, David Baker, cited his age and health as reasons. Mike V retained his mascot status and lived in his on-campus habitat until his death.

Mike the Tiger passed away on May 18, 2007 at 2:23 AM. The cause of death was renal failure. Renal failure or kidney [6]

Mike VI (2007-)

After Mike V's death the university was contacted by PETA and urged not to replace him with a new tiger. LSU chancellor Sean O'Keefe responded to PETA's request stating that LSU will indeed be acquiring a new tiger, and further defended its decision by noting that four of the five 'Mikes' lived to be at least 17 years, nearly twice the normal 8-10 year lifespan of tigers in the wild; further, that tigers were currently a critically endangered species in the wild and any attempt to preserve them as a species would require some level of raising them in captivity such as at LSU's veterinary school. Sean O'Keefe (born January 27, 1956) is a former Administrator of NASA, leading the space agency from December 2001 to February 2005 [7] LSU did not wish to buy a tiger but instead sought for one to be donated to the school. On July 27, 2007 WBRZ ABC News 2 announced that LSU had located a tiger at Great Cats of (Idaville) Indiana, an Indiana-based large cat and carnivore rescue facility. Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. WBRZ, channel 2 is an ABC Affiliate serving Baton Rouge Louisiana, south-central and southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi [8]

Mike VI
Mike VI
Mike VI
Mike VI

"Roscoe" arrived in Baton Rouge on Saturday, August 25, 2007 after a plane ride from Indiana and was kept quarantined in the "night house" in the LSU habitat, away from the public. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The State of Indiana ( was the 19th US state admitted into the union On August 31, 2007, LSU officials decided that the tiger was adjusting well and allowed him into the public habitat during morning outings. Events 1056 - Byzantine Empress Theodora becomes ill dying suddenly a few days later without children to succeed the Throne Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. He was returned to the night house each evening. On his first outing on September 1, 2007, LSU staff invited members of the media and the public to view and take photographs of the tiger. [9][10]

On September 8, 2007, LSU staff acknowledged that "He’s Mike VI" in a press release. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. [11]. A ceremony dedicating the tiger as officially "Mike VI" took place on September 14, 2007,[12] Mike VI was to make his Death Valley debut at the September 22 game against the University of South Carolina. Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Tiger Stadium is the home field of Louisiana State University American football team. This article is about the University of South Carolina in Columbia [13][14], but LSU Veterinarian David Baker felt that a day game would be rough for the new tiger, delaying his anticipated debut until the October 6, 2007 night game against the University of Florida. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The University of Florida ( Florida or UF) is a public land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant major Research [15][16]

Mike VI is a two-year old Siberian-Bengal mix male currently weighing over 300 pounds. The product of an "unintended breeding" at Great Cats, University staff believe his youth, size and temperament may give the athletic department a "more ferocious mascot much sooner than watching a cub grow up at LSU. "[17] Estimates by LSU Veterinary staff are that Mike VI may top out at 700 lbs or more, making him LSU's largest tiger mascot ever. [18]

In Mike VI's first year as the LSU tiger, the LSU football team won the BCS National Championship for the 2007 college football season. The LSU Tigers football team aka "Fighting Tigers" represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge Louisiana, United States in The 2007 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the College football season of 2007-2008, winning the Southeastern College football is American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, Colleges and military academies

New Habitat

In 2005, a new $3 million habitat was created for Mike. The Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF) raised funds, entirely from private sources, to subsidize the construction project. The habitat features state-of-the-art technologies and includes among its amenities lush plantings, a waterfall, a flowing stream that empties into a wading pond, and rocky plateaus. The new habitat ranks among the largest and finest Tiger preserves in the country and expanded Mike's home from 2,000 to 15,000 square feet. It also features research, conservation, and husbandry programs, as well as educational, interpretive, and recreational activities. Mike's new home can be viewed via the live Tigercam. [19]

Retirement

After the death of Mike III in 1976 while he was still LSU's active mascot, a three-stage retirement plan was instituted for the tigers: [5]

Traditions

Mike the Tiger statue in front of Tiger Stadium
Mike the Tiger statue in front of Tiger Stadium

Further Reading

References

  1. ^ Jim Kleinpeter. "Roscoe arrives, could be Mike soon", August 27, 2007.  
  2. ^ YouTube video link
  3. ^ Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr. , Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Units, 1861-1865, LSU Press (1996) ISBN 0-8071-2102-9
  4. ^ a b c David G. Baker and W. Sheldon Bivin, Mike the Tiger: The Roar of LSU, LSU Press (2003) ISBN 0-8071-2888-0
  5. ^ a b LSU's Mike the Tiger starting retirement
  6. ^ Mike won't make stadium debut this week
  7. ^ LSU Response to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
  8. ^ Roscoe arrives, could be Mike soon
  9. ^ New Tiger Moves into Habitat Saturday Morning
  10. ^ LSU tiger gets taste of public life today
  11. ^ It’s official: he’s Mike VI
  12. ^ Mike VI's Official Naming Ceremony Friday, Sept. 14
  13. ^ Mike VI to make stadium debut
  14. ^ Mike VI to make stadium debut
  15. ^ Mike won't make stadium debut this week
  16. ^ Mike VI's debut on hold
  17. ^ 2theadvocate.com | News | LSU confirms selection of a new tiger — Baton Rouge, LA
  18. ^ LSU to debut tiger Sept. 8
  19. ^ TigerCam

External links

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic