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“Calm Down” • Louisiana Illuminator
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“Calm Down” • Louisiana Illuminator

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry had harsh words Tuesday toward critics of his push to have LSU revive its tradition of bringing its live tiger mascot to home football games.

“Anyone who is worried about this needs to calm down,” Landry said, adding that his goal is to “honor” Mike.

The governor was on campus for a press conference Free Expression Guidelines in Higher Education.

Reviving the tradition of bringing LSU’s live mascot, Mike the Tiger, has been a pet project of Landry, who has been in ongoing negotiations with LSU’s veterinary school for several weeks, according to a state lawmaker involved in the talks.

Earlier this month, LSU veterinary school spokeswoman Ginger Guttner said the institution was “not in discussions about taking Mike to any games this season.”

“I hope we can come to an agreement,” Landry said Tuesday.

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Critics of the move expressed concerns about Mike’s well-being if he had to attend football games again.

Mike VII, an 8-year-old Siberian Bengal tiger who became LSU’s official mascot in 2017, has never attended a football game. Previous Tigers were housed in a trailer and paraded on the sidelines of home games, and some even traveled to away games. The university announced it would break the tradition when it adopted Mike VII as a cub.

Guttner said Mike VI had negative reactions to visual and auditory stimuli during pregame celebrations and was reluctant to climb into a trailer cage to be taken to Tiger Stadium. His last appearance was at the LSU-McNeese game in 2015, which was canceled due to a lightning strike. Mike VI did not participate in any games in 2014.

But those practical concerns didn’t end discussions by the Landry administration, which has proposed acquiring a second tiger — a cub that could be raised to acclimate to the sights and sounds of LSU Notoriously loud football stadium.

Landry said he recently met with Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican who played defensive back for the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 1975 to 1978. Pillen recalled seeing Mike IV parked outside the visitors’ locker room when he played at Tiger Stadium in 1976 in a game that ended 6-6.

“He said it was one of the most intimidating experiences of his life. It was a memory he will always have and cherish, and he is ready to come back and see LSU play again,” Landry said.

Landry said Mike’s return to the games is an opportunity to showcase LSU’s academic achievements and athletics.

In an interview outside of Mike’s home after the press conference, Landry speculated that bringing the Tiger into the stadium would “bring the magic back” and could help LSU win more games. “Bring back the magic” was also a promise from former LSU head coach Gerry DiNardo, who coached the Tigers from 1995 to 1999 and revived LSU’s tradition of wearing white jerseys at home games.

Governor Jeff Landry, Senator Rick Edmonds and Representatives Tony Bacala, Mike Johnson and Dixon McMakin pose for a photo with a statue of Mike near the enclosure for the live Mike mascot (Piper Hutchinson / Louisiana Illuminator).

LSU had a rough start to the season, starting with a loss to the University of Southern California in a neutral site game in Las Vegas, but has since won its last four games. The Tigers next face Ole Miss at home on October 12th.

Although pundits favored the Rebels, Landry predicted an LSU victory.

In an interview, LSU Board of Trustees member Collis Temple Jr., a former LSU basketball star, said that while he believes animal welfare concerns should be addressed, he is not opposed to the idea of ​​having Mike at the games to bring with you.

“I have no problem with any tradition if that’s something the head of our state wants to see,” Temple said.

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