Mike VI, LSU’s live tiger mascot, hasn’t been to a football game since the 2013 season, opting to remain in his 15,000-square-foot habitat for every home game last season.
Though LSU stresses the decision to attend games will remain Mike’s alone, the university issued a statement today saying it will attempt to load Mike into his trailer for the first three home games this season, beginning with Saturday’s game against McNeese State.
“Mike’s behavior last year demonstrated that he was unwilling to load for the games,” says LSU President F. King Alexander in a prepared statement. “We hope he will come to the games this year, but we are prepared to revisit our decision in early October if he chooses not to load.”
Should Mike prove averse to attending games again this season, Alexander says the other option is to leave him in his habitat outside Tiger Stadium for the fans to see him there.
Since Mike arrived on campus in 2007, he has decided to attend 32 of the 57 home games—or about 56% of the games. In his first season, he attended all but the first home football game. In 2008, his attendance dropped to just two games, but the following year he attended all but one game. He made it to all but two home games in 2010, every home game in 2011, four games in 2012 and three in 2013 before the 2014 goose egg.
Following Saturday’s game, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m., LSU’s following two home games will be played on Sept. 19 at 2:30 p.m. against Auburn and Oct. 3 against Eastern Michigan at a time not yet announced.
Mike is the only tiger living on a college campus and one of only two live tiger mascots in the country. As such, Alexander says his health remains the top priority.
“Mike’s health and well-being are always our top priority,” he says. “We are grateful to our School of Veterinary Medicine for the extraordinary care they provide our beloved mascot.”
LSU says it will provide game-day updates on Mike’s attendance on his official Facebook and Twitter pages.
