Meet LSU's Mike The Tiger

Meet Mike The Tiger

Mike found his way to LSU in 1935 when the first tiger was purchased through a donation of 25 cents from each student. The tiger was initially named Sheik, but that was changed to Mike to honor Mike Chambers, the LSU athletic director who was responsible for the addition of the mascot to the school. A year later, Mike arrived on campus and became the living symbol of the school.

Mike’s Experience

Mike has seen three national championships, 13 conference titles, 41 All-Americans and Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon, who led LSU to its first national championship. Clearly, Mike knows what it takes to get it done on a national level, and he knows great talent when he sees it.

Mike’s Leadership Abilities

Mike is such a fearsome presence that the mere sight of his cage strikes fear into his opponents. On game days, the visiting team has to walk by Mike’s empty cage to get to their locker room. Tiger Stadium is one of the toughest places to play, and Mike the Tiger has a lot to do with that.

What Distinguishes Mike from the Rest? 

Mike the Tiger is able to do something that other mascots simply aren’t able to do—predict the amount of touchdowns his team will score. School tradition dictates that for every roar Mike lets out, the Tigers will score that many touchdowns during the game. Not only is Mike fearsome, he’s a visionary.

Mike’s Campaign Promises

Mike promises to take the same level of intimidation that he represents and have it translate onto the football field.

Mike the Tiger: Intimidating the SEC One Game at a Time