Louisiana Welcomes Mike The Tiger's Return to Death Valley
The Return of Mike to Death Valley
The return of Mike the Tiger to LSU’s home field in Death Valley is a tribute to the military legacy that spans from the historic 1845 “Fighting Tigers” of Louisiana’s Washington Artillery Battalion to the World War II “Flying Tigers” squadron founded by LSU alumni Major General Claire Chennault. Their names and spirit of resilience have inspired our sports teams and continue to honor LSU’s proud military roots and 170 years of academic excellence. Today, as Louisiana’s flagship university, LSU educates a talented student body of 30,000, leading groundbreaking research to expand global knowledge. Mike’s renewed game-day presence is a powerful symbol of how our state’s new leadership is ready to pounce on opportunities, uniting the strength of our historic college campuses with the workforce demands of the modern age. This bold alignment shows we’re prepared to seize every chance to advance our state.
Protect Louisiana Values was proud to help Governor Jeff Landry restart the tradition of a live tiger for the historic 100th anniversary of Death Valley. Through cooperation and partnership with LSU, we demonstrated that this exciting tradition can be carried out responsibly and safely. “Mike the Tiger” represents the spirit and resilience of the Louisiana people. The renewed gameday presence of a live tiger is a powerful symbol of how our state is ready to pounce on many opportunities like uniting our historic college campuses with the workforce demands of the modern age. Geaux Tigers.
Notable History of Mike the Tiger
Mike the Tiger is LSU’s beloved mascot, with a legacy dating back to 1934 when a tiger cub was brought to the university. The first tiger, Mike I, was purchased with funds raised from students and named after Chellis “Mike” Chambers, an athletic department trainer. He served as LSU’s mascot for nearly 20 years, symbolizing the heartbeat of LSU athletics.
Mike II followed briefly, while Mike III became famous for his presence at many LSU games, including legendary moments like his on-command growl during an LSU-Alabama game. Mike III served for 18 years, witnessing LSU’s rise to a national championship, three SEC championships, and 13 bowl games. He died in 1976 after his only losing season.
Mike V, who served from 1990 until his passing in 2007, lived in a newly renovated habitat funded by LSU fans’ “I Like Mike” campaign. During his reign, Mike V saw LSU win a football national championship, five baseball titles, 23 track championships, and 37 SEC titles from 1990 to 2007. He would come to be known as one of the nation’s and LSU’s best mascots in college football.
Mike VII, introduced in 2017, continues the tradition as the reigning Mike the Tiger, and as of 2024, he is ranked as the most memorable college mascot in the country. However, he is the first and only Mike to have not attended LSU home games in the entire legacy of Mike.
Game-Day Tradition
For years, it was a tradition for Mike to travel through Tiger Stadium in a trailer, with the LSU cheerleaders riding atop before each home game. His cage would be parked near the opponent’s locker room at the southeast end of the stadium, so opposing players had to pass by it on their way to their locker room. Tradition also held that every time Mike growled before a game, it would guarantee a touchdown for the Tigers that night.