**Mike the Tiger: The Purrfect Mascot with a Roaring History 🐯💪**
Oh, Mike the Tiger – the mascot legend that’s been prowling LSU's campus and hearts since 1936. This isn’t just some tiger costume; we’re talking a *real, live tiger.* LSU’s tradition of having a big cat with an even bigger personality began when a group of ambitious LSU staff and students thought, “Hey, what if we just… get a tiger?” And thus, the OG Mike was born. 🐅👏 ### Mike I: The Original King of the Jungle 👑 They say the tiger’s name was originally “Sheik,” but after he arrived, they called him Mike, in honor of Chellis “Mike” Chambers, one of the tiger-crazed masterminds behind the mascot idea. Little did Sheik – er, Mike – know he was about to become an icon. This first Mike was a massive crowd-puller, even making LSU students ditch class to greet him when he arrived on campus in 1936. Yes, Mike had that kind of power. He lived a long, roaring life, joining LSU at games and hanging with fans for nearly two decades. When he passed in 1956, an entire campus mourned. 💔 ###...
