Louisiana governor Jeff Landry gave a hand in convincing LSU to carry out a stay tiger for its recreation in opposition to Alabama this previous weekend, and doubled down on his initiative after the staff misplaced 42-13. It was supposed to revive this system’s custom of getting a stay tiger, named “Mike the Tiger,” seem at video games.
The choice to have the stay tiger introduced forth controversy and criticism, however Landry dismissed these criticisms throughout a speech Monday evening in Metairie at an occasion often known as “Politics with a Punch.”
“I had extra folks come as much as me, they usually remembered Mike the Tiger greater than a few of the nice performs in Tiger Stadium,” Landry stated, through CBS Sports activities. “And so they grew up as youngsters seeing this. It’s about custom. On the finish of the day, these woke folks have tried to take custom out of this nation. It’s custom that constructed this nation.”
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Jeff Landry, legal professional normal of Louisiana, speaks throughout a Weaponization of the Federal Authorities Subcommittee listening to in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, March 30, 2023. (Getty Photographs)
Landry went on to say that having the tiger on the latest video games was about respecting custom. The college beforehand had a stay tiger at video games however discontinued the custom in 2015 amid controversy over the therapy of the endangered species. The newest animal to seem at video games with the famed mascot identify “Mike the Tiger” died in 2016. He was the sixth in his line, often known as Mike VI.
“I’m going to let you know one thing. That is about custom. And the factor about custom is about respecting those that got here earlier than you,”
The college retains its present stay tiger mascot named Mike VII in a 15,000-square-foot enclosure on campus. A special tiger, named Omar Bradley, was shipped over from Florida’s Worldwide Unique Animal Expertise Company to seem at Saturday’s recreation.
Landry’s workplace additionally stated on Monday that no state or LSU funds have been used “for any facet of the tiger.”
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LSU head coach Brian Kelly watches from the sideline within the second half an NCAA faculty soccer recreation in opposition to Alabama in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Picture/Gerald Herbert)
The governor additionally used his talking occasion on Monday to disgrace the LSU gamers for his or her efficiency in opposition to Alabama.
“Our tiger, our stay tiger, sadly, disappointingly, was the one tiger who confirmed up Saturday. I’m sorry,” Landry stated.
Landry stated earlier this yr that he wished to see a stay tiger again on the sideline in Loss of life Valley, and this transfer might be resulting from that want. The governor beforehand preached the significance of honoring custom throughout an interview on Fox Information final Friday.
“That is about custom,” Landry stated. “That is about from Mike I by VI. We have now had a stay mascot on the sphere, like many different faculties have earlier than.”
The tiger’s proprietor Mitchel Kalmanson advised WBRZ that they practiced bringing Omar into Tiger Stadium and simulated the lights and loud music final Thursday and Friday evening. He didn’t inform the information station who paid for the occasion and wouldn’t verify whether or not he would carry tigers to future LSU video games.
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A tiger lays down on the zoo. (iStock)
“The animal was not sedated,” he stated. “The animal was habituated. The animal didn’t have its ears pinned.”
Louisiana’s Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahanspoke out on the difficulty Monday, in response to The Advocate.
“The Louisiana Division of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) laws prohibiting the importation and possession of huge unique cats, together with tigers, present exemptions for sure entities,” Sheahan stated in a press release. “Exempted entities embody universities, resembling LSU, which have persistently and traditionally possessed a giant unique cat as its mascot, and touring exhibitors integrated underneath a sound USDA Class C Exhibitor License who’re solely within the state quickly.”
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