On July 1, 1956, just a few days after the death of the beloved Mike I,
Representative Kenneth Deshotel of St. Landry introduced a resolution in the
Louisiana legislature endorsing the purchase of another tiger. Deshotel
stated that he hoped the new tiger would be called "Mike II". On campus,
the Mike the Tiger Fund was launched by the student body President Enos
Parker and fellow students Vic Koepp and John Nunn to purchase, Mike Junior.
Mike II was born on February 28, 1956 and to this day the story of Mike II
remains shrouded in mystery. He was selected because his paws were
larger than those of any other cub. Mike II arrived secretly on the LSU
campus on September 28, 1956. Mike's unveiling occurred the next day,
September 29, opening day of the new football season. Academic holiday
was declared and the celebrations began.
Legend has it that less than a month after
his arrival at LSU, Mike II died of
pneumonia at only eight months of age
during a six-game losing streak. Reportedly, Mike II was then
secretly buried under a willow tree along the Mississippi River. To
explain Mike's absence, a statement was issued in the LSU Daily
Reveille on October 23 saying that Mike was having trouble
adjusting to his enclosure and was therefore
being kept inside until he becomes more accustomed to the excitement of
being a mascot. Several pieces of evidence support the legend that the
original Mike II died and was replaced by another young tiger. Nevertheless,
all rumors of the death and replacement of Mike II were denied. The official
story was that Mike II had finally adjusted to life as a mascot and that he
was in great health. The second Mike II (if indeed there was a "phoney
feline") died at Audubon Zoo on May 15, 1958 of complications associated
with multiple fractures to his left rear leg.
Legend has it that less than a month after
his arrival at LSU, Mike II died of
pneumonia at only eight months of age
during a six-game losing streak. Reportedly, Mike II was then
secretly buried under a willow tree along the Mississippi River. To
explain Mike's absence, a statement was issued in the LSU Daily
Reveille on October 23 saying that Mike was having trouble
adjusting to his enclosure and was therefore
being kept inside until he becomes more accustomed to the excitement of
being a mascot. Several pieces of evidence support the legend that the
original Mike II died and was replaced by another young tiger. Nevertheless,
all rumors of the death and replacement of Mike II were denied. The official
story was that Mike II had finally adjusted to life as a mascot and that he
was in great health. The second Mike II (if indeed there was a "phoney
feline") died at Audubon Zoo on May 15, 1958 of complications associated
with multiple fractures to his left rear leg.
