LSU's Mike VI

On July 2nd, 2007, we received an email from Dr. David Baker of LSU's Vet School. He told me he was conducting a nationwide search for the new "Mike The Tiger", LSU's mascot, to replace the old Mike, who had passed away at 17 years old. His first letter went on to explain the history of the school's mascot, as well as information about his habitat, care team and living conditions at the university. After a day of emails and telephone calls, Dr. Baker determined that we had several tigers that were possible candidates to become "Mike". A trip was scheduled to come see our facility and check out our tigers.

July 25th, 2007 Dr. Baker and fellow veterinarian Dr. Gordon Pirie arrive at Purdue University in an LSU jet to come visit our facility and visit our Mike candidates. While here they both toured our facility, checked out our tigers. our care records, vet records etc.. Their visit here lasted 2 hours. On the drive back to the airport, Dr. Baker and Dr. Pirie described the dedication and diehard resolve of the LSU Alumni and fans, and how dedicated and committed they were to their mascot.

July 25th, 2007 We were contacted by Dr Baker with the news that they had discussed our cats with others at LSU and would like to bring Roscoe to the university. He ended his note with "This will be a good thing for Roscoe"

With this news, we began prepping for the transfer and started working out details involving transportation, vet papers so he could travel, and USDA transfer forms.

August 18th, 2007 Robin Roberts, a veterinarian, LSU Grad and former student of Dr Baker, makes a trip from Indianapolis to inspect Roscoe and provide health papers for his trip. Dr. Roberts was thrilled to visit, she said that, as an alum, having the opportunity to perform the health inspection on Roscoe is an honor, and gives her "bragging rights" among her fellow former students.

August 25th, 2007 At 11:15 a.m. a private cargo plane from Acadian Ambulance Service lands at White County airport. Dr. Baker, his assistant Dr Stout and a custom built transport cage are offloaded into our truck and taken to our facility. Roscoe is loaded, then all are taken back to the airport and Roscoe is on his way to LSU. (See pictures below!)

Great Cats of Indiana and its Founders, Rob Craig and Laura Proper are honored and privileged to become a part of LSU’s rich history by being in a position to provide a tiger that is worthy of the distinction of becoming LSU’s mascot, “Mike The Tiger”. Because of the significance of this tiger, and due to the impact it has on all aspects of the university and those who have experienced it, we felt compelled to do our part to carry on LSU’s illustrious tradition by donating one of our tigers to the University.

Providing a tiger to fill the role of “Mike” is our way of doing our part to keep a tradition alive that has spanned for generations in the past and, hopefully, will span for generations to come. We hope that as “Mike VI” begins fulfilling his role that he will instill the same sense of pride, the same sense of school spirit, and bring the same level of joy and happiness that was experienced by all those who had the opportunity to know “Mike V”, and the “Mikes” before him.

We know that each individual tiger has its own personality, its own traits that make it unique and, as an individual, can never be replaced. We also understand; however, that the legacy of LSU’s “Mike the Tiger” is a significant, deeply rooted part of Louisiana State University's history and tradition. While Mike VI will never be a “Mike V” - and never should be - he will, nevertheless, continue to represent LSU’s rich, long standing tradition by fulfilling the role of “Mike the Tiger”, and in his own way, continuing to touch the lives of alumni, students, faculty and the community as a whole in a way that is only truly understood by those who have had the privilege of experiencing the awe inspiring, spiritual and heartfelt emotion that is, in a sense, by its very existence, Mike the Tiger.

LSU fans and Alumni are the epitome of Southern Hospitality.

We were so proud of our Roscoe as he entered his new habitat and officially became "Mike VI"! We were overwhelmed watching him play, explore and entertain everyone as he charged around his habitat and tried out all the "new toys" that were placed there just for him to destroy! (Sorry landscape crews, but that's our Boy!!). Laura and I want to thank the many of you that took the time to send us photos and video of Roscoe's adventures today. We watched them over and over, and spent most of the day acting like proud parents bringing home their first born. Anyone within earshot, or who answered their phone had to see the pictures and watch the videos.... Today has truly been a memorable day. Many of you have told us we are now "part of the family". If this is true, becoming a Tiger has been an invigorating experience.

You guys are in for a treat as Mike VI continues to grow. It is hard to comprehend how incredibly large and impressive a 700+ lb tiger is. Roscoe's Father, Tigger is at least this big, and probably bigger. I once saw Tigger sit up and slap an 8' 2 X 6 with his front paws... He broke the board in 2 places! If Mike VI follows in his father's footsteps, he is going to be one impressive cat!

Wow, What a Summer and Fall we had! Being in a position to be able to provide a Tiger to LSU to fulfill the role of "Mike the Tiger" has been an overwhelming, phenomenal experience that we will never forget. We heard from literally thousands of you through emails, letters and phone calls. We met many of you during the two trips to your campus this past fall. We have made some great friends along the way.

We want to thank everyone who made contributions to our facility on Mike's behalf. We appreciate the opportunity to share information with you about our facility and others like us while shedding a little light on what is really involved in running a small nonprofit sanctuary.

We also want to thank those of you who helped us personally by providing what we needed to make a couple trips to your beautiful campus possible. The gentleman from Florida that provided airline tickets, The man with the most impressive tailgate I have ever seen that provided a hotel room, the family from Slidell that provided a pair of "impossible to get" game tickets for the Florida game, TigerRoar.com and its founder for hosting us at Walk-Ons, the "extreme tailgaters" for making us feel at home during our visits, and making sure everything was coordinated for us, The photographer that made sure we got a framed, dated photo of Mike VI on his first stadium visit, The Walk-on Owners for the wonderful food, the couple who gave us the painting, a ride to our hotel, and offered their home for our use during our next visit. In addition to these people, we want to thank the LSU Alumni association and the many others who helped to make our visits unforgettable experiences that we still talk about to this day.

Walking onto your campus for the first time on game day is an awe inspiring experience. You guys sure know how to throw a party! Riding with Mike to the stadium is almost as overwhelming as riding with him inside the stadium. It is obvious that he is truly a king.

Finally, I've got to say that we are totally impressed with Dr Baker, Mike's veterinarian, as well as Wendy and Wes, Mike's first caretakers. Your level of care, emotional attachment and dedication to this tiger is obvious. There is no tiger in the world that receives better care than Mike. When we gave him to you, we knew he would be receiving the best care possible, and our only regret is that we cannot provide the same environment for the other 50 animals at our facility, as they all deserve it as well.

Check out photo's of Roscoe's "secret" move from our facility to LSU! CLICK HERE

Traveling to the stadium... Everyone watches as Mike goes by, Here's how it looked from our point of view in back of the truck. (click on image to make it larger).

Our first visit to your beautiful campus and to see Mike VI in his new home.....

Laura and I made it to your beautiful campus this past weekend. We got to meet many of you, and missed many more of you. We walked onto your campus at 10 a.m. with plans to tailgate with some of you, watch "Mike VI" make his first stadium appearance, then (Since we didn't have game tickets) start the 15 hour drive home. The FIRST people we ran into at Mike's enclosure heard we didn't have tickets... he blinked his eyes and twitched his nose...

(or at least picked up his cell phone), and 30 minutes later we had tickets in hand.

Tigger is 10 years old, and lives with his brother Vaughn, Kiara is 11 years old and lives with her sister, Kendra