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LSU Student Government Unanimously Against Governor's Mission to Return Live Tiger to Tiger Stadium

By Savannah Young

Nov 9, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; A live tiger made an appearance on the field before the game between the LSU Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Nov 9, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; A live tiger made an appearance on the field before the game between the LSU Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
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The controversy from last week's live tiger showing at Tiger Stadium during the pre-game festivities before the Alabama game has continued into this week as LSU's student government has weighed in on the issue.

Although the LSU football team was run off the field by Alabama, one of the biggest talking points in the aftermath of the game has been Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry's continued push to allow a live tiger into LSU football games moving forward. Governor Landry negotiated with the university last week to rent a live tiger named Omar Bradley to represent LSU's live tiger mascot, Mike VII.

This decision was widely mocked by students, fans, and commentators, with Omar's entry into the stadium even drawing boos from the home crowd on Saturday night. Some went so far as to blame the rented tiger for LSU's poor showing in the game against Alabama.

Saturday marked the first entrance of a live tiger in Tiger Stadium in almost a decade, after decreasing the practice throughout Mike VI's tenure and completely discontinuing it after his death in 2016. When the tiger exhibition for the Alabama game was announced last week, fans and media organizations quickly elevated the story to the national stage, and organizations from the LSU Wildlife Society to PETA universally condemned the governor's plan.

Governor Landry added fuel to the fire himself this week, alleging that his tiger was, "the only tiger who showed up Saturday," angering fans and constituents alike across the state.

On Wednesday evening, LSU's student senate unanimously passed a resolution demanding the university bar live tigers from Tiger Stadium, reported by the LSU student paper, The Reveille. The resolution was sent to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, LSU President William F. Tate IV, and LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward. Although the resolution is only a recommendation, it sends a strong message representative of the student body's opinion on the tiger exhibition.

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