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Mike VI has been living in his campus habitat for two months and has yet to experience Tiger Stadium, but that will change Saturday night.
The tiger will make his first appearance in the stadium at Saturday's football game against the University of Florida, said Herb Vincent, senior associate athletic director.
The tiger was scheduled to make his first appearance at the Sept. 22 game against the University of South Carolina.
"We had originally planned for him to attend the South Carolina game, but since it was a day game he was still adjusting to the heat," said Ginger Guttner, public relations coordinator for the School of Veterinary Medicine.
The tiger will enter the stadium in a cage with the Tiger Band two hours prior to kickoff and will be positioned near the entrance of the opposing team. He will leave the stadium before kickoff and return to his night enclosure, Guttner said.
Vincent said the only reason the mascot would not attend the game is if the field is wet from rain.
"The field being wet is a standing issue with every game," Vincent said.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts isolated showers and thunderstorms and a 30 percent chance of rain in Baton Rouge Saturday night.
Guttner said because Mike will leave before the actual game starts, the fan noise in the stadium will not be an anticipated problem.
"There are always people out there visiting him, and he isn't bothered by them," she said. "Obviously, it's not like Tiger Stadium, but he is used to it."
Guttner said the noises of Tiger Stadium are not expected to affect the tiger.
Vincent said the Veterinary School played music, including the school's fight song, near Mike's habitat to get him accustomed to the noises of Tiger Stadium. Vincent said Mike's attending physician, Dr. David Baker, was pleased the tiger did not have any adverse reactions.
"So far, nothing has bothered him," Vincent said. "He is satisfied that Mike is ready to handle the atmosphere," Vincent said.
This will be the first time students will get a chance to see Mike in action on game day.
"I'll be sitting close to where he is, by the other team's locker room," said Taylor Ardoin, biology junior. "So it's going to be really awesome."
---- Contact Nanci Velez at nvelez@lsureveille.com
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