Omar Bradley the tiger to replace Mike VII at LSU vs Alabama game
sportingnews.com — November 9, 2024, 09:01 AM UTC
For the LSU vs. Alabama game, a Bengal tiger named Omar Bradley will be present at Tiger Stadium, not Mike VII, the official live mascot. Mike VII has never attended a game since LSU stopped the tradition of bringing live tigers to events. Omar Bradley, 1.5 years old, is owned by Mitchel Kalmanson, who has faced criticism from animal rights groups. PETA opposes the use of live tigers at games, citing concerns about animal welfare and past violations by Kalmanson. Mike VII, an eight-year-old tiger, resides in a specially designed habitat on LSU's campus. The school has maintained this arrangement since 2017, focusing on the tiger's well-being rather than bringing him to games.