The drawback of using a real life animal as your official mascot is finding its successor when the time comes for it to retire. Still, traditions keep them from switching to synthetic yet adorable mascot.

The Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge is such an example of this long-standing tradition. Since 1936, this university uses real life tigers as their official mascot. Using the moniker Mike the Tiger, Mike I served the school loyally from 1936 to 1956. Mike V, the most recent mascot, died in May 2007 after 17 long years. More than 100,000 people visit these tigers every year.

Now, the 2-year old feline Roscoe the Tiger is hailed Mike VI. Weighing more than 400 pounds, this very playful Bengal/Siberian mix was donated by the Great Cats of Indiana, a nonprofit animal rescue center in Idaville.

Roscoe is not like the many cute mascots actively entertaining the crowd with their signature moves and slapsticks. For one, he does not stay during the game. Moreover, he is treated like a royalty. Roscoe arrives 2 hours before the game in a caged trailer pulled by a truck and surrounded by more than 20 police officers. He is then greeted by the wild LSU crowd of more than 200,000 people chanting ‘Mike … Mike … Mike … Mike.

Indeed, Mark VI is one of the luckiest mascots in the world today.

Via Journal & Courier

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