Have we heard anything official on Mike VI? ETA: New York Times article

Yeah. His vet basically said Mike VI doesn't give a frick about football and doesn't like his cage so they will not force him into it. Putting meat in his trailer doesn't work because he's a fricking 850lb cat that does what he wants when he wants.

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His vet basically said Mike VI doesn't give a frick about football and doesn't like his cage so they will not force him into it.

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So nothing fundamentally changed between Mike V & VI re: encouraging him to get into his trailer, it's just this cat's temperament is different?

That's a shame.

This Mike is the Mike regardless...as he ages who knows if this might be the last Mike, government and special interest groups dominant the US.

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Anyone know if they try and get him in the cage and stadium during the off season?

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Yes. They do.

They said that the last time he was on the field the fireworks really freaked him out and now he associates the cage with that fear. Additionally, they asked if they could not have the fireworks and they were told no, so probably no more stadium visits. Like the Honey Badger, Mike does what he wats

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now he associates the cage with that fear.

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Maybe get a different looking cage?

(no message)

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complaining on his Facebook page won't change his mind.

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Truth. I, jokingly, made a light hearted comment about this on one of his photos last week and got lit up by some flaming libs. Brief creep of their profile pics confirmed they were irrational-cause-pumping-tree-hugging-left-wingers who can't take a joke. One of them told ME I needed to get a life.

No offense flaming libs.

Here is a quote from one his care takers/ vets from Mikes Facebook page on the matter:

"I'm out in my yard if fans want to come see me before the game. I know that many fans are upset that I have not been to any games this season and wonder why. While I was born and raised in captivity, I am still a non-domesticated animal and will not act the same way that your dog or cat might. Lately, I've been compared to other college mascots, but (with all due respect to Uga and Reveille) I am not a dog, a horse or a steer, and my behavior cannot be compared to theirs. Simply putting food in my trailer (even if I'm fasted the night before) won't work because tigers are not food-motivated; I would view it as something different and suspicious, and it would make me less likely to go into the trailer. That being said, my caretakers and LSU have done many things to get me into the trailer (e.g., food and toys in the trailer; covering the side fence by the trailer and the trailer itself to give me privacy; asking people not to gather by the trailer; and trying to load me before the loud music starts playing near the habitat). My caretakers start working with me over the summer to get me used to the trailer before each football season, and I readily get into the trailer for these practice loadings; this season, I have just refused to get in on game day. No one knows why I load into the trailer or why I don't. Many have also mentioned that all previous Mike's loaded into their trailers; we can't know why, but their habitat was not as nice as mine, so that could be a factor. Being in my yard today will allow many more people to see me, and I hope that Tiger fans, like LSU, want what is best for me. Caring for the only live tiger on a college campus in the U.S. is a privilege, and I and LSU appreciate the love and support that I get from fans. LSU is a truly unique and amazing university (and not just because you can see a live tiger every day). The oaks are beautiful, Tiger Stadium is awesome, the Quad is serene...but it is the people and the fans of LSU that make it special. Some of those people will be disappointed with me, but I hope that many more will understand. No matter where we are on game day, we all want a Tiger victory and will cheer for our team. Geaux Tigers!"

inb4tldr