re: LSU and the Bengal Tiger

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It was the custom at that time, for some occult reason, to call football teams by the names of vicious animals; the Yale Bulldogs and the Princeton Tigers, for example. This is still the vogue. It struck me that purple and gold looked Tigerish enough and I suggested that we choose “Louisiana Tigers,” all in conference with the boys.

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Very slick....you left out the most important part of Coates' statement (on purpose). Because, it proves my point!
"The Louisiana Tigers had represented the state in Civil War and had been known for their hard fighting."
Note that Coates chose the words "Louisiana Tigers" as the team's name and not just "Tigers." It is very obvious Coates used "Louisiana Tigers" because he was referring to the Confederate military unit of the same name, which he said in the sentence you left out. And Coates goes on, "So "Louisiana Tigers" went into the New Orleans papers and became our permanent possession." He used the name "Louisiana Tigers" AGAIN and not "Tigers." This is clearly an attachment to the Confederate military unit Coates names.

quote:

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It was the custom at that time, for some occult reason, to call football teams by the names of vicious animals; the Yale Bulldogs and the Princeton Tigers, for example. This is still the vogue.

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And this portion in no way indicates a reason as well. It is just a statement of opinion about what other teams were doing at that time. IT DOES NOT say or infer this is the reason for choosing "Louisiana Tigers."