LSU Tigers

The LSU Tigers claim gold and purple as their team colors. Ironically, however, the LSU Tigers jersey actually uses purple and a canary yellow for its design. Although the debate is open for where the team colors originated form or when they initially fell into usage, it’s believed they were first worn by the LSU baseball team in 1893, under the headship of captain E.B. Young. In that same year, on November 25, the school’s first football team decided to follow suit and wore gold and purple for their first game. Their jerseys were grey, but their coach, Dr. Charles Coates, bought purple and gold ribbons for their uniforms. Today, the LSU Tigers field a number of teams: baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, football, men’s golf, women’s golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming and diving, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, volleyball, track and field, and cross country. All these teams claim some combination of purple, gold, and white as their LSU Tigers Jersey design.

Popular signed LSU Tigers jerseys available include a Billy Cannon jersey, a Pete Maravich jersey, and an Anthony Randolph jersey.

Why LSU Tigers?
The nickname LSU Tigers first made an appearance amongst the members of the football team in1896 under the coaching headship of A. W. Jeardeau. The name choice was not an unusual one. Most football and other sports teams were using wild animals for their nicknames. However, the teams reason for choosing “Tigers” went beyond current tradition and back in past to the Civil War.
During the Civil War, “Tiger Rifles” was a volunteer company within the Major Chatham Wheat’s Battalion. Their name spread to the entire battalion and in time, to the entire Louisiana fighting force. The LSU Tigers drew from their state’s past and chose tigers for their nickname. By 1955, the name evolved to “Fighting Tigers,” drawing more obviously on the military heritage it hailed from.

LSU Tigers Traditions
Every sports team has its own set of tradition. The LSU Tigers are certainly no exception. Some of their most obvious traditions include their team color (purple and gold) and their nickname “LSU Tigers” or “Fighting Tigers.” However, the team claims a few lesser known traditions as well. One of these traditions includes the beloved “Mike the Tiger.” Mike the Tiger is exactly what he sounds like, a tiger, more specifically, a Bengal Tiger. He lives near the LSU Tigers Stadium, on the other side of the road. The Tigers have claimed Mike as their mascot since 1936. Mike often travels with the team. His costumed lookalike makes appearances at team games and has been a part of team tradition and the team mascot since the 1950s.