When Sheri Kirley’s phone rings, there’s a good chance it will read “Mike the Tiger” is calling.
“Mike is absolutely one of my best friends,” she says proudly.
Sheri and her mom, Kim, have been the costume designers for Team Mike since 2007. They meet with the mascot group regularly to brainstorm new outfit ideas.
The mother-daughter duo draws up patterns, selects fabrics, does a fitting with Mike and then adds final details like sequins, jewels or paint.
The Kirleys work fast: They usually have about a week’s notice for a costume, but if there’s a last-minute event Mike needs to make an appearance at they might end up pulling an all-nighter. But it’s worth it.
“It’s a very big sense of pride when we get to see costumes on Mike the Tiger at LSU games … Mike’s a fashionista,” Sheri says. Kim chimes in, “He’s a very particular cat.”
The biggest challenge when creating Mike’s larger costumes—such as this dinosaur look—is his size. Mike wears a size XL and can fit in about a 38 waist. Shoes are an even bigger challenge. The Kirleys estimate he wears a wide size 13 or 14 shoe.“Tiger band is very close to my heart. I love when Mike gets up there and starts directing.” –Sheri Kirley, who designs costumes for Mike the Tiger. The LSU alum was in Tiger Band when she started college in 1989.Some of Kim’s favorite outfits have been Mike’s red, white and blue outfits for holidays like July 4 and Memorial Day. “I really love when Mike wears his patriotic outfits,” she says.When Team Mike wanted to recreate Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair” video, the Kirleys made dreadlocks for Mike out of fleece yarn.The Kirleys made Mike’s Darth Vader helmet out of a Home Depot planter cut to fit Mike’s head and spraypainted black.The Elvis look was the first get-up the Kirleys created for Mike for a football game halftime show.
Here’s a look at some of the other costumes the Kirleys have created for Mike.
Sheri (left) and Kim (right) Kirley with Mike the Tiger.
Jennifer Tormo Alvarez was the editor of “225” for nearly 11 years, leading the magazine through two print and digital redesigns, three anniversary years, a flood and the pandemic. She is obsessed with restaurant interiors, sparkling water, Scorpio astrology memes and, admittedly, the word “obsessed.” She is willing to travel to see indie bands in concert, but even better if they play a show at Chelsea’s Live.
