TOM (mascot)

TOM (Tigers Of Memphis) is the name of three Bengal tigers which have served as the mascot of the Memphis Tigers since 1972. The most recent, TOM III, was a beloved Bengal tiger mascot for the University of Memphis during one of the most glorious periods in University and athletics history. He died on September 18, 2020, less than three weeks after his 12th birthday. The Tigers' football team also has a costumed mascot called Pouncer.

TOM III was housed and cared for by the Tiger Guard, a committee of the Highland Hundred football booster club. University funds are not used to provide for the tiger's needs. The University of Memphis was one of two universities in the United States that use a live tiger as a mascot (the other being LSU) and has received criticism from animal welfare organizations.^[1]^[2]

Until Tom II Memphis was the only school to have a live tiger mascot present at football games.^[3] TOM attends Memphis Tiger home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in a special sound proof, air conditioned trailer.^[4]^[2]

History

TOM I

The first tiger, TOM, was purchased for $1,500 by the Highland Hundred Football Boosters in 1972. TOM was placed in a dog kennel and flown to Memphis on November 9, 1972.^[5] The tiger cub was taken to Athletic Director Billy J. Murphy's office for a press conference and was officially presented to Memphis University in a Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium ceremony during the November 11, 1972, football game against the University of Cincinnati.

TOM was initially named Shane at the suggestion of the breeder’s daughter. Once in Memphis, a contest was held to rename the mascot and over 2,500 entries were submitted to a committee chaired by Harry Pierotti. The list was reduced to two choices, Shane, and TOM, which stands for Tigers Of Memphis and TOM was the victor. The winning entry was submitted by Mrs. Lauraine Huddleston of Memphis.

During his first few months in Memphis, TOM was housed in Highland Hundred member Bill Proctor's garage. TOM was later moved to the Memphis Zoo^[2] and put under the care of trainer Louie Bell. The tiger grew to weigh over 600 pounds, becoming one of the larger documented captive Bengal tigers. TOM served as a mascot for nearly 20 years until he died in February 1992.

TOM II

As TOM grew older, the decision was made by the Highland Hundred to keep the Tiger Tradition alive by securing a new tiger to be raised as TOM II. In the fall of 1991, Highland Hundred President Ray Daniels and President-Elect Bobby Wharton received TOM II as a gift from Tom and Carolyn Atchison of Florence, Alabama. The tiger was born on July 11 of that year, and, as TOM had been, he was presented by the Highland Hundred to the university in a ceremony at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on November 16, 1991, during a football game against the University of Alabama.

TOM II spent his life housed in private facilities maintained by the Highland Hundred Tiger Guard. After many years spent living in the home of William Nixon, TOM was moved to a tiger house constructed at St. Nick’s Farm and Zoological Park in the Memphis suburb of Collierville. The $300,000 facility was paid for by the Tiger Guard. TOM II matured, growing to weigh more than 500 pounds.

TOM II lived in the Collierville facility for nearly 14 years. In the summer of 2005, the Tiger Guard, led by Bobby Wharton, began construction of new habitat in a rural area just south of Memphis. The new facility was similar to the original and included two swimming pools, a dedicated water well, a climate-controlled den box, a veterinary facility and multiple redundant security features.

TOM II was diagnosed with cancer during an annual 2008 medical examination and died on October 15 of that year at the age of 17.^[6] He outlived all four of his siblings by a number of years. He also far exceeded the life expectancy of a male tiger outside captivity.

As was the case with TOM I in 1992, TOM II was cremated. The university's Athletic Department made arrangements for a permanent exhibit to honor all previous and future TOMs in the Athletics Hall of Fame which was to be constructed at the corner of Southern and Normal.^[7]

University of Memphis president Shirley Raines received pressure from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to cease using a live mascot shortly before TOM III was acquired.^[8]

TOM III

TOM III was the last mascot for the Memphis Tigers. He was born on August 31, 2008, to Vixie and Thor at the Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue & Educational Center in Rock Springs, Wisconsin.^[9] TOM III and his two brothers were the result of an unexpected pregnancy at the cat sanctuary.^[10] He has two symmetric stripes that run lengthwise down the base of his tail.^[11] TOM III served as the mascot for 12 years and died shortly after his 12th birthday on September 18, 2020.

References

^ Greer, Jarvis (October 15, 2008). "Rest in Peace University Of Memphis Mascot TOM II". WMCTV.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Live-Animal Mascots Get an 'F'". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
^ Mark, Deane (January 19, 2017). "LSU's next Mike the Tiger will no longer attend home games".
^ Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Live Mascots (HBO Sports). November 18, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-18.
^ "TOM III - Official U of M Mascot". gotigersgo.com. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
^ "After recent cancer diagnosis, TOM II dies". ESPN. October 15, 2008.
^ "U of M mascot dies: TOM II had represented school since 1992". The Commercial Appeal. October 15, 2008.
^ Schifani, Adam (October 22, 2008). "PETA says please: Begs University not to purchase a new live mascot". The Daily Helmsman.
^ "Tiger Photo Galley [sic]". Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
^ "TOM III to debut before Tigers vs. UCF game". Big Cat News. November 18, 2008. Archived from the original on December 24, 2011.
^ "TOM III To Celebrate 1st Birthday at FanFest Saturday". gotigersgo.com. August 27, 2009. Retrieved December 28, 2011.

External links

[1] Greer, Jarvis (October 15, 2008). "Rest in Peace University Of Memphis Mascot TOM II". WMCTV.

[mascot-2] "Live-Animal Mascots Get an 'F'". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Retrieved December 28, 2011.

[3] Mark, Deane (January 19, 2017). "LSU's next Mike the Tiger will no longer attend home games".

[4] Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Live Mascots (HBO Sports). November 18, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-18.

[5] "TOM III - Official U of M Mascot". gotigersgo.com. Retrieved December 28, 2011.

[6] "After recent cancer diagnosis, TOM II dies". ESPN. October 15, 2008.

[7] "U of M mascot dies: TOM II had represented school since 1992". The Commercial Appeal. October 15, 2008.

[8] Schifani, Adam (October 22, 2008). "PETA says please: Begs University not to purchase a new live mascot". The Daily Helmsman.

[9] "Tiger Photo Galley [sic]". Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue. Retrieved December 28, 2011.

[10] "TOM III to debut before Tigers vs. UCF game". Big Cat News. November 18, 2008. Archived from the original on December 24, 2011.

[11] "TOM III To Celebrate 1st Birthday at FanFest Saturday". gotigersgo.com. August 27, 2009. Retrieved December 28, 2011.

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v t e University of Memphis
Located in: Memphis, Tennessee
Academics	University of Memphis University of Memphis, School of Law FedEx Institute of Technology Advanced Distributed Learning Workforce Co-Lab
Athletics	Memphis Tigers Men's basketball Women's basketball Football Men's soccer Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium List of Memphis athletes FedEx Park Baseball Field, University of Memphis Memphis Soccer & Track Stadium University of Memphis Tennis Complex Elma Roane Fieldhouse
Journals	Southern Journal of Philosophy University of Memphis Law Review
Life	The Daily Helmsman Mighty Sound of the South FedEx Forum Art Museum at the University of Memphis WYXR TOM II TOM III Memphis Pom
Founded: 1912 Students: 20,585 Endowment: 199 million

v t e Memphis Tigers football
Venues	Normal Field (1912–1916) Russwood Park (1912–1915, 1918–1920, 1922–1924) Hodges Field (1917, 1919, 1921–1923, 1926–1929) Memorial Field (1924–1936) Fairgrounds Stadium (1937) Crump Stadium (1937–1964) Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (1965–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Arkansas State: Paint Bucket Bowl Cincinnati Louisville Ole Miss Southern Miss: Black and Blue Bowl UAB: Battle for the Bones
Culture & lore	History Pouncer TOM (mascot) "Go Tigers Go" Mighty Sound of the South Miami Beach Brawl
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

v t e Memphis Tigers men's basketball
Venues	Various locations (1920–1929) Memorial Fieldhouse (1929–1966) Mid-South Coliseum (1966–1991) Pyramid Arena (1991–2004) FedExForum (2004–present)
Rivalries	Cincinnati Louisville UAB
Culture & lore	Pouncer Newby's TOM (mascot) "Go Tigers Go" Mighty Sound of the South
People	Head coaches NBA players Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1942–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

v t e Memphis Tigers women's basketball
Venues	Various locations (1920–1929) Memorial Fieldhouse (1929–1936, 1972–present)
Rivalries	Cincinnati Louisville
Culture & lore	Newby's TOM (mascot) "Go Tigers Go" Mighty Sound of the South
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

v t e Live animal mascots in college sports
The American	TOM (Memphis) Stella (Temple)
ACC	Osceola and Renegade (Florida State) Tuffy (NC State) Rameses (North Carolina) Peruna (SMU)
Big 12	Judge (Baylor) Ralphie the Buffalo (Colorado) Shasta (Houston) Bullet (Oklahoma State) The Masked Rider (Texas Tech)
Big East	Butler Blue (Butler) Jack the Bulldog (Georgetown) Jonathan (UConn)
Big Ten	Traveler (USC) Dubs (Washington)
Conference USA	Tech (Louisiana Tech)
Ivy League	Handsome Dan (Yale)
Missouri Valley	Racer One (Murray State)
Mountain West	Aurora (Air Force) CAM the Ram (Colorado State)
Patriot League	Army Mules (Army) Bill the Goat (Navy)
SEC	Tusk (Arkansas) War Eagle (Auburn) Uga (Georgia) Blue (Kentucky) Mike the Tiger (LSU) Bully (Mississippi State) Boomer and Sooner (Oklahoma) Sir Big Spur (South Carolina) Smokey (Tennessee) Bevo (Texas) Reveille (Texas A&M)