LSU’s newest live tiger mascot says he has never watched a football game and doesn’t ever intend to watch one in the future.

Mike VII told The Advocate’s Scott Rabalais that he dislikes the game of football and believes it is wholly overvalued in today’s American society.

“I find it repugnant that millions of people would worship at the altar of team violence,” Mike VII said. “Football is a dangerous sport that ultimately ruins the lives of the people who play it. My cousins back in the jungles of Asia wish they could chew up men and spit them out as well as the game of football does.”

The Siberian-Bengal hybrid tiger formerly known as Harvey insists Americans need to re-examine their priorities, extolling education and health care as more deserving of funding and appreciation than any sport.

“I find it repugnant that millions of people would worship at the altar of team violence.”

“The buildings here at LSU are falling apart due to budget cuts while coaches are making millions of dollars to train young men how to spectacularly and repeatedly concuss one another,” stated the feline now living in a luxury, multimillion-dollar habitat on campus after previously residing at a rescue facility in Florida.

Mike VII also seemed to belittle the game by suggesting it be called something other than “football.”

“I don’t even know why they call it football. They use something that looks more like an egg than a ball. And they hardly ever actually use their feet. It should be called ‘handegg.’ That’s what I prefer to call it.”

Fan reaction to the new mascot’s comments about the nation’s most popular sport has ranged from surprise to disappointment and — in some cases — outrage.

“We would end up getting one of those hipster pussy nerd tigers,” said LSU football fan Don Patterson, of Prairieville. “Oh, let me guess: He doesn’t even own a TV, either. Goddam millennials.”