Meet TOM III, intimidating & ferocious
By: Megan Harris
Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: News
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Fans will have their first chance to see TOM III, the newest member of the Tiger sideline, during a special ceremony at the upcoming football game against the University of Central Florida Knights on Saturday, at 1 p.m.
Less than four weeks since his secret arrival, the Bengal cub has a family and a following who say they love him to pieces.
"You should see him with his football," said Tiger Guard Chairman Scott Forman of the 12-week-old, 24-lb tiger. "His mouth isn't big enough to really chew on it yet, so he chases it all over the place. And he's growing so fast."
Affectionate and playful, the tiger is everything Forman said he looked for in finding a new TOM representative.
"He's very laid back and has adapted really well to his new environment," he said. "At this point, we're just spending a lot of time babying him. We play, we eat, we take a nap - we do whatever he wants to do so that the bond will be there for his entire life. We want little TOM to know he's safe and very loved."
The Bengal baby arrived in Memphis just eight days after the passing of long-time mascot TOM II. Forman said the group had a stroke of luck in finding the young tiger.
After learning of TOM II's death through national media coverage, Jeff Kozlowski and Jenny Meyer, founders of Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue and Educational Center, contacted the Tiger Guard about three young cubs they'd recently acquired from an unexpected pregnancy.
Former chairman Bobby Wharton and Forman spoke with Kozlowski and Meyer several times before flying to Wisconsin to tour the facility and meet their new TOM III.
But first, they did their homework.
"Proper USDA-licensing and a good reputation were first and foremost in our minds about finding a suitable replacement," Forman said. "Luckily, we received a glowing response."
The Tiger Guard group met the animals and the owners, including TOM III's parents and two brothers. "Meeting the parents" is critical, Forman said, to measuring the size and personality of the cub.