Her Campus Mizzou: When and why did you first get involved in Tiger’s Lair?
Connor Lotz: I was a member of Tiger’s Lair my freshman and sophomore years. At the end of my sophomore year, I applied to be a coordinator for my junior year, and I got the job. The football team was really good, and everybody told me to join Tiger’s Lair at Summer Welcome and the Midnight BBQ because they knew it’s the best way to experience Mizzou Football.
HCM: How has that experience shaped your time here at Mizzou? How has it affected your college career?
CL: Tiger’s Lair connects me to something that I really enjoy and have a passion for, which is sports and football. It has also allowed me to develop really close friendships and family with people around Missouri’s campus.
HCM: What are your responsibilities for Tiger’s Lair? How does your position take place in the Tiger’s Lair team?
CL: As a coordinator, some of my game-day responsibilities include handing out giveaways at the games, helping carry our flag, swiping student ID’s, putting wristbands on our members, keep non-members out of our section when gates open and making sure all the students are being respectful to each other and to the players on the field. Coordinators also help at Tiger’s Lair events, such as signups at the Midnight BBQ, orientation, watch parties and road trips. Some responsibilities of the coordinators involve helping the chairs, who have more specific jobs, such as planning road trips and watch parties and running social media accounts.
HCM: What skills and lessons have you learned from this experience that would directly apply to your major/degree you are seeking?
CL: I’m a marketing major, and many tasks we do in Tiger’s Lair involve marketing and promoting our organization and events. Since I’m looking for a sports emphasis, it really helps to be involved with this organization. Tiger’s Lair has also helped me develop my communication and interpersonal skills.
HCM: What are some key highlights and obstacles of your job with Tiger’s Lair?
CL: Being on the Tiger’s Lair leadership team can be difficult when the football team isn’t playing as well as it could or as it has in the past. Fan attendance correlates with the team’s performance, so when the team isn’t playing very well, it can be hard to get people to be enthusiastic. Some of the highlights of my Tiger’s Lair experience are the road trips we’ve gone on. My freshman year we went to South Carolina, sophomore year we went to Kentucky and this year we went to LSU. All three of these were great experiences, mainly because I got to experience the different cultures of other SEC schools.
HCM: How has this experience affirmed or changed your career path goal?
CL: I don’t really have an answer for this. I don’t think any single thing will change my career path because I don’t even know my career path, lol.
HCM: Why should people participate in Tiger’s Lair?
CL: Tiger’s Lair is a good way to get involved, meet new people and support our football team. Members also get the best seats in the house, giveaways every game, a free T-shirt and opportunities to go on road trips and to watch parties. The Tiger’s Lair section has the best atmosphere in all of Faurot on game days.
Follow Connor on Twitter: @lotz2do