While thousands of Missouri fans travel to Columbia each year to support University of Missouri athletics, Mizzou officials are spending part of the summer returning the favor.
The third day of the university's annual "Zou to You" tour brought Mizzou athletics representatives to Maryville on Thursday, where fans gathered to hear updates on the future of Tiger athletics and discuss issues affecting college sports.
The tour is designed to strengthen relationships with supporters across the state, according to Mike Kelly, the longtime voice of the Missouri Tigers.
"It's about friend-raising, it's about thanking people for support, it's about trying to be available to help them understand the current landscape of college athletics that we're living in," Kelly said. "More importantly, just to let them know how important they are to us."
The event gave fans an opportunity to speak directly with athletic department officials and coaches on a variety of topics, including facility improvements, conference developments and the impact of federal policies on college athletics.
Mizzou Athletic Director Laird Veatch said face-to-face conversations help fans better understand the rapidly changing landscape of college sports.
"There's so much going on right now that folks need to have a perspective of what is happening," Veatch said. "Fans need to see and understand what is happening behind the scenes, in part because we're asking them to invest in what we're doing."
Now in its second year, the "Zou to You" tour has made stops in communities across Missouri, including St. Louis, Chillicothe and Mexico. Additional visits are planned in Kansas City, Sedalia and Chicago.
Assistant Athletic Director Josh Moore said the tour demonstrates the university's commitment to supporters, regardless of where they live or how they follow Mizzou athletics.
"We're trying to make sure people here in Maryville and all over the state know that we care about them and appreciate their fandom, whatever level that's at," Moore said.
Maryville served as one of the final stops of the summer tour before representatives traveled to St. Joseph later that day and then returned to Columbia.
More information about the tour and Missouri athletics is available through the University of Missouri.