Bronze tiger icon has proud personality

by Kerry O'Connor, posted Dec. 14, 2011

We pass him, we know him, and some of us even ride him.

But who is this sleek, bronze cat?

The “personality” of one of our newest campus icons varies depending on who you ask.

“To me, the tiger seems to be proper and proud because he is our mascot.  He represents the pride we have in our school and the pride we have in our tigers,” said Darcie Dunn, chemical engineering major.  She also thought the tiger would have to have some kind of sense of humor considering people are always “riding” him.

The Tiger was dedicated to its home at Tiger Plaza on homecoming weekend in October of 2002. The Tiger Plaza project was initiated in 2001 by J. Todd Coleman, the alumni association executive director at the time, Campus Facilities and the alumni association governing board.

The Tiger Plaza Committee, made up of alumni volunteers, MAA staff, student leaders and campus representatives, selected Forest Hart from Monroe, Maine, to be the artist. 

As the artist, Hart had his own ideas about the tiger’s personality. He wanted the tiger not only to make a visual impact, but also to instill a feeling of pride, confidence and integrity to the viewers and students at Mizzou.  

“This was the most exciting project I have ever worked on,” Hart said. 

Beginning with wood and wire armature, it took five months for him to construct the 6 foot by 11 foot tiger before it was ready to be dedicated to its home at MU.

Upon the mold’s completion, the mascot was loaded up for the long drive from Maine to Colorado, where the sculpture was bronzed. Lastly, the tiger sculpture traveled to Columbia, Mo., for the homecoming celebration and dedication of Tiger Plaza.   

“Creating this piece and working with the wonderful people from the University of Missouri has been one if the highlights of my career,” Hart said.  

Alumni Kevin O’Connor said it was exciting when the tiger was first put in. 

“I always noticed that many other schools had an iconic mascot statue on campus,” O’Connor said.  “It made me wonder why Mizzou didn’t have a tiger.” 

Now everyone can be proud of the tiger statue and how it represents Mizzou and its traditions. O’Connor remembers attending different pep rallies held in front of Tiger Plaza before big basketball and football games.

“Students also enjoyed seeing the crimson and blue feathers in the tiger’s mouth the week of KU games,” O’Connor said.

Many students agreed that this 1,600 pound tiger represents pride in MU.

Many traditions and events are held in front of the tiger statue on Tiger Plaza, such as proposals, pep rallies, tailgates, and different promotional events. As the tiger has become more famous, other schools have targeted it for vanadalism as a way to annoy MU fans. Once, before an upcoming Nebraska and Mizzou game, Nebraska fans dumped red dye into the Tiger Plaza fountain. The fountain had to be cleaned and the dye left the fountain stained.

“Mizzou fans couldn’t believe the self-proclaimed ‘classiest fans in the nation’ would vandalize our tiger statue,” O’Connor said.  Mizzou easily won the game that night, and the statue was repaired so all was well in the end.

David Roloff , MU alum and director of membership and marketing, , said he sees the tiger statue as if it is guarding the MU campus. 

“He is not roaring at people,” Roloff said.  “He seems to be protecting the students, staff, alumni and all who he looks over.”

{back to homepage}