In another great installment of our ZonaZealots Fan Spotlight we meet Media and Public Relations guru for B2G Sports, Lauren Joffe who is a huge Arizona Wildcats fan!
Lauren, graduated from the University of Arizona with Communication Major and a Business Minor in 2000. After graduation she was involved with event planning/production and changed gears to the cyber-security industry but her true love is and has always been sports. Which I can totally relate to.
Lauren Joffee B2G Sports on the Arizona Campus
She has always tried to stay in the sports world and even produced a number of events during the Superbowl in Indianapolis and a few others including an NFL draft party in New York. A friend of hers from High School is one of the founders of B2G Sports and when they reconnected a few years back she was more than thrilled to get involved however she could and so she’s now the Media/PR person for Beyond 2000 Enterprises, Inc., better known as “B2G” (short for beyond two grand).
According to the company’s website, B2G “serves as a premier, athlete development source in Southern California and beyond.”
Lauren handles all media requests and credentials for B2G tournaments and bowl games. She also created and maintains the website and writes the press releases.
This past bowl, B2G was fortunate enough to have Terrell Owens as one of their coaches so she had a great opportunity to book him on various television and radio shows and the turn out to the Bowl game was fantastic!
Arizona Wildcats
During our tournaments and camps throughout the year she makes sure media (specifically scouting sites like Rivals.com, Scout.com, etc) cover their events so that the high school players get the most exposure possible. They’ve had quite a few Wildcats come through their camps and tournaments including current players such as Scooby Wright III, Brandon Dawkins, Darrell Cloy Jr., Anthony Mariscal, etc.
Her future hubby has to be a huge sports fan…except if he’s a Sun Devil alum or fan…it would never work. One of her proudest accomplishments in regards to Arizona Athletics is her complete and total conversion of her nephew to become a Wildcat fan. Both of his parents, and even his dog, are Bruins fans but his cool
auntie showed him the light and now he’s a HUGE Wildcat fan and won’t go anywhere without his Wilbur pillow.
Good job Lauren! Can never have enough Wildcats fans, can we? Here’s our interview..
ZZ: How long have you been a fan of the Arizona Wildcats?
Lauren: Since the minute I decided to go there for college. A lady never tells her age but it’s been a while.
ZZ: What was it about the University of Arizona Athletics program that caught your attention?
Lauren: When I was applying to college I knew I wanted to go to a school with a great athletics program so I applied accordingly. When it came down to choosing a school it came down to Syracuse, Michigan & Arizona…I fell in love with the athletics program the minute I went to my first football game at the beginning of my freshman year…and I’ve never looked back.
ZZ: What are some of your favorite things about the Arizona Wildcats?
Lauren Joffee’s Nephew B2G Sports
Lauren: Can I say everything? Well as an alumni I can say that the fans are amazing. I’m always so proud when we’re at an away game, no matter where it is, and the UofA chants can be heard on TV. It almost gives me goose bumps…and I know the fans are so great because our athletics program from Greg to the athletes to the staff are all working their butts off because school pride isn’t something you can buy or make-up…it’s something you either have or don’t and Arizona has it tenfold.
ZZ: Do you always watch Arizona games or go to the games when they are in town? How often at home, how often in person, how often do you listen on the Radio?
Lauren: Living in Los Angeles I only get limited opportunities to go to games and when they are here, I go…I’ve traveled plenty of times to follow the Cats especially come tournament and playoff time. I have the Pac12 network specifically because I want to watch as many games as I can. If I’m driving then I’ve got Sirius which has a lot of the games so if I can’t be watching at least I’m listening.
ZZ: Do you go to a specific establishment or sports bar to watch the games? If so, what place?
I get quite animated/loud when I watch games so for the sake of the general public, I usually watch at home although if I can talk fellow L.A. Cats into it, we venture out to watch. The Alumni Association and SoCalCats do a great job of organizing game watches so if I go; it’s usually wherever they’ve set something up in West L.A.
ZZ: What is your favorite saying when it comes to the Arizona Wildcats?
Lauren: No Brainer…Bear Down!
ZZ: Do you have any game day rituals or game day look?
Lauren: The amount of time I spend debating on which outfits I should wear/shouldn’t wear is embarrassing. I’ll retire a shirt after one game if it didn’t go our way.
ZZ: Do you have a favorite Arizona Wildcat moment? (in a game and/or meeting someone involved)
Lauren: There are too many to name. I was in school when we won the ’97 championship and was friends with some of the guys so that was pretty special. I was at the game when we beat Duke a couple years ago and I’m pretty sure there were tears.
As a fan I will say that the most fun I’ve ever had was at the Pac-12 tournament the first year it was in Las Vegas I believe. There is nothing better than walking in a sea of Wildcats and hearing random UofA chants start at any given time in any given place.
ZZ: Tell us about the pride you feel when you wear the school colors.
Lauren: I wear the colors every Friday. It’s like being part of an exclusive club, especially out here in SoCal. There’s nothing like seeing another Wildcat in a random place and exchanging a Bear Down.
ZZ: Does winning or losing a game affect your mood? In which ways?
Lauren: Absolutely. I’ve cried at wins and cried at losses. I was present for probably one of the worst basketball losses this century and I still haven’t gotten over it. For the record, I refuse to name which game it was…
May 21, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Arizona Wildcats athletics director Greg Byrne arrives for the 2014 Sports Business Awards at the New York Marriott Marquis. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
ZZ: Who is your favorite Arizona Wildcat player and what sport do they or did they play? Favorite Coach? And why?
Lauren: So hard to pick a favorite. Was/still am a big Miles Simon fan. I knew him back then and he was so humble and down to earth even after they won that it was impossible not to root for him to do great things in life and from the looks of it, I’d say he’s doing pretty well. And of course I ADORE Lute. But that’s a given.
Also liked Dick Tomey and obviously I LOVE Rich Rod and Sean Miller. I can’t give enough credit to Greg Byrne for what he’s brought and done for Arizona. One of my current favorite players is Anthony Mariscal. And you cannot forget Nick Foles!
ZZ: If you could say one thing to them, what would it be?
Lauren: Well, I’d say two things: “Thank you” and “Bear Down”
Bear Down Lauren! Thanks for sharing yourself with all of us Wildcats fans!
Next: Rams Make a Smart Move and Sign Quarterback Nick Foles