September 05, 2004

College Students Rate Themselves In Fan Behavior Survey

FROM AN NCAA PRESS RELEASE come results of a research study on college fan behavior.

Although the PR report broad brushes the findings as indications of predominately good behavior by the preponderance of study subjects, a deeper dive at the numbers reveals some inconsistencies to that premise.

The study��2004 Safe Celebration Study��was touted as the first formal study of its kind to gauge fan behavior at college sporting events.

The survey consisted of in-person interviews with 986 college students aged 21-29 among �a representative sample of schools within the NCAA football and basketball divisions.�

The survey is part of a campaign by the NCAA, the National Association of
State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, the TEAM Coalition, and
Anheuser-Busch to encourage responsible fan behavior at college sporting
events across the country.

The inclusion of Anheuser-Busch on the campaign to encourage responsible fan behavior comes across as slightly suspicious.

On the one hand, it makes plenty of sense to have the world�s #1 brewer involved in efforts to promote responsible drinking. Know when to say when.

On the other hand, there seems to be a bit of a conflict of interest that clouds A-B�s objectivity in this initiative. Does �responsible drinking� mean less drinking? Probably. And if there�s less drinking, then aren�t less A-B products sold?

The study�s methodology included asking student-fans to agree (or �strongly� agree) or to disagree (or �strongly� disagree) to a series of statements concerning their own behavior and their perceptions of others� behavior at college sporting events.

Among the more noteworthy findings:

� FEELING SAFE: The PR release portrayed as good news that 81% of students �always� feel safe during tailgating or pre-game parties. However, that rosy interpretation ignores the fact that 19% of students do not feel safe. That�s one out of five, and that seems like too many.

� DRINK RESPONSIBLY: 80% of students claimed they drink �responsibly and in moderation� during tailgating. And we�re supposed to believe them?

� STORM THE FIELD: While the PR release boasted that 86% of student-fans do NOT storm the field; the corollary is that 14% do storm the field. Thus, there are sometimes several thousand student-fans storming the field, approximately one of five who have admitted to drinking irresponsibly before and during the game.

Sounds like there�s still progress to be made.

Other survey findings:

� 93% of students say their behavior is responsible during tailgating or pre-game parties.

� 93% of students do not throw beverages.

� 92% of students do not fight with other fans.

� 86% of students do not storm the field.

(this 428 word excerpt�and attendant commentary--was distilled from a 1715 word press release of 9-2-04 from the NCAA)