<p>I’m doing this HUGE project about the culture aspect of college football. Part of this report requires a survey of college students at schools with successful football teams. I would greatly apppreciate it you took the time to fill out this short survey. Feel free to be as brief or thorough as you want. Fell free to say whatever you want. We are looking for your honest, open, and uncensored personal opinons.</p>
<p>Please fill out:
Full Name (you can make up a last name if you prefer):
School:
If you were a football player/ frat or sorority member/alumni please mention that:</p>
<p>1.Do you think schools are heavily invested in the teams success economically and/or emotionally?
2.After a big win, do you feel especially prideful? Why?
3.How has tailgating become such a longstanding tradition and such a key part of college football?
4. What is your biggest thing you love or hate about college football?
5.How did the presence of a success football team altered the overall campus environment of your school and your college experience?
6.Does college football promote partying?
7.Were the athletes given special treatment at your school? If yes, why?
8.Do you think that major corporations are a big part of college football? If yes, do you think they are trying to exploit colleges fans and play a too big of a role?
9. Are major corporations interfering with the tradition and history of college football?<br>
9. How has the football team’s success altered the reputation of your school if at all?
10. Are you still very loyal and involved with your school? Do you still continue some of the gameday traditions you engaged in when your were a current student? why?</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your help and cooperation!</p>
<p>Parent of child who attends big 10 football school (Penn State) I’m not an alum but did attend the college in my youth
Yes, economically in that the stadium holds 110,000 and is usually packed, there is a large number of alumni who come to the games and pump money into the area when they visit
2.Yes, everyone enjoys an exciting football game which involves thinking and skill
3.Tailgating is necessary becasue it takes hours to get into and out of the stadium parking lot therefore it is better to tailgate and have something to do until the crowds dissipate
4.Like ths school spirit and youthful enththusiasm of the players and students
Dislike the fact the season is so long
Football is an extreme moneymaker which adds wealth to the campus in the form of better libraries, technology, buildings, etc. A successful team adds enthusiasm to the campus and people makes friends easier
Probably but we haven’t noticed it, most away games involve a small group of friends cooking and enjoying the game at son’s apartment (no alcohol)
Yes, they are. The best are admired for their skill and treated like celebrities by the student body
8.NO. Do you mean by charging large amounts of money for game t shirts? YOu can always walk into another store and buy a less expensive shirt there are generally shirts in all amounts. Yes, there is all kinds of college football junk from Nitanny Lions to bed throws to bumper stickers to coffee mugs. People buy these things becasue they like them and can afford to buy them. There is a need for these things and no I do not think the public is being exploited. Shopping gives peope something to do when they are in town for the game.
9.One must understand football is very big at Penn State.The stadium holds 110,000 and there are hundreds of Winabagos that jouney into state college for game weekends.On Homecoming weekend there is the Alumni Band, all old Alumni players, and a major parade. Football is in my opinion a bringing together of the Alumni and the young students. The older folks enjoy the youthfulness of the students as they remind them of their lost youth. It isn’t just about youth and partying. College football is about all the previous generations of people who went to PSU and those who cheer for them. Football is good for PSU because it brings in so many older generations into the campus. Without football the youth, like the adolescent elephants at the safari park who had no old elephants to keep them in line, would get into more trouble. Football adds a point to the weekend.
No, major coorperations are not interferring other than too many commercials for beer on tv. YOu can buy the t shirt or not.<br>
Success has altered the reputation in that more students want to attend the college becasue there is more excitment and more to do.
10.I did attend PSU at one time and I do cheer for the team. We have not rented a Winabago to make the caravan to the college for the games but I would like to do that someday. I cannot at present becasue this is too expensive. We do watch many games at home because we enjoy football and seeing the kids and enjoy their enthusiasm and youth.We think the entire game day mentality is funny.</p>
<p>Thanks for that very insightful response. I’ve tailgated so many times for the fun of it, and actually forgot it actually has very practical reasons behind it too.</p>
<p>Without getting into the entire survey another practical aspect of tailgating is financial. With the cost of concession stand food, you can save a bundle of money by tailgating. For example, we only spend about $15-$20 a game at the very most. If we didn’t tailgate the amount we would spend per game would probably double at the very least.</p>
<p>Thanks, thats a very good point. Especially since stadiums have ridiculous prices these days. Last time I went, they tried to charge 5 for a CAN of soda.</p>
<p>Alright, this is just a note from someone that actually goes to the game to WATCH it. I am a huge college football fan. My H and I have season tickets to BC. We get there about an hour and a half before the game begins. We walk around outside the stadium, just enjoying the crowds. We then go in and actually watch the warmups for both teams. We watch the pregame show and the halftime show. We so enjoy listening to the band, watching the students and all of their ritual cheers and other things that they do during the game, and just taking in the whole experience. I think tailgating is overrated. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against tailgating, I would just rather see the game. Just think - all those people who were late getting into the BC game yesterday missed two touchdowns in the first few minutes (my own daughter - a student - included). As I have said before, there is just not a better way to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon during the fall.</p>
<p>** 1.Do you think schools are heavily invested in the teams success economically and/or emotionally?** Absolutely. We are huge UT (University of Tennessee) fans. Neither DH nor I attended UT, but DH has been a fan since childhood and I became a fan because I could learn to love football when we were married 22 years ago, or I could spend my weekends alone. I chose football. Neyland Stadium holds ~104,000 fans and is always over capacity.<br> 2.After a big win, do you feel especially prideful? Why? Although I’d like to see them win every game, some games mean more than others. I am an official gator-hater. 3.How has tailgating become such a longstanding tradition and such a key part of college football? Although we tailgate at the Titans games, we don’t tailgate at the UT games. That’s probably because UT is several hours from us and by the time we get there, it’s time to make our way to campus to see the band and the team come down the hill playing Rocky Top.<br> 4. What is your biggest thing you love or hate about college football? Tradition! Before each home game, the band and the football players come down the hill to many screaming fans. There is a sea of orange and white singing Rocky Top while the band plays. I love the fact that I’m in a stadium with people who love football as much as me. I love the excitement of a close game.<br> 5.How did the presence of a success football team altered the overall campus environment of your school and your college experience? Although I attended football games while in college (WKU), it wasn’t terribly exciting. The stadium was small, and we didn’t have a lot of people attend the games.<br> 6.Does college football promote partying? I’ve never known a football game that didn’t promote partying. 7.Were the athletes given special treatment at your school? If yes, why? When I was in college, it appeared that our basketball players got special treatment, but I can’t be specific.<br> 8.Do you think that major corporations are a big part of college football? If yes, do you think they are trying to exploit colleges fans and play a too big of a role? The major bowls are corporate-sponsored. If anything, they exploit the player, not the fan. The corporations are paying millions of dollars to sponsor the bowls.<br> 9. Are major corporations interfering with the tradition and history of college football? No, their sponsorship helps keep the bowl system alive.<br> 9. How has the football team’s success altered the reputation of your school if at all? When I think of UT, I think of football. It has enhanced the success of the school as a whole. 10. Are you still very loyal and involved with your school? Do you still continue some of the gameday traditions you engaged in when your were a current student? why? I visit my alma mater (WKU) because my nephews are there as is my daughter’s best friend, but I don’t attend games there.</p>
<p>Hey Splashmom My daughter is married to a diehard Gator fan. She lives in Gainesvile now and her in- laws have forced her to attend Gator games and tailgate parties.</p>
. LOL! J/K, of course. It’s a great rivalry. GO VOLS!</p>