A survey of college football fans, commissioned by Baylor during the weekend of Sept. 16-18, showed that 76 percent of respondents said they would be disappointed with the creation of superconferences that would eliminate regional conference rivalries.
The survey, conducted by KRC Research of Washington, D.C., polled 1,500 college graduates from states where Big 12 schools are located. It solicited 300 respondents in each of five states: Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa.
The results showed 77 of fans said schools should “fight to preserve the original intent of collegiate athletics as part of the student experience” while only 19 percent said the commercialization of college sports is inevitable and should be accepted.
In terms of responses in the states of Texas and Oklahoma, here were the results when compared with the overall survey numbers:
OVERALL: 77 percent of respondents said schools should "fight to preserve the original intent of collegiate athletics as part of the student experience."
• Texas: 74%
• Oklahoma: 74%
OVERALL: 19 percent said the commercialization of college sports is inevitable and should be accepted.
• Texas: 21%
• Oklahoma: 21%
OVERALL: Given the choice between "a small number of super conferences that are formed irrespective of geography" and current conference alignments that support regional competition, 75 percent of those surveyed support the current system.
• Texas: 71%
• Oklahoma: 72%
OVERALL: 39 percent of respondents believe that sports television networks, such as ESPN/ABC, Fox Sports, CBS, etc, currently have the most influence when it comes to collegiate athletics today.
• Texas: 44%
• Oklahoma: 42%
OVERALL: 64 percent of those surveyed expressed disappointment at the prospect of the elimination of historic football rivalries if there is widespread college realignment.
• Texas: 59%
• Oklahoma: 70%
OVERALL: 72 percent agree that public decision-making regarding conference alignment should be discussed publically to ensure appropriate input from all taxpayers.
• Texas: 68%
• Oklahoma: 68%
OVERALL: 90 percent of respondents said college boards of directors should balance the needs of their schools' athletic and academic programs.
• Texas: 89%
• Oklahoma: 90%
OVERALL: 37 percent of respondents believed that the current discussions regarding conference affiliation have been "honorable and transparent."
• Texas: 39%
• Oklahoma: 43%
The complete poll results are available at www.baylor.edu/survey.
_ Jimmy Burch
They probably commissioned multiple surveys and this one was most favorable for their argument. These are meaningless just like polls prior to an election.
Posted by: _nctrnl | September 20, 2011 at 05:55 PM
Like the schools care what fans want. If the SEC, ACC, or PAC 12 came calling tomorrow and asked Baylor to join, does anyone believe that they would look at the results of this survey and say, "Sorry, but fans prefer regional conferences."
Posted by: Doc | September 20, 2011 at 09:04 PM
But the TV networks that make the TV contracts prefer fewer conferences with more teams to save them $$$.
Posted by: E K | September 21, 2011 at 02:23 PM