Organizational Misconduct: The Antecedents of Oversigning in College Football

We used the pressure-opportunity model of organizational misconduct to examine the antecedents and extent of oversigning among NCAA Division 1 (Bowl Championship Series) football programs. The model incorporates organizational and environmental pressures, opportunities, and predispositions. The data sample spans 10 years, with the total sample of teams in a given year varying from 114 to 120, with a total of 1,155 annual team observations. We found that only environmental factors were significant antecedents for oversigning. We discuss our results in the context of possible reasons why the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) ignores enforcement of its bylaws.

Where Does It Begin? Exploring Gender Differences in Student-Athletes’ Perceptions of Entering the Coaching Profession

The current study sought to trace the origin of gender disparity in the coaching landscape from student-athletes’ perceptions, framed through Social Cognitive Career Theory. To examine the cognitive-person variables in line with previous coaching and SCCT research, scales were derived for perceived social supports and barriers, perceptions of positive and negative outcome expectations, and perceived self-efficacy in coaching. Student-athletes were randomly selected online from 23 institutions across three Bowl Championship Series conferences, while data were coded into a MANCOVA. Results indicated male student-athletes reported greater levels for perceived barriers to enter the coaching profession, perceptions of positive outcome expectations, and for coaching self-efficacy than did their female counterparts. These findings suggest that gender differences within the college coaching profession may be, in part, due to perceptions formed before entry.

A Retrospective Look at College Football in the Late BCS Era A Case Study in Sports Analytics, Sports Management, and Sports Economics

This case study presents game-play statistics to explore their relationships between winning, conference affiliation, and styles of play. Statistics from games from 2005 to 2011 are compiled and explored using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Pearsons Correlations. Bowl Championship Series automatic-qualifiers serve as variables in this study. ANOVA analysis indicates that the style of play from 2005 to 2011 has changed as total offensive production and scoring have increased. This study also finds marked differences in game-play for the various conferences, and presents the statistics that carry the greatest correlation to winning in each of the conferences. This case study is intended for use in sports management and administration courses, where users must make determinations on the differences in play, and their impact on sports administrative decisions.

Quantifying The Chasm: Exploring The Impact Of The BCS On Total Football Revenues For Division One Football Programs From 2002-2012

The Bowl Championship Series served as a collection of bowl games that were designed to crown the national champion in Division One football. The BCS created two classifications of institutions in Division football, those that were granted automatic access (AQ) to the post-season games, and those that were not (non-AQ). The BCS also generated billions of dollars for participating schools. This study examines the financial impact of the BCS on total revenue reported by member institutions, from 2002 to 2012. It further seeks to quantify the impact of inclusion in a BCS AQ conference on the distribution of the more than $24 billion in revenue. This study concludes that membership in a BCS AQ conference accounts for nearly 40% of the variance in total football revenue, and can provide these AQ schools with more than an $18 million dollar advantage over their non-AQ peers. This study explores both the reasons for and the impact of these differences on Division One football institutions.

Predicting Positive Career Planning Attitudes Among NCAA Division I College Student-Athletes

This study examined the relationship between athletic identity, race, gender, sport, and expectation to play professionally and career planning attitudes (career optimism, career adaptability, and career knowledge) among NCAA Division I college student-athletes. Participants of this study consisted of 538 Division I student-athletes from four Bowl Championship Series institutions. Results of this study found that Division I student-athletes with higher athletic identities had lower levels of career optimism; Division I student-athletes who participated in revenue-producing sports had lower levels of career optimism; and student-athletes with a higher expectation to play professional sports were more likely to be optimistic regarding their future career and displayed higher athletic identities. Statistically significant findings indicated the following gender differences: male Division I student-athletes believed they had a better understanding of the job market and employment trends; males had more career optimism; and females had higher levels of athletic identity than their male counterparts. Implications for counseling student-athletes are addressed.