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The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of college athletic department administrators (athletic directors, faculty representatives, football coaches, and basketball coaches) toward the athletic and academic achievement of student athletes and to compare administrators' perceptions with those of student athletes (NCAA, 1988). The review of literature discussed the history and development of the NCAA, college admission predictors, standardized tests, involvement of high schools in academic preparation of student athletes, and the NCAA legislation of Propositions 48 and 42. Additionally, programs which satisfy the needs and validate the credibility of student athletes and educational institutions are suggested. A questionnaire was designed to measure the attitudes of college athletic department administrators toward the academic and athletic accomplishments of student athletes. The results were then compared to a similar study completed by the NCAA (1988) on student athletes' attitudes toward these issues. The findings revealed significant group differences among athletic directors, faculty representatives, football coaches, and basketball coaches and significant comparative differences between the two studies. The data indicated that the responses of athletic directors and faculty representatives were often similar, as were those of football and basketball coaches. On questions that supported academics, athletic directors and faculty representatives were much more sympathetic than coaches. When the question promoted athletic concepts, coaches were more supportive than athletic directors or faculty representatives. When an issue involved both academics and athletics, the gap was reduced but athletic directors and faculty representatives showed stronger support than coaches. Comparison of the two studies confirmed strong opposition by athletes to questions on athletic eligibility. Student athletes were consistently negative on any issue threatening their eligibility, whereas athletic department administrators were generally supportive. When academic questions were addressed, student athletes were supportive though not as positive in their responses as athletic department administrators. Many of the responses and comparisons were anticipated and emulated recent research.

The purpose of the study was to determine what spectator security measures have been taken by collegiate football stadium operators because of or as a direct result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Subjects consisted of Assistant Athletic Directors, Associate Athletic Directors, Directors of Football Operations, an Associate Director, a Coordinator of Football Operations, an Executive Associate Athletic Director, and a Police Sergeant. Percentages were used to analyze the data. A self-constructed survey was designed to asses the spectator security measures that had changed within the Big Ten and MidAmerican Conference football stadiums. The survey was administered using the inQsit® program developed at Ball State University. An on-line survey was sent to 25 universities: 11 universities for the Big Ten and 14 universities in the MidAmerican Conference. Data was collected concerning one research question.With a return rate of 64%, 100% of the universities indicated changing their security measures as a direct result of September 11, 2001. Respondents reported an increase in book bag searches (56%) and body searches (25%). Respondents also identified, as security changes, an increase in law enforcement during football games (100%), restricting air space (94%), notifying ticket buyers ahead of time of security changes (81 %) and the event-operating budget was affected, and changes were made regarding items allowed to be carried into the stadium. / School of Physical Education

This thesis investigates the issue of Canadian economic and cultural dependence upon the United States by focussing on the origins of the Simon Fraser University athletic program in the mid 1960's. Simon Fraser was chosen for this study because of the abrupt shift its athletic policy took from the traditional Canadian model of university athletics (no athletic scholarships, less commercialization) towards the dominant American model featuring athletic scholarships and professionalized coaching. The thesis examines the historical, economic and cultural context in which the university was situated and provides an overview of Canadian-American sporting relations in the commercial and non-commercial spheres. With regard to the Simon Fraser case study, a detailed outline of the development of athletics at the University of British Columbia, British Columbia's oldest and dominant university, will provide necessary background. As well, research centers upon how the SFU athletic program was initially created and who the key personnel were in its founding. The concluding chapter evaluates the implications of the Simon Fraser policy move in light of developments in government spending over the past two decades. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Motivated by concerns posed by college athletics and questions about the effectiveness of educational reform commissions, this study centered on two questions: specifically, How did the Knight Commission function to bring policy reform to college sports?; and, generally, How does an independent, temporary commission influence organizational change? Grounded in the reform commission literature and a conceptual framework developed from political science, policy science, and organizational change theories, the research design employed two approaches - one inductive and one deductive - to focus on five areas of inquiry. Political processes were pivotal in bringing change. A "policy window" developed from the confluence of new, supportive key actors, public opinion favorable to reform, and threats of Congressional intervention. The Commission's empowerment created a choice opportunity for long-involved stakeholders to reauthorize athletic governance reform. Prior to empowerment, key actors reached consensus on core values and reform approach. The Knight Commission's operation enhanced the authority of key actors with standing as policy makers. Although intellectual undertakings supported an image of objective rationality, the Commission served more as an inter-organizational governance tool. Cross-fertilization" resulting from Commissioners who served as "linking pins" (Likert, 1967) between political systems, united a broad coalition on a single plan. A reform model that buttressed higher education values and was embedded in long-accepted principles of governance manipulated the "policy space" in athletics to focus debate on its issues. Other Commission activities served to enhance its "subjective authority" (Barnard, 1938) - acceptance at the bottom of the organization. The study process utilized "partisan policy analysis" (Lindblom, 1968) to persuade operational-level stakeholders. The report recommendations advanced the largest perceived increment of policy change that would not threaten its "acceptance." The extensive publicity surrounding report release served to inform and prepare the bottom layer of involved organizations and the public for change suggested by a representative group of eminent policy leaders. With enhanced authority and concordance on reform agenda, cross-boundary members successfully initiated policy reform. The still-intact Knight Commission supported internal policy makers and became accepted as a legitimate provider of policy influence. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the practice of redshirting studentathletes by football and men's swimming coaches in the Southeastern and Mid-American Conferences. Questionnaires were sent out to each of the coaches regarding their practices of redshirting. The data was tabulated in SPSS format and the Pearson ChiSquare was used to find out if there were any statistical significance. The results of the Chi-Square analysis revealed no statistical significance between the two conferences redshirting practices, however there were some differences between the two sports. One difference between the sports was in both the freshman and sophomore years of eligibility in the use of redshirting as a coaching strategy. Another difference between sports existed in the junior year of eligibility in the use of redshirting for medical reasons. Coaching strategy was the number one reason why football coaches used and believed that redshirting is used. The men's swimming coaches used, and believe, that medical reasons was the main reason for redshirting athletes. / School of Physical Education

The current study aimed to assess the relationship between perceived occupational stress and social support among collegiate coaches, and if years of coaching experience and competition level (NCAA Division I, II, III) add to the explanation of occupational stress above and beyond social support. The study utilized the Administrative Stress Index (Koch, Gmelch, Tung, & Swent, 1982) in order to measure perceived occupational stress and the Personal Resource Questionnaire: Part 2 (Brandt & Weinert, 1981) to measure perceived social support. Results suggested that task-based stress is significantly related to perceived social support, but years of experience and competition level do not add to the occupational stress explanation. This study provides the field of sport and exercise psychology and the coaching profession with more information about work-related stress in coaches; it also supports previous literature on the stress-support relationship. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

The purpose of this paper was to gather information from college athletic directors from Division I-A and Division III institutions concerning the factors that they deem the most and least important in evaluating their institution's head football coach for job retention. The study identified 10 factors that are instrumental in evaluating head football coaches. Athletic directors prioritized these 10 factors in order of importance when evaluating their head football coach.Surveys were sent to 106 Division I-A athletic directors and 106 Division III athletic directors. Of the 151 surveys returned, 47 from Division I-A athletic directors and 67 from Division III athletic directors were deemed usable.The surveys revealed that Division I-A athletic directors primarily evaluate their head football coaches by win/loss percentage and compliance with NCAA rules. Of the ten factors selected for this study, public relations and organizational skills were considered the least important factors in their evaluation process. For Division III athletic directors, the primary factors of evaluation for their head football coaches were knowledge of the sport, loyalty to the institution, and serving as a role model for student-athletes. The least important factors were win/loss percentage and public relations.These findings suggest that the philosophy of athletics for each of these two levels is quite different. Head football coaches at the Division I-A level are expected to win games to maintain their jobs while Division III coaches do not experience the same pressure to win. Differences in the evaluation factors are illustrated for each level of collegiate athletics and understanding these differences may better guide aspiring young coaches who are pursuing a career in college football coaching. / School of Physical Education

This study examined if supervisors within intercollegiate athletic settings have a higher tendency to use task-oriented management styles than supervisors outside of athletics. The study also assessed if athletic supervisors would have a higher tendency to adapt their leadership style based on situational factors. 214 respondents were asked to complete a five-part survey, comprised of two management communication styles, emotional intelligence, the Leadership Adaptability Style Index, and demographic information. Two additional questions raised in the study posed the same questions in relation to all respondents within athletics and those outside athletics. The results showed no significant differences in management styles or adaptability of supervisors or non- supervisors