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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

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

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1974. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

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

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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.

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Meanings when consuming sport are socially constructed, culturally patterned, and cognitively organized. In order to identify common elements and explore national differences in the meanings of sport consumption, this study used the Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZMET) to interview fans of professional basketball in the United States and China. Sixteen fans of professional basketball from each country were interviewed. Six categories of themes emerged from the interview data. They were: fanship socialization, fanship in life, the NBA/CBA interpretation, sport definition, identity orientation, and experience orientation. A model of fanship meaning and structure was then developed to represent fanship across the two national cultures. The model reveals that sport fanship can be conceptualized as mental maps with largely universal and interconnected cognitive constructs substantiated with meanings woven into fabrics using threads derived from the fans’ social and cultural contexts. Because of this social and cultural embeddedness, there is substantial cross-cultural variation in the ways that sport is interpreted. In particular, the two national groups have developed different definitions of what it means to be a fan. Americans focus on the team’s symbolic representation of their home city whereas Chinese see their connection with basketball-as-a-sport to be central to their fanship. This is a result of variation in the ways that fans were socialized into sport, the social significance of sport, and the fact that most Chinese fans follow NBA teams. The differences in fanship definition consequently exert cascading effects on the ways fans identify with basketball and experience the game. Findings of this study piece together different research streams to render a holistic conceptualization of fanship across the social, cultural, and psychological spheres. Based on the findings, a research program for a Sport Consumption Culture Theory (SCCT) was conceptualized. It is proposed that an emphasis on symbolism enabled by sport for identity construction and the characteristics of sport as consumption objectives form the core of a SCCT research program, and distinguish it from the general consumer research. / text