INTERCOLLEGIATE FOOTBALL SUCCESS AND INSTITUTIONAL PRIVATE SUPPORT: A NATIONAL STUDY OF 81 PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, 1965-1979, AND A CASE STUDY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, 1957-1981 (ATHLETICS, FUNDRAISING)

The purpose of this research study was first to examine the relationship between football success and three measures of voluntary financial support of the institution for 81 public universities which competed in Division IA of the NCAA during the period from 1965 to 1979. Second, it was the purpose of this study to examine the relationship at the University of Kansas between football success and nine measures of interest in the university during the 25 year period from 1957 to 1981.;For the national study analyses of variance for each of three dependent variables in all five periods of analysis showed no significant differences between categorical group means. No relationship was found to exist between football success and the three measures of voluntary financial support of the institution.;On the basis of the statistical evidence in the University of Kansas study a significant, positive correlation exists between football success and the percentage change in the total paid members of the Kansas University Alumni Association. No relationship was found between football success and the other eight variable measures of interest in the university.;In the national study, each institution was assigned to one of three categorical groups based on the percentage of football games won in the period of analysis (1965 to 1969, 1970 to 1974, 1975 to 1979, 1970 to 1979 and 1965 to 1979). The dependent variables were average gift to the annual fund, percentage of alumni solicited who gave to the annual fund, and average gift to the annual athletic fund. The differences between means on the three dependent variables were tested for statistical significance using a one-way analysis of variance. In the University of Kansas study, the percentage of football games won was correlated with the percentage change for nine different measures of interest in the university to determine strength of relationship, if any. One year-lagged data on the measures of interest was also used to determine if there was any carry over effect.