The Geography of College Football Fans

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Interesting article by NY Times.

The Geography of College Football Fans (and Realignment Chaos) - NYTimes.com

According to this study, ND is the #4 most popular team behind OSU, Michigan, and Penn State.

 

[AvesEvo]

It was a good write up, but concerning the total number of fans per team, the conclusion differs from what I see on a day-to-day basis. At least in my part of the country (South Dakota), the most common college teams you see on apparel are Nebraska, Iowa, Notre Dame, Michigan, and Texas. Nebraska and Iowa being one and two. I can't recall seeing a Penn St. jacket, shirt, hat, etc. once around here.

What are your guy's observations?

Edit: They also used google searches as the basis for their numbers. Concerning Ohio St. at least, their recent happenings may have increased the number of searches.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

ND to the ACC makes a lot more sense in light of that article.

The ACC represents a much larger portion of our top TV markets than the B1G.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Edit: They also used google searches as the basis for their numbers. Concerning Ohio St. at least, their recent happenings may have increased the number of searches.

They used searches for the term "college football" as the proxy. If they were using searches for each school's specific name, you might have a point, but I doubt many people were looking for updates on Tattoo-gate by typing "college football" into Google.

 

[GreatGolson]

however if the B1G wants to get into the NY, Boston and apparently even the LA markets them ND is the best choice

 

[phillyirish]

Interesting, but I think it is inaccurate. Notre Dame, Texas, and USC should all be in the top 5.

 

[Kak7304]

Interesting, but I think it is inaccurate. Notre Dame, Texas, and USC should all be in the top 5.

I agree. I know I only go to ESPN or IE from my favorites or typing them into the address bar, so I would not be counted for this study. There's just no good method to collect data because the fan bases are difficult to quantify.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Interesting, but I think it is inaccurate. Notre Dame, Texas, and USC should all be in the top 5.

Based on what? Anecdotal evidence? Silver at least used a defensible research methodology, and if you think about it, it makes sense. Michigan, OSU, and Penn State are all (1) large public universities, (2) with lots of tradition and history, and (3) they each monopolize an avidly pro-CFB state.

ND is small, and Indiana isn't an avidly pro-CFB state. Californians aren't avidly pro-CFB, and USC doesn't monopolize the state. And there's too much competition in Texas to monopolize its state.

 

[BobD]

It was a good write up, but concerning the total number of fans per team, the conclusion differs from what I see on a day-to-day basis. At least in my part of the country (South Dakota), the most common college teams you see on apparel are Nebraska, Iowa, Notre Dame, Michigan, and Texas. Nebraska and Iowa being one and two. I can't recall seeing a Penn St. jacket, shirt, hat, etc. once around here.

What are your guy's observations?

Edit: They also used google searches as the basis for their numbers. Concerning Ohio St. at least, their recent happenings may have increased the number of searches.

They've had the same coach for about 412 years. Joe has fans everywhere, and rightfully deserved!

 

[Veer option]

They've had the same coach for about 412 years. Joe has fans everywhere, and rightfully deserved!

No kidding, you would think PSU would have a better following with the old people in Florida.

 

[BobD]

^LOL^

 

[BobD]

They should give Joe Paterno a bit part as a vampire thats been a football coach for 412 years in the next "Twighlight" movie.....that would be fkn hilarious!

 

[IrishSteelhead]

IMO the largest fanbases nationwide are (in no particular order):

Miami (FL)
Purdue
Washington State
Iowa State
Vanderbilt

 

[BobD]

IMO the largest fanbases nationwide are (in no particular order):

Miami (FL)
Purdue
Washington State
Iowa State
Vanderbilt

I would have guessed:

Miami (FL)
USC
Notre Dame
Texas
Arkansas

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I would have guessed:

Miami (FL)
USC
Notre Dame
Texas
Arkansas

I was going to put Wake Forest ahead of Iowa State, but there was a time when I saw a guy wearing a Cyclones hat at a truck stop in Oklahoma.

 

[Rocket89]

Where I done reside, it looks about like dis:

60% ND
15% UM
15% PSU
10% Other

 

[Buster Bluth]

Neat map, but I don't think there's any way to do such a thing truly well.

 

[AvesEvo]

They've had the same coach for about 412 years. Joe has fans everywhere, and rightfully deserved!

As I stated, around here is South Dakota, no need for exclamation marks and size 789 font.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

IMO the largest fanbases nationwide are (in no particular order):

Miami (FL)
Purdue
Washington State
Iowa State
Vanderbilt

You forgot LA-Lafayette and Troy.

 

[MacIrish75]

As Whiskey said, Indiana isn't a bastion for CFB. Notre Dame has by far the largest following in-state, but after us, I'd say Ohio State and Michigan trump IU and Purdue in terms of followers...and they are followed closely by fans of Illinois, Kentucky, and Michigan State.

 

[BobD]

As I stated, around here is South Dakota, no need for exclamation marks and size 789 font.

LOL, Sorry bud, I did get a little crazy with that font......wanted to make sure somebody heard it : )

 

[PJWhitfield]

Notre Dame ranks No. 2 in this article, which is a bit dated. But I'd trust this follow-the-money approach over the other approach. Irish No. 2 in an off year. The problem with many other programs is that they have no catalyst to take their appeal beyond home-state loyalties, which makes me skeptical. The Catholic angle helps Notre Dame, though it's probably less than it was in the 1950s and earlier.

 

[BGIF]

Interesting piece but the data presented was much like that in the Healthcare Bill, difficult to comprehend.

I sent that article to some of my wife's relatives, Auburn and Alabama grads. They agreed Auburn doesn't have more fans than Alabama, not close.

UAB is listed as having a 250,000 fans they do well to get 25,000 people to a game. The entire population of Birmingham is only a little more than 250,000 and every man, woman, and child is not tuned in to UAB on Saturday.

Rice is one of the smallest schools playing Div 1 FB, about 3000 undergrads. They probably don't have enough alumni living to equal the number of fans cited.

Rutgers 600,000 fans in NY? They can't sell out Giants Stadium, 45 minutes from campus for a home game. ND can sell it out as visitor. I've been there for games for both schools.

Georgia Tech with more fans than UGA? No way! Again I've been to Hotlanta for a GT v UGA game.

Clemson? Were they counting fans or cows?

Miami can't fill their own stadium unless they playing for the National Championship and Gloria Estafan is doing the halftime show.

There are many others.

Somebody played fast and loose with data.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Somebody played fast and loose with data.

Or was trying to start WWIII in the state of Alabama. I can only imagine how many Tide fans are up in arms after reading this, assuming at least a few actually know how to read.

 

[Veer option]

I can only imagine how many Tide fans are up in arms after reading this, assuming at least a few actually know how to read.

Nice.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

Or was trying to start WWIII in the state of Alabama.

And in the state of Georgia.

 

[theclassickiller]

Interesting piece but the data presented was much like that in the Healthcare Bill, difficult to comprehend.

I sent that article to some of my wife's relatives, Auburn and Alabama grads. They agreed Auburn doesn't have more fans than Alabama, not close.

UAB is listed as having a 250,000 fans they do well to get 25,000 people to a game. The entire population of Birmingham is only a little more than 250,000 and every man, woman, and child is not tuned in to UAB on Saturday.

Rice is one of the smallest schools playing Div 1 FB, about 3000 undergrads. They probably don't have enough alumni living to equal the number of fans cited.

Rutgers 600,000 fans in NY? They can't sell out Giants Stadium, 45 minutes from campus for a home game. ND can sell it out as visitor. I've been there for games for both schools.

Georgia Tech with more fans than UGA? No way! Again I've been to Hotlanta for a GT v UGA game.

Clemson? Were they counting fans or cows?

Miami can't fill their own stadium unless they playing for the National Championship and Gloria Estafan is doing the halftime show.

There are many others.

Somebody played fast and loose with data.

Agreed. This article is garbage. Nothing definitive and an absolutely idiotic method of determining fans. Hell, by this method Wyoming would have zero fans because none of them have internet access or cable TV. Stupid article, can't believe people get paid for this stuff.

 

[Aerosmith777]

Rutgers 600,000 fans in NY? They can't sell out Giants Stadium, 45 minutes from campus for a home game. ND can sell it out as visitor. I've been there for games for both schools.

That was the one that made me question the authenticity of this article. Being from the area, there is no way that there are over twice as many Rutgers fans walking around as Notre Dame fans.

 

[rikkitikki08]

IMO the largest fanbases nationwide are (in no particular order):

Miami (FL)
PurdueWashington State
Iowa State
Vanderbilt

SAY WHAT?

 

[IrishSteelhead]

SAY WHAT?

You heard me. They almost filled 50% of Ross-Ade last week.