Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper examines the stereotypes that have been associated with the abilities of football players of different races. This practice often leads to "stacking", which Coakley (1998) defines as "players from a certain racial or ethnic group being either over- or under-represented at certain positions in team sports". Traditionally, this has meant that African Americans were less likely to be found in "thinking" positions in football, most notably at quarterback, offensive center, and inside linebacker. The author attempts to discern whether these stereotypes still exist in the minds of those most intimately involved with the issue: college and professional scouts. The paper explores these issues by using a content analysis of National Football League (NFL) draft periodicals published by a popular sports magazine in the United States. The results of the analysis show that scouts are significantly more likely to describe African American players in terms of their physical/athletic capabilities, and white players in terms of their mental/intelligence abilities.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: It has been assumed that support for the national football team maps onto feelings of national identity and pride. The growth in support for the England football team has been equated with a growing sense of English nationalism in the context of Scottish devolution. In Scotland, support for the national team is considered to be an expression of Scottish national identity in domestic and international contexts, and a crucial site for political and social representation. Drawing upon in-depth interview data it is suggested the relationship between national football support and national identity is more complex than previously assumed. The problematisation of the assumption that â??beingâ?? a nation is equivalent to â??feelingâ?? a nation enables us to consider national football support as a strategy for expressing and rejecting feelings of national pride, the legitimising of national prejudice, and the assertion of political claims. Using the example of Scotland and England national football support, we note how participants may attribute national â??othersâ?? with collective feelings of â??national identityâ?? in relation to football support and position themselves, personally or socially, in contrast. In England support for the team is distinguished from national identity. Participants distinguish their rational â??selfâ?? from the irrational expressions of nationalism typical of members of the far right. In Scotland expressions of support for a national football team in both England and Scotland are understood as legitimate collective representations of national identity. This warrants a positive Scottish national identity in contrast to the English, and is tied to political rights.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: What do we know about how the audience receives enjoyment from watching a sports event? Or what sorts of plays in a game affect the audience’s feelings of bliss and/or dysphoria? Surprisingly, little is known about the entertainment effects of sports viewing.
An experiment of 49 respondents in a live college football game revealed that successful plays of affiliated team and unsuccessful plays of contestant team influenced the level of audience enjoyment significantly. Also, the authors divided a successful play as surprising values - riskiness, commonness, and effective plays. Riskiness of a successful play did not reveal significant influence on the enjoyment, but effectiveness and commonness of a successful play show significant effect on the enjoyment. This paper discussed further theoretical implication and suggestions for the future study.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In speaking of South Africa's bid to host the 2010 World Cup, President Thabo Mbeki wrote to FIFA that his country wished "to stage an event that will send ripples of confidence from the Cape to Cairo." This route evokes both an historical dream of Afric

Publication Type: Invited Paper
Abstract: My paper will examine how HBCU football programs, specifically Florida A&M Univeristy, handled process of integrated football. I will examine two issues. First, how did HBCU football programs react to having their predominant access to Black football talent challenged by formally segregated institutions? I will use Florida A&M program as the example to explore this question. I will briefly look at the end of legendary coach, Jake Gaither's career and his successors' approach to integration and impact on the program. Second, I will analyze the effect of integration on Black college football. Overall, I will present an alternate view on integrated athletics by focusing on the athletics and coaches who remained at Black colleges.