Master of Arts in History, Youngstown State University, 2017, Department of Humanities

This thesis aims to provide historical context for the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 which allowed professional sports teams to collectively negotiate television contracts and equally share in the revenues. According to Immanuel Wallerstein, the state crafting legislation to allow an anticompetitive business practice is an example of a basic contradiction of capitalism being reconciled. Researching the development of the SBA unveils two historically significant narratives. The first is the fact that antitrust legislator Emanuel Celler crafted the act with the intent of providing the National Football League competition although the act unintentionally aided the formation of a professional football monopoly. The other is that the act legalized a collectivist business practice in a time of anticommunist fervor and was written by a legislator with well-documented anticommunist credentials. This project utilized primary sources including the papers of Emanuel Celler, business meeting minutes from both the American and National Football Leagues, Congressional testimony and contemporary newspapers. These primary sources were supported by secondary sources detailing the culture of the 1950s, Cold War America and the history of other sports-related legislation.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2005, Educational Policy and Leadership

While scholars have widely discussed the cultural, economic, and political influence of the United States on Europe in general and Germany in particular, the realm of sports has received surprisingly little attention. This study ties in with the scholarly debate about Americanization and / or globalization that started in the first half the 1990s. It examines the presentation of American football in England from the 1890s through World War II as well as in Germany following the war to the present day. The study discusses what non-Americans wrote about football and what their countrymen and –women read about it. The study draws on English and German newspapers and magazines, particularly the London Times and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. It also examines the role American military, radio, television, and movies played in the diffusion of American football. In the case of Germany, the researcher draws on extensive qualitative interviews with several of the “founding fathers” of American football in Germany as well as his own experiences in the sport. The work demonstrates that American football arrived in Germany on a field that had been prepared by a three-hundred-year process of imagining Amerika. The author uses this context to explain why football has been relatively popular in Germany compared to other European countries. The study also explores football's failure to get established in Germany during the post-World War II era, and describes how Germans finally formed their own clubs and leagues in the late 1970s. Using selected illustrations, this study describes (1) how German Amerikabilder—images, ideas, and symbols associated with America—have been constructed in and around football in Germany and (2) how these constructs reflect a number of heterostereotypes Germans have cultivated over centuries. As part of this process, the press presented football as a violent American game and entertainment spectacle. The study closes with an epilogue that shifts th (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2010, Telecommunications (Communication)

Since the late 1990s, political democratization and new broadcasting technologies have transformed African countries' mediascapes. In addition to new private local television, broadcasters of transnational television officially gained access to African audiences. As such, transnational football (soccer) broadcasting became increasingly accessible to African football fans. This study aims to understand and to explain how television broadcasting's political and technological changes in the late 1990s induced electronic colonialism in Francophone Africa. This qualitative study was conducted in Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Burkina, and Cameroon. It constituted at first the goal to achieve an understanding of the intricacies of football television broadcasting by public, private, and transnational television broadcasters. The in-depth interviews, documents analysis, and field observations provided required data to analyze transnational television broadcasting in Francophone Africa within the theoretical framework of Thomas McPhail's (2006) electronic colonialism. Several significant findings emerged from this study. The main players in football television broadcasting are public and transnational television broadcasters. The newly installed private television broadcasters remain too economically fragile to compete for broadcasting rights. The economics of broadcasting rights (along with the access to satellite technology) give to European transnational television broadcasters – and media and marketing groups – a competitive advantage over local public television broadcasters. Consequently, media flows from Europe (and the one produced by Africans) are controlled by European media and marketing groups. What contributes to the control of the media broadcasting by European media and marketing corporations are the cultural and linguistic connections facilitated by African players in various French and European leagues, and the inherent cultural discount of football. Th (open full item for complete abstract)

Undergraduate Honors Program, Malone University, 2023, Honors Thesis

High school football rivalries are a quintessential part of adolescence and community life, although they are not often the focus of academic scholarship. This paper seeks to fill that void. Rivalries exist throughout the United States, but of focus is one of the most storied rivalries in Ohio between two perennial football state champions: Saint Ignatius High School and St. Edward High School. Saint Ignatius High School, an all-boy Catholic high school founded in 1886, is located in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood. St. Edward High School, situated in the nearby suburb of Lakewood and founded in 1949, is the second all-boys Catholic school in this classic rivalry. In 1952, the young football program for the St. Edward Eagles faced off against the much more experienced Saint Ignatius Wildcats on the gridiron for the first time. It was the first game in the rivalry – a rivalry that would bring together what could feel like the entire West Side of Cleveland for the yearly match-up. The annual game, played at least once a year every year since 1971, creates an atmosphere of high school football that few other high school football rivalries match. Details and outcomes of the games remain vivid in the memories of players and fans alike for generations, as fathers, sons, nephews, and friends replenish collective memory banks when they take their places on the field or in the bleachers. Alumni from both schools carry their reminiscences everywhere – from local boardrooms to conversations with passers-by in a grocery store. There is a sense of pride and purpose that continues from generation to generation, and the game, the rivalry, and the storied history spills over into every area of life. The players, the fans, and alumni celebrate each year's victory and vow to avenge any loss when the next match-up is scheduled. Such is the intensity of the competitiveness that exists between the St. Edward Eagles and the Saint Ignatius Wildcats. And this rivalry is rath (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science in Allied Health (MSAH), Otterbein University, 2022, Health and Sport Sciences

Objective:The aim of the study was to examine if the lockdown from COVID-19 caused an increase in injury occurrence and decrease in mental health of a Division Three college football team. Methods: A 18 question Survey was given to the members of the Division Three football team to examine the injuries they suffered in the seasons of 2019,2020, and 2021. The survey also looked to examine their Mental Health during the peak of the pandemic and if the pandemic affected their training in any way. Results:Of the 63 surveys returned it showed that there was not a majority of players mental health at least in the form of the COVID Anxiety Scale affected by the peak of COVID-19 and the lockdown. For injury occurrence, the fall season of 2021 had the most percentage of players suffering an injury with 61% of the seasons participants suffering an injury for a total of 50 injuries across 39 total players.The other two season had in 2019- 26% with 8 total injuries of 5 players and 2020- 32% with 12 total injuries of 10 players. Conclusion: From the results of the study it was found that the season that suffered the highest rate of injury was the fall of 2021. The possibility for the cause of a greater injury occurrence could be due to the change in policy of season with a short fall 2020 season being played in the spring of 2021 and then immediately playing a full fall 2021 season three months later.

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2020, Health Education

A particularly high-risk time on campus is the alcohol consumption associated with collegiate sporting events, specifically tailgating. The purpose of this dissertation was twofold; first, to identify and critically examine the literature on alcohol use at college sporting events, specifically football games; second, to assess college presidents' perceptions of alcohol policies regulating alcohol consumption during tailgating using the Health Belief Model. The literature review was accomplished by using multiple search engines, including Academic Search Complete, PubMed, CINAHL, ERIC, Health Source, Sociological Collection, SocINDEX, APA PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar to examine articles published on alcohol use among college students at collegiate sporting events, or football game-day. To be included in the literature review, articles must have been published in the United States within the year 2000 to 2019. A cross-sectional research design was used for the second study, which comprised of a 20-item survey questionnaire assessing college president's perceptions of alcohol use during college sporting events. The survey instrument included items assessing the Stages of Change from the Transtheoretical Model, as well as the perceived benefits, barrier, severity, and susceptibility constructs from the Health Belief Model. A population census was conducted utilizing the 2019 NCAA Division-I Football Bowl Subdivision listing (N=130). The critical literature review search yielded 25, scientific, peer-reviewed articles involving alcohol use associated with college football games. In many of the studies, researchers used cross-sectional study designs (72%), obtained convenience samples (32%), and did not include reliability and/or validity measures (48%). Data were collected either online (36%), with a paper and pencil questionnaire (32%), hybrid (in-person and online) (12%), or case-study (12%). Three topics emerged from the literature, including alcoh (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1991, Graduate School

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2016, Athletic Training (Health Sciences and Professions)

Background: Higher intensity of sports training have led to an increase risk for overuse conditions at the pediatric level. Youth athletes are more susceptible to overuse conditions due to their immature musculoskeletal systems. Limited epidemiological studies have examined overuse conditions in football. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the rates, risks, and distributions of overuse conditions in youth football and high school football. Methods: Participants were previously collected by Datalys through the Youth Football Safety Study and the National Athletic Treatment Injury and Outcomes Network injury surveillance programs. Results: High school football had a higher injury rate and injury risk for overuse conditions than youth football. Conclusion: Overuse conditions are not a primary concern in youth and high school football. However, high school football presents an increase risk of sustaining an overuse injury than youth football.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2016, Allied Medical Professions

Reports estimate 1.6 to 3.8 million cases of concussion occur in sports and recreation each year in the US, with sports related concussion(SRC) affecting more than 5% of high school and collegiate football players. The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a 2015 position statement on tackling in football that recommended “officials and coaches must enforce the rules of proper tackling, including zero tolerance for illegal, head-first hits.” USAFootball, a large youth football organization, has recommended a head up, vertical tackling style in an effort to improve tackling form and reduce subsequent injuries, yet no research has been performed to identify the effect of this method on head accelerations nor an effective method of teaching this method. Video feedback is a common motor learning technique used in many situations to alter movement patterns to prevent injuries and improve athletic performance. The purpose of this research was to understand the effect of video feedback on movement performance and determine if the head up, vertical tackling style is effective in reducing head accelerations in youth football athletes. Aim 1 of this study established the inter-rater agreement of the Qualitative Youth Tackling Scale (QYTS) during video review of tackling in youth football players. Providing consistent feedback between raters is a critical aspect of motor learning. Aim 2 determined the effect of self-observation, expert and self plus expert feedback models in the performance of the six body position variables of interest in the instructed tackling skill. Establishing the effect of these models allows coaches and trainers to effectively provide feedback to their athletes. Aim 3 examined changes in head acceleration from baseline to after a training program in a head up, vertical tackling style. Understanding the effect of body position on head accelerations during tackling will help to design tackling forms that minimize injury risk in athletes. The r (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science (MS), University of Toledo, 0, Public Health (Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety Science)

Noise exposure during spectator events has the ability to impact event workers, event participants and spectators. This study characterized the noise exposure of workers and spectators during Division I college football games. Noise levels were measured during three Division I college football games to determine whether the noise levels exceeded standards and guidelines. Noise levels were measured using a set of dosimeters (Larson Davis Spark 705+) placed throughout the football stadium to characterize noise generated by the cannon, the band, the students section, field level game noise and stadium level crowd noise. During all three games, the mean Leq (dBA) was statistically significantly greater in the Students Section compared to the other area locations measured; also, the mean Leq (dBA) was statistically significantly greater when the home team scored a touchdown. During all three games, the peak SPL was statistically significantly greater when the cannon was fired. The results of this study indicated that workers, players, and spectators may be exposed to hazardous noise during a college football game. The ACGIH TLV for noise was not exceeded based on the monitoring period, but five instances exceeded the peak C-weighted level.

MA, Kent State University, 2014, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration

This research examines environment changes that occur in contemporary college athletics. Factors that impact internal and external operations, specific to college football programs, will be explored. For this study, environment changes will include assessment specific to facility upgrades/renovations, new coaches, and conference moves. This research utilizes Point Biserial Correlation Tests and Paired-Samples T-Tests to investigate relationships between those three variables and recruiting/home game attendance.

Bachelor of Science (BS), Ohio University, 2014, Journalism

Black Sunday, the day when, for the first time on October 17, 2010, three NFL players were fined for vicious and illegal hits, was the starting point of what would then become a national debate about concussions and football-related brain trauma. Just three years later, brothers Mark and Steve Fainaru, reporters from ESPN would collaborate with PBS’s Frontline to expose how the NFL attempted to cover up its knowledge of the risks of brain damage in League of Denial. This thesis uses a variety of analytical tools, including metaphor, valence, framing, source, and descriptive statistical analysis to better understand how the mainstream sports media have covered what has been deemed the “concussion crisis” at the professional, collegiate, and youth levels of football. In 489 articles from both ESPN and Sports Illustrated, this study finds a distinctly negative slant to the reporting, and a prevalence of war, violence, death, and sickness metaphors. It additionally examines through what frames journalists have tried to make sense of this debate, finding frames of labor/management, race/gender, public perception, scientific debate, and opinion. Lastly it analyzes the implications of which sources these media organizations most frequently cite for medically based information.

Master of Science, University of Akron, 2007, Physical Education-Sports Science/Coaching

Ever since the early 1900's technology in some form has played a part in how coaches prepare their athletes for competition. It is the most recent years in which the world of college football has seen such technology come full circle. The present study examines specifically how technology has changed in college football since the mid-1990's, as well as giving a historical background of football film that dates back to the early 1900's. Along with examining how the technology has changed, this study evaluates how the role of the college football video-coordinator has changed as a result of the technological advances. The results of the study show that all college football programs studied incorporate video editing software into the game planning process. In regards to the job analysis aspects of this study the researcher found that the role of the video coordinator has changed.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Theatre

Over the past decade, especially in the United States, there has been a significant increase in what has commonly come to be known as athlete activism. Examples of this phenomenon include such moments as Colin Kaepernick's anthem protest in the National Football League (NFL) and the campaign for pay equality undertaken by the United States Women's National Team (USWNT). Though these examples, and many others like them, have affected important and tangible social change, there are many in the United States who claim that the practice of sport activism only serves to unnecessarily politicize the realm of sport. Opponents of sport activism often argue that sport should be kept separated from more serious matters such as pressing social and political issues. However, this argument is predicated on the assumption that sport is inherently apolitical or that it somehow exists independently of societal structures, which is demonstrably false. In “Finding Hope at the Arena: A Performance Studies Approach to Sport,” I make use of performance studies frameworks to investigate sport as a meaning-making mode of live performance with utopian potentiality. Using performance scholar Jill Dolan's theorization of the utopian performative as a theoretical framework, I examine several key moments and eras in United States sport history to interrogate the notion that sport is, or ever has been, separate from social and political issues. Through archival and performance analysis methods of research, I interrogate the ways in which sport, as a genre of live performance, produces myriad utopian visions of the country that often serve to uphold or critique the dominant social order. Moreover, I imagine this study as a step towards what I call a model of utopian sport spectatorship. Utopian sport spectatorship facilitates a form of engagement with sport similar to that of a theatrical production. In this model of spectatorship, participants, both those involved in the aspects of athletic c (open full item for complete abstract)

Bachelor of Science of Journalism (BSJ), Ohio University, 2024, Journalism

Football is a fickle game. Men throw pads on and hit each other, for hours at a time. However, when you take the game away from the communities in Southeast Ohio, you see that football means much more than just a "game". When you strip away the game, you get stories of a man who rose from the 740 to national prominence, a story of a legacy forged on skulls, and coaching greatness passed down from father to son. That is the tale of Friday Night Legacies.

Doctor of Education (EdD), Ohio University, 2023, Educational Administration (Education)

In recent years, the topic of women in sports leadership has garnered significant attention in both scholarly circles and public discourse globally. While there has been noticeable progress with more women securing leadership roles in sports, a substantial gap still exists in terms of their representation and the opportunities available for young women aspiring to such positions. This disparity has prompted increased scholarly scrutiny into the barriers faced by women in sports leadership, their socialization within this sphere, and potential strategies to address these challenges. However, there has been limited scholarship in exploring the effectiveness of gender equity approaches and strategies to improve the representation and socialization of women into sports leadership. Furthermore, there is an even greater scarcity of research exploring how major and powerful international sports organizations such as the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) are addressing such gender inequities within the leadership realms. To bridge this gap, this qualitative study was conducted, capturing insights from 13 women leaders representing different FIFA Confederation regions from around the world. This study utilized a variety of theoretical frameworks, including transnational feminism, Ecological Systems Theory, and Burton's (2015) barriers to sports leadership, to understand their experiences. The findings of this phenomenological study shed light on the need for more transglocalized gender equity strategies in football leadership. These phenomena emerged from a triadic set of experiences which were labelled as a need for a more polylithic lens, an amalgamation of dualism, and the need for a more ecological approach to solutions. These insights led to the creation of a transglocalized framework for gender equity strategies in football leadership, providing a new lens through which FIFA and other international sports organizations can approa (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts, University of Toledo, 2023, Spanish (Foreign Languages)

Esta tesis se enfoca en una investigacion sobre la construccion de la identidad a traves de los deportes en un contexto latinoamericano. En particular investiga las actitudes de los seguidores de dos equipos de futbol en Medellin, Colombia, que participan en la liga de futbol nacional. A traves de dos estudios, uno cualitativo y otro cuantitativo, la tesis contribuye a una mejor comprension del papel de los deportes en la vida cotidiana de los ciudadanos, en general, y las relaciones entre seguidores deportivos y sus equipos, en particular. En general, el estudio cualitativo revela ciertos hallazgos interesantes como el uso frecuente de los recursos de los dominios del afecto y de la emocion dentro del marco teorico de la evaluacion (Martin and White, 2005) para hablar de su interes por los deportes y sus actitudes hacia sus equipos favoritos; y el uso de varios recursos discursivos para mostrar su afiliacion a un equipo y a veces para establecer la solidaridad con la entrevistadora. Hay tambien algunos temas que corresponden con ciertos temas del modelo cuantitativo: la actuacion del equipo y como afecta al sentir de los hinchas; la identificacion con el equipo; y el orgullo por el equipo. El papel de la familia en el desarrollo del apoyo deportivo y los simbolos de los clubes de futbol que sirven para demostrar el apoyo a los equipos son temas adicionales que se investigan en este estudio. Al mismo tiempo, el estudio cuantitativo indica ciertas relaciones basadas en un modelo conceptual. En general, dados los resultados de este estudio, los factores principales que influyen en la identificacion con un equipo y el orgullo por el equipo son la actuacion del equipo, el orgullo local y las experiencias memorables asociadas con el equipo. Tambien, los resultados del estudio cuantitativo establecieron que, en Colombia, en cuanto a las relaciones entre los seguidores y sus equipos favoritos, hay un vinculo entre la identificacion con el equipo, por un lado, y el apoyo al (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Education (MEd), Bowling Green State University, 1964, Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies

Master of Education (MEd), Bowling Green State University, 1964, Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies

Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, 1960, Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies