Greensboro Reporter

Exposure and interest in college sports has a funny way of developing a robust knowledge of not only your favorite team but subsequently related information, according to a new paper.

A thesis paper written by Louisiana State University graduate student Theodore Charles Greener in 2011 reports that a correlation between sports fandom with sports media and knowledge indicates the more one is exposed to information regarding a favorite team, the higher probability they can consume related information and develop a broader base of knowledge and understanding.

“While knowledge of more NCAA-specific information can still be improved, findings demonstrate that sports fans not only attend to sports media, but also do so through elaborated thought and central processing,” Greener reported in his thesis. “This is key because as college sports continue to receive significant criticism, an opportunity exists to reach a demographic of knowledgeable college sports fans and ultimately reduce confusion.”

Greener reported in his thesis that it can all be drawn to a person’s involvement or what can be fairly stated in sports – emotional investment. That investment to a subject can drive the ability and desire to gather more information and facts. It is argued it is easy for a sports fan to gather information on the subject than maybe other subjects based on the interest level. And subsequent information provides a broader potential do draw on knowledge and awareness.

“Perhaps most importantly, results indicate that sports fans remain aware of the complexity and controversy now synonymous with college sports, as well as general facts,” Greener writes.

With information on college sports so prevalent on a number of platforms, the data drives popularity and continues to do so. In recent years there has been a proliferation of channels solely dedicated to college sports and its conferences.

“Due to the pervasiveness of college sports in sports media, those who value sports and attend to sports media as a result, come to learn about college sports through mere exposure,” Greener’s thesis reported. “Results speak to the popularity of college sports and indicate that sports fans remain aware of characteristics unique to college sports and accompanying discussion that takes place within sports media. 

"Results, however, also indicate that college sports media consumption is niche-specific, as individuals who placed the most value in college sports scored the highest, signifying that selective exposure to college sports leads to heightened knowledge.”