Digital Commons Network^™

The Road Less Traveled: Analyzing The Career Paths Of Women Athletic Directors Utilizing Social Network Analysis, Mary C. Motley, Jonathan A. Jensen, Erianne Weight, Brad Bates

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The purpose of this research is to analyze the career paths of current NCAA Division I women athletic directors (ADs), towards the goal of building and identifying networks within intercollegiate athletics. By using social network analysis (SNA), this research builds out a hiring network within intercollegiate athletics by analyzing the career changes of current Division I women ADs. The objectives of this study included exploring current women AD career paths, uncovering institutions deemed most influential in the network, and comparing the career paths of women and men ADs. Findings suggest that on average, women ADs have longer career paths than …

Book Review: The Price: What It Takes To Win In College Football's Era Of Chaos, Rob Mcdermand

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

In The Price: What It Takes to Win in College Football's Era of Chaos Armen Keteyian and John Talty have written the first comprehensive post-NIL examination of college football’s new landscape for coaches, athletes, agents, and athletic departments. The authors explore the newly disrupted landscape of college football, likening it to the "Wild West" where traditional structures have been upended. The authors detail the profound impact of recent upheavals, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the transfer portal, and name, image, and likeness (NIL), which have collectively struck the sport like a nuclear bomb, leaving coaches and administrators grappling with unprecedented challenges. …

The Daily Gamecock: March 2025, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

2025

No abstract provided.

Gotta Take My Avatar Shopping: Impacts Of Interactive Virtual Shopping In Esport, Yongjin Hwang, Keshav Gupta

Faculty Publications

Purpose

Esports game developers are incorporating interactive virtual shopping (IVS) experiences into their products to facilitate consumer–brand interactions. Despite the potential influence of IVS, existing research lacks an understanding of its impact on consumers’ overall affect– particularly game enjoyment, a critical factor in sustaining engagement with esports products – and on attitudinal change toward brands in the real world.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment was designed to examine the impact of shopping in the virtually interactive esports marketplace on game enjoyment. Mediating effects of positive change in brand attitude, perceived realism and character attachment and the moderating effect of self-avatar gender congruity …

How Agency From Precollege Experiences Empowers Black Student-Athletes To Succeed And Find Belonging At Pwis: A Phenomenological Study, Deborah V. Hogan

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

In the ever-changing college football landscape, Division I (DI) student-athletes seek to maximize their athletic and financial potential while navigating the academic and social challenges of college life. For Black student-athletes (BSAs) at predominantly White institutions (PWIs), the campus racial climate shapes their college experience and sense of belonging. The current phenomenological study explores how DI Black football student-athletes (BFSAs) use agency from precollege experiences to navigate racial climates and find belonging at PWIs. Using Critical Race Theory (CRT) and sense of belonging frameworks, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 former BFSAs from DI PWIs. The study revealed three main …

2024 - 2025 Faculty Senate Annual Report, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

The primary file includes the 2024 - 2025 Admissions Committee Report. Additional annual reports are attached.

International Society Of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Nutritional Concerns Of The Female Athlete, Ralf Jäger, Jeffery L. Heileson, Sidney Abou Sawan, Broderick L. Dickerson, Megan Leonard, Richard B. Kreider, Chad M. Kerksick, Stephen M. Cornish, Darren G. Candow, Dean M. Cordingley, Scott C. Forbes, Grant M. Tinsley, Tindaro Bongiovanni, Roberto Cannataro, Bill I. Campbell, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak, Jeffrey R. Stout, Douglas S. Kalman, Jose Antonio

Faculty Publications

Position Statement: The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) presents this position based on a critical examination of the literature surrounding the effects of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) supplementation on exercise performance, recovery, and brain health. This position stand is intended to provide a scientific foundation for athletes, dietitians, trainers, and other practitioners regarding the effects of supplemental ω-3 PUFA in healthy and athletic populations. The following conclusions represent the official position of the ISSN: Athletes may be at a higher risk for ω-3 PUFA insufficiency. Diets rich in ω-3 PUFA, including supplements, are effective strategies for …

Collegiate Athlete Branding And Name, Image, And Likeness On Instagram, Carson Shaw, Renu Pariyadath

University of South Carolina Upstate Student Research Journal

This study explores how collegiate athletes use Instagram to build their personal brands and maximize their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) potential in the era of digital self-promotion. Since the 2021 Supreme Court ruling allowing college athletes to profit from NIL, social media has become a key platform for visibility, engagement, and financial opportunity. Guided by Erving Goffman’s Self-Presentation Theory, this research employs a qualitative content analysis of 80 Instagram posts from eight collegiate athletes—four high-profile and four low-profile—representing diverse sports, genders, and institutions. Sixteen content themes drawn from prior research were analyzed, including personal life, business life, athletic performance, …

International Society Of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Β-Hydroxy-Β-Methylbutyrate (Hmb), John A. Rathmacher, Lisa M. Pitchford, Jeffrey R. Stout, Jeremy R. Townsend, Ralf Jäger, Richard B. Kreider, Bill I. Campbell, Chad M. Kerksick, Patrick S. Harty, Darren G. Candow, Brandon M. Roberts, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak, Douglas S. Kalman, Jose Antonio

Faculty Publications

Position Statement: The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) bases the following position stand on an analysis of the literature regarding the effects of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB). The following 12 points have been approved by the Research Committee of the Society: 1. HMB is a metabolite of the amino acid leucine that is naturally produced in both humans and other animals. Two forms of HMB have been studied: Calcium HMB (HMB-Ca) and a free acid form of HMB (HMB-FA). HMB-FA appears to lead to increased appearance of HMB in the bloodstream when compared to HMB-Ca, though recent results are mixed. 2. …

December 4, 2024 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Beyond Amateurism: Examining The Potential Labor Expenses Of Ncaa Student-Athlete Employment, Alayna K. Falak, Tyler L. Custis

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

In light of recent administrative developments urging the classification of student-athletes as employees, litigation challenging the current employment status of student-athletes, and the Supreme Court’s willingness to tackle National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) issues, many questions surrounding the future of college sports under an employment model have emerged. The authors analyzed key litigation, recent developments from administrative agencies, and academic literature. The authors used publicly available data from the NCAA, the United States Department of Labor (DOL), and other sources to construct two estimates of what it would cost NCAA member institutions to provide baseline compensation to their Division I …

An Analysis Of Racial Tasking And Other Sport Management Theories Through The Lived Experiences Of Black College Football Coaches, Trevor Bopp, Robert Turick

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The purpose of this study was to explore Black coaches’ (N = 17) perceptions of the academic research that purports to shed light on their experiences in college football. In sharing their lived experiences, coaches discussed the racial inequalities they have and continue to overcome to enter, remain, and advance in coaching; considered the existence and influence of racial tasking; and provided their thoughts on sport management research. In doing so, they remarked about many of the racialized barriers and disparate outcomes which we have hypothesized, analyzed, interpreted, and written about in our academic work. Implications from this study provide …

Framing Foreignness In Sports: The Effect Of Text And Image Frames On Attitudes Toward Australian College Punters, James Bingaman

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

In recent years, there has been an influx of Australian college punters receiving significant media attention. This media coverage often emphasizes these athlete’s “foreignness” by relying on cultural stereotypes. Existing research has shown that the framing of athletes – both text and image frames – can influence individuals’ attitudes and perceptions. Using a 2 x 3 (two textual frames x three visual frames) experimental design, this study sought to test the effects of “foreignness” framing on attitudes toward Australian punters and punters more broadly. The results offer several directions for sports media scholars to examine media effects related to the …

“We Need To Do More” To “This Is All Bullsh**” : A Continuum Of Race-Related Social Media Activism In College Athletics, Natalie N. Bunch, Lauren Beasley, Beth Cianfrone

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member institutions have addressed social issues, such as racial justice, via team or athletic department social media platforms. Often the social media strategy is managed by a content creator within the athletic department. However, coaching staff members may be concerned with what is posted to team or athletic department accounts because of the public facing nature of their job, their use of social media in recruitment efforts, and their role in creating a positive environment for current athletes. We surveyed 128 coaches across divisions to determine perceptions of their athletic department’s race-related activism on social …

The Mental Health Literacy Of Ncaa College Coaches: Knowledge, Beliefs, And Resources, Lauren Beasley, Steven Hoffman, Jackson Sears

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college athletes in the United States (U.S.) are at risk for diminished mental health, and stigma may be a barrier to these athletes seeking professional mental health care. Coaches can create a team environment that prioritizes athlete mental health and destigmatizes help-seeking; however, this requires coaches to have appropriate mental health knowledge, operationalized as mental health literacy (MHL). Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study was to explore three different constructs of MHL of NCAA coaches across Divisions I, II, and III. The Multicomponent Mental Health Literacy Scale (MMHLS), which measures MHL within three domains—knowledge, …

An Exploration Of Factors Impacting First-Generation College Athlete Retention At Small Colleges And Universities, Adam R. Cocco, Alan Grosbach

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Retention is an increasing area of concern for higher education institutions as enrollments continue to decrease. This is especially germane for small colleges and universities given their lower enrollments and limited resources. First-generation students and college athletes are populations with enhanced susceptibility to attrition due to additional challenges and burdens placed upon them as they navigate the college environment. Therefore, there is a need to understand the factors influencing retention among those at the intersection of these student demographics. The purpose of this study is to examine the association of individual (gender, race, and academic performance) and athletic (financial aid, …

Investigating Ticket Price Determination Of Collegiate Athletics: Insights From Pricing Professionals In Non-Football Bowl Subdivision Schools, Jason D. Reese, Yang Xu

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

This study aims to investigate how ticket prices are set in Division I (DI) college athletics, how the individuals making pricing decisions perceive the purpose of athletics, what objectives pricing managers are trying to achieve with both revenue and non-revenue sports, and the factors that influence how the final price is set. Structured interviews were conducted with 12 athletic department external operations staff from 12 non-FBS DI institutions, representing seven different conferences. Results showed that price is determined through either a bottom-up hierarchical model or a committee-based model. Patronage-Oriented objectives were shown to dominate the pricing strategy in non-FBS programs, …

The Daily Gamecock: October 2024, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

October

No abstract provided.

Perception Of Recreational Water Quality In The Scholarly Literature: Where Have We Been & Where Should We Go, Xavier Alberto Basurto Cendeno

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores existing literature and research themes between water quality and recreational participation through use of a bibliometric analysis with content analysis. It identifies key researchers, institutions, and themes that have shaped the field. Despite the growing body of research, gaps remain in understanding the state of the research on this important topic. By analyzing trends and how these trends have changed over time, this study aims to offer insights for future research agendas. Ultimately, the findings will inform strategies for improving water quality management and fostering more resilient, timely water-based recreational research.

Achieving Destination Sustainability: How Tourist-To-Tourist Interaction Quality Affects Tourist Loyalty?, Junli Gao, Fang Meng Ph.D., Weifeng Guo, Baomin Lin

Faculty Publications

Although tourist-to-tourist interaction (TTI) has been identified as an essential element in tourist experiences, the effect of TTI quality on tourist loyalty, and the mechanism underlying this effect is scarcely discussed in the literature. Based on the self-determination theory, this study aims to examine whether and how TTI quality influences tourist loyalty, representing a significant means to achieve destination sustainability. More specifically, this study tested a moderated mediation model in which basic psychological needs satisfaction mediated the relationship between TTI quality and tourist loyalty, while sociability moderated the link between TTI quality and basic psychological needs satisfaction. A survey research …

How Passion Functions In Sport Applicant Attraction: A Biometric Approach, Jiayao Qi

Theses and Dissertations

Passion has been extensively researched from the perspective of athletes, entrepreneurs, and employees. In this dissertation, the researcher conducted an in-depth investigation of the way passion functions in sport job attraction. The two-stage experimental design combines the pioneer biometric methodology with qualitative inquiry, and 25 job seekers selected from a larger sample participated in the biometric lab. Results indicate that the interplay between cognitive and affective appraisals is critical in explaining sport job seekers’ highly individualistic and discriminative attraction toward work opportunities in sport. In particular, sports job seekers foster work passion through their multiple identifications with sport (playing history, …

Faith, Trust, And Pixie Dust: Understanding The Visions And Responsibilities Of The Varsity Esports Program Director, William Alan Fisackerly

Theses and Dissertations

The budding esports scene has drawn attention from higher education institutions in North America, who are growing community, competitive, and pedagogical esports initiatives. Varsity Esports Programs (VEPs) have proliferated since Robert Morris launched the first varsity program in 2014, with over 12,800 players from 650 institutions competing in the Spring 2023 National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) Starleague season alone (Butler University Set To Host NACE Starleague’s Spring 2023 Grand Finals, 2023). Despite this growth, little is known about the Varsity Esports Program (VEP), specifically from the perspective of the directors that oversee their operations. Previous work exploring the creation …

Trust In Governance System (Tgs) In The Hotel Context: Scale Development And Validation, Swechchha Subedi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to conceptualize trust in governance systems (TGS) within the hotel context, develop a scale to measure it, and validate its effects on hotel investment decisions. The study focused on the perspectives of hotel leadership which includes the owners, operators, and investors in the United States. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, exploratory sequential research design. Initially, the governance system within the hotel industry was conceptualized, and trust in governance was defined. The scale development phase involved generating items and dimensions through literature review, expert review, and pilot testing. The final scale included multiple dimensions …

How Organizational Structure And Power Dynamics Impact Decision Making—An Empirical Investigation Of General Manager Turnover In The National Basketball Association, Xiaoan Huang

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the factors affecting GM dismissals in the NBA. Although there is limited consideration of executives in sport, scholars argue that GMs play a critical role within professional sport organizations, as they are generally involved in both business and on-field operations of the team. While there is some understanding of the impact that GMs have on organizational performance in sports, there is a lack of consideration of the tenure of executives and the factors that lead to turnover in these positions. As such, there is a critical need for further examination of GMs in sport. Following power theory …

Slowing The Coaching Carousel: The Benefits Of Person-Organization Fit, Brent D. Oja, Claire C. Schaeperkoetter, Aaron W. Clopton

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

No abstract provided.

Ncaa Division I-Fbs Salary Determinants: A Look At New And Amended Contracts, Kellyn Fogarty, Brian P. Soebbing, Kwame J.A. Agyemang

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

No abstract provided.

Predicting Intrinsic Value Of Ncaa Division I Men’S Basketball Coaching Salaries, Ryan M. Brewer, Chad D. Mcevoy, Nels Popp

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

No abstract provided.

Examining The Influence Of Gender On Athletes’ Levels Of Moral Reasoning…, Vincent Lyons, Brian A. Turner

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

No abstract provided.

Factors For Success In Ncaa Division Iii Athletics, Matthew Katz, Adam G. Pfleegor, Claire Schaeperkoetter, Jordan Bass

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

No abstract provided.

College Football Player Transitions Out Of Their Sport: A Qualitative Exploration, Taylor Payne, Andrew Driska

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The processes of identity management and career transition from sport appear idiosyncratic. Previous research has shown that identity foreclosure and strong athletic identity can complicate transition out of sport (Park et al., 2013; Sparkes, 1998). The literature has shown that social support can make career transition more adaptive and cause less psychological strain for athletes (Blinde & Greendorfer, 1985; Fuller, 2014; Park et al., 2013). It is the job of those in student-support services to help student-athletes prepare for a world after sport. High impact practices (HIP) are an empirically supported way to go about this. This study sought to …