Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Private Equity Investments Integration On U.S. And European Sports Industries, Evan Alexander

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Private equity investments in the sports industry have become increasingly prominent in both the United States and Europe, although the dynamics, regulations, and strategies differ between the two regions. In this thesis, I discuss the concept of private equity (PE) investments within the sports industry, evaluating it in the context of the United States of America and Europe.

I analyze the overall impact that the integration of private equity investments has had on several sports leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and European Soccer Clubs, among other sports. I …

Corporate Adaptability In The Nil Era: How Athletic Departments Are Navigating A New Landscape, Jake H. Greene

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

The landscape of college athletics was completely restructured in 2021 when NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) legislation passed, and the pace of change has not slowed since. With athletic departments facing new legal frameworks, financial pressures, and compliance demands, the question arises: how essential is corporate adaptability to institutional success in this era? Through content analysis of new laws, NCAA rulings, and two targeted case studies, this study argues that corporate adaptability is not merely advantageous but essential for athletic departments navigating the NIL landscape. Programs that have proactively restructured their operations, staffing, and compliance systems have positioned themselves for …

Designing For Themselves: The Gearbox Model Of Value-Reclaiming Design Within Grassroots Sports Communities, Yijia Jiang, Huiyi Zhang, Keren Zhang, Shiyu Liu, Kin Wai Michael Siu

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Grassroots sports communities (GSCs) express and impact values through everyday design practices that build belonging, identity, and agency. Adopting qualitative multi-case analysis of representative GSCs (n=10), this study explores how these communities define and reclaim their values through design practice. Four modalities are identified: 1) narrative re-authoring, 2) aesthetic re-coding, 3) collaborative re-making, and 4) ethical re-grounding. These modalities constitute a dynamic process wherein design functions as a relational infrastructure for collective meaning-making. Based on these findings, the study generates a Gearbox Model of Value-Reclaiming Design, theorising how communal design agency is exercised through dynamic and recursive interplay. The model …

Evaluating The Agreement Between Body Composition Measures With Changes In Hydration Status, Holt A. Schadler, Bret M. Schadler, Alexis Lewis

Symposium of Student Scholars

Purpose: Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and InBody (IB) machines are commonly used in research to measure body composition. We sought to evaluate the agreement of these two devices with a change in hydration status. Methods: Twenty-Three (12 females) (mean ± SD; age, 22.6 ± 2.3yrs; height, 169.1 ± 9.2cm; weight, 80.4 ± 35.03 kg) participants were recruited for a hydration intervention study. Each participant collected their urine over a 24-hr period to assess osmolality (UOSMO) and volume (UVOL), as well as body composition assessments using DEXA and IB before (PRE) and after (POST) the intervention. Body composition variables included Fat …

The Influence Of Relative Back Squat Strength On Countermovement Jump Performance In College-Aged Males, Holt A. Schadler, Bret M. Schadler, Jacob Grazer

Symposium of Student Scholars

Purpose: Countermovement Jump (CMJ) performance can provide insight into the force production capabilities relative to the individuals ability during a dynamic task. In conjunction with power output during a CMJ, few investigations have looked to identify the influence of relative strength on these types of tasks. This research aims to establish a link between the relative strength (RS) of an athlete and CMJ performance in jump height (JH) and force production values that were surveyed. Methods: Seventeen males (mean ± SD; age, 23.2 ± 3.8yrs; height, 1.78, ± 6.10m; weight, 84.8 ± 13.2kg) were recruited for this study. Each participant …

Looking Back On The Anthem Protest Movement And Covid: An Exploratory Investigation Of College & High School Student Support For Nfl Football During The Anthem Protest And Covid Eras, George W. Stone

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

An Exercise In Personal Branding: Marketing Students Mentoring College Athletes In The New Age Of Nil, Michelle C. Carpenter Mba, Jay O’Toole Ph.D., Brendan O’Hallarn Ph.D., Craig A. Morehead Ph.D.

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Sponsor Recognition In Professional Sports: A Comparison Between Cincinnati Reds And Bengals Fans, Bridget Satinover Nichols, Jenny Gardner, Joe Cobbs

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

A Linkedin Analysis: Job Placement For Students In Sport Management Program Of An Eastern Kentucky Public University, Steve Chen, Christy Trent, Jose Garcia

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Marketing College Football In The “New Normal”, Chris Croft, Tim Wilson

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of Key Factors In Promoting A New Collegiate Recreation Facility: If You Build It - Will They Come?, Paul J. Costanzo, Cynthia P. Costanzo

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Marketing For The Dreamwork Wrestling: How To Keep A Small Entrepreneurial Business And Dream Alive!, Steve Chen, Jennifer Mak, Karen Doran, Liz Allen

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Athlete Celebrity Endorsement On Attitude Toward Brand And Purchase Intention, Yunheui Jeon, Jennifer Y. Mak, Lei Ouyang

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Concerns Among Careers By Marketing Seniors About Covid-19: Beginning Versus A Year Into The Pandemic, Alan D. Smith

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

The Rate Of Burnout In Athletic Trainers In Collegiate Settings, Dorise Clark

Create@State

No abstract provided.

An Experimental Investigation Of Guest Trust In Hospitality Contexts Comparing Personalized And Written Recommendations, Cortina Hendrickson, Emma Campbell, Lauren Riefenstahl, Sophia White

Liberty University Research Week

This study will investigate the relationship between personalized recommendations or a pre-made list of suggestions versus the guests' trust in the recommendation. The hypothesis is that visitors who get a personal, unscripted recommendation from a hotel employee will gain a higher trust score than visitors who only get the list of suggestions that are already made. Many studies have been conducted on the guests’ perception of scripted recommendations; however, there is very little data comparing the level of trust a guest has in a pre-made or a personalized recommendation. This research proposes the use of a 5-point Likert Scale survey …

Post-Games Adaptive Reuse And Long-Term Sustainability Of Summer Olympic Villages: A Comparative Multi-Case Study, Meron Wells, Carolyn Crotts, Ella Fancher, Emma Frantz, Jordyn Meunier

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Helmet Design Advancements Impacting Head Injuries In The Nfl, Lucas Slear, Cole Swiader, Jackson Katona, Ryan Valliere

Liberty University Research Week

This research study will investigate how helmet designs in the National Football League have changed in response to concussion concerns and player safety. Development of soft-shell helmet technology (Guardian Caps) and advancements in the padding inside of NFL helmets have caused concussion numbers to decrease and have caused head injuries to be less severe in the NFL over the last 25 years. The severity of these head injuries can be seen in recovery time for NFL players after sustaining a concussion. Our study aims to address the question: “How have advancements helmet design and engineering in the NFL impacted the …

Youth Sport Specialization And Overuse Injury Risk Among Athletes Ages 8–14: A Quantitative Comparative Study, Brian Anderson, Austin Lay, Cameron Roark, Colsen Debold, Walker Mooney

Liberty University Research Week

This research paper examines the relationship between youth sport specialization and injury risk among athletes ages 8-14. The study specifically investigates whether athletes in this age range who participate in a single sport year-round minimum 8 months experience higher rates of overuse and season ending injuries compared to athletes who play multiple sports year-round. Early specialization in sport has become increasingly common as families pursue elite competition and scholarship opportunities. However, concerns have grown regarding repetitive stress and overuse injuries in young athletes whose bodies are still developing. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a …

Balancing Risk And Reward: Examining Offensive Rebound Rates And Points Per Possession In Di Men’S College Basketball, Quinten Chiarizzio, Braden Chupp, Joshua Hines, Conor Guiltinan

Liberty University Research Week

This study aims to investigate how the number of offensive rebounders attempting to rebound a missed shot affects the offensive rebounding rate and the points per possession of the offensive team. Offensive rebounding rate is a strong indicator of success in basketball and can drastically improve a team's efficiency. Some research has been done at the NBA level, yet little research has been done at the college level into maximizing this rate without jeopardizing the defensive end. This study aims to address the research question: "How does the number of offensive rebounders impact the offensive rebounding rate and points per …

Instagram, Tiktok, And Athlete Identity: Exploring Social Comparison In Subjectively Judged Youth Sports, Jenna Moffat, Brooklyn Woodard, Danner Allen, Greta Snukis, Kalie Orefice

Liberty University Research Week

This study aims to examine the effects of social media platforms, Instagram and TikTok, on the mental health of adolescent athletes who are in subjective sports. Many athletes look at other athletes' performances on social media or scroll on Instagram or TikTok without realizing the harm that it can cause to their mental health and individual performance. When referring to mental health, athletes are specifically being asked about anxiety and depression, and if they notice an increase in these mental health symptoms or struggle with comparison after looking at these platforms. The research question is: How does comparison negatively impact …

Financial Return On Investment Of Super Bowl Advertising: A Six-Month Post-Air Sales Analysis, Emma Jennings, Hannah Wood, Jenna Nicely, Kaleb Macklin

Liberty University Research Week

This proposed study aims to examine the return on investment (ROI) of Super Bowl advertisements for individual companies utilizing a comparison of six-month periods before and after the commercials are originally aired at the game. The Super Bowl is a highly favored social event where millions of people gather both in person on location and around television screens. Whether it is the teams, the half-time show, or the commercials, there is clearly something about this event that brings people together, and the publicity does not go unnoticed. Companies pay millions of dollars for a 30-second advertisement. This begs the question …

Disaster Relief Integration And Public Funding Allocation In Professional Sports Venues: A Comparative Analysis, Jayden Jackson, Andrew Holzapfel, Emma Cromer, Madison Yeager, Tyler Ondrea

Liberty University Research Week

There is a documented, ever-rising cost associated with the construction and maintenance of professional sport stadiums across the United States, especially in the southern states. While the public subsidies that support these stadiums remain highly debated among policymakers, taxpayers, economists, and community stakeholders, many facilities serve as mission-ready, high-utility community hubs during public disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and other large-scale emergencies. This study investigates whether a connection exists between a venue’s disaster relief utility and the total public subsidy it receives post-disaster over a defined period of time. Grounded in Social Exchange Theory, the study aims to determine if …

Predictors Of Home Game Attendance In Ncaa Division I Softball: A Case Study Of Liberty University., Luke Barnett, Grace Bennett, Micah Dannelly, Moses Batchelor, Zachary Wood

Liberty University Research Week

This study investigates the attendance of the Liberty Softball Program. The reason for this study is due to the success of the softball team. In 2025, the team defeated the number one seed in the country, Texas A&M, and advanced to super regionals in the college softball playoff. This is an achievement for any school, but especially for a school that is the size of Liberty. However, Liberty averages low attendance numbers, even in these recent years of on the field success. In this, what is the relationship between team performance, game factors, and home game attendance for the Liberty …

The Role Of Artificial Intelligence In Division I Collegiate Scouting: A Qualitative Study Of Recruiter Perspectives, Leah Watson, Jonah Kirschner, Joseph Ebenroth, Max-Alain Pierre-Pierre, Micah Witt

Liberty University Research Week

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a fairly new and prevalent part of collegiate athletics, especially in how teams examine and scout athletes. Scouting is the process of watching and evaluating athletes’ performance with the intent of recruitment. The purpose of this study is to explore how division 1 collegiate recruiting teams can use AI as a tool to guide them in their process of scouting. Traditionally, scouting involves a lot of travel, film watching, and stress on team scouts, which can bring about problems such as emotional and opinionated decisions, whereas AI could bring a more statistical, less stressful scouting process. …

Injury Risk On Nfl Playing Surfaces: A Comparison Of Natural Grass And Artificial Turf, Caden Woosley, Jonathan Taylor, Joseph Layne, Luke Whelan, Ryan Delaney

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Minimum Age Policies On Concussion Incidences In Youth Tackle Football, Andrew Garrett, Colby Douglas Green, Colin Ropella, Josiah Schrock

Liberty University Research Week

This study examines whether raising the minimum age for participation in youth tackle football reduces the incidence of concussions and other brain injuries among young athletes. Concussions and long-term neurological conditions like CTE have become a growing concern in youth football, particularly given the sport’s widespread popularity across the United States. While various leagues have experimented with different minimum age requirements, it remains unclear whether delaying full-contact play meaningfully reduces brain injury risk or produces no significant difference in outcomes. Grounded in developmental exposure framework, which suggests that limiting contact during early developmental stages reduces cumulative head impacts over time, …

“Be Early, Be Loud, Wear Red”: An Ethnographic Study Of The Performance Of Liberty University Football Fan Identity And Boundaries, Cathryn Thomas

Liberty University Research Week

Social identity theory explains how college sports fandom can shape both social and personal identities, particularly through the formation of in-groups and out-groups based on identification with a team and opposition to rivals. Sports fans often communicate and behave in ways that signal their membership in the in-group while simultaneously distinguishing or excluding out-group members. This study examines how Liberty University football fans perform these in-group behaviors and how they mark boundaries with out-group members. Through observations made during a Liberty University Homecoming football game, the study deepens understanding of how sports fans construct belonging and unbelonging, and how these …

Does A Satisfied Customer Care About Price? A Study Of The Moderating Effects Of Switching Barriers On The Relationship Between Customer Satisfaction And Price Sensitivity In The Health And Fitness Club Industry, Lei Ouyang

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

The Evolving Impact Of The National Anthem Protest And Covid On High School Interest In Nfl Football: An Exploratory Investigation Of High School Student Interest In The 2021-2022 Super Bowl., George W. Stone

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.