Sports Studies Commons^™

Georgia Southern University Athletics Media And Publicity Collection, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Finding Aids

This collection consists of reference files compiled by Georgia Southern University Athletics documenting university sports from 1988 to 2010. The files include newspaper and press clippings, statistics, game reports, and other published documents related to athletic teams, seasons, and events. Materials document football, men's basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and other non-revenue sports.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy And Career Duration In Former Professional American Football Players: A Literature Review, Malik I. Watson, Chase Forbes, Bhavik Singh, Etop Udoh, Kévin Borgella, Jonathan Mosley, Erik Zarandy

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Background:

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with repetitive head trauma and has been increasingly identified in former contact sport athletes, particularly American football players. Although the relationship between repetitive head impacts and CTE has been well documented, the role of career duration as a measurable exposure variable remains an important area of investigation. Understanding this relationship may provide clinically useful insight for primary care physicians responsible for longitudinal monitoring of individuals with extensive athletic exposure.

Methods:

This literature review examined published studies evaluating the relationship between football career duration, cumulative head impact exposure, and neuropathologic …

Offside Trap: African Football As A Mirror Of Global Structural Inequality, Ellen Busolo Milimu

Journal of Global South Sport Studies

Football in Africa, as a legacy of European colonialism, is undeniable. The export of football through colonization resulted in the popularization of the sport while also creating a system of economic exploitation and impoverishment that is the cause of considerable problems for African society. This economic system positioned African  countries as dependents of former colonizers even after achieving independence. Sports, specifically football, provide a unique perspective to explore the no-win     situation in which Africa exists within the global economic system. Always chasing the elusive ‘development’ goal that is dictated by others and shifts without the interests of African countries. The …

Politics, Catharsis, And Football: The Brazilian National Team As A Symbolic Device Of Nationhood, Marco Bettine

Journal of Global South Sport Studies

This article examines the growing entanglement between football, political conflict, and national identity in contemporary Brazil, focusing on the Brazilian National Football Team as a highly charged national symbol. Rather than assuming a direct causal link between sporting success and political outcomes, the paper explores how football has become a space where political meanings and public emotions are constantly reinterpreted and disputed. The discussion revisits the changing political meanings attached to the national team over the last decade. Particular attention is given to the perceived relationship between football performance and electoral cycles, the politicization of the yellow jersey, the use …

Vanderbilt Vs. Florence State Program, Vanderbilt University

Documents

Selected excerpts from the souvenir program for the November 21, 1959, football game in which Florence State and Vanderbilt competed at Dudley Field. The excerpt contains information and photographs about this early era of UNA football history.

The Official Ncaa Division Ii Football Championship Program, 1985, National Collegiate Athletic Association

Documents

Selected excerpts from the official championship program for the Palm Bowl, 1985 NCAA Division II Football Championship held on December 14, 1985, at McAllen Memorial Stadium in McAllen, Texas. The program includes the winners’ bracket, information on UNA’s offensive and defensive lines, and an overview of the team and school.

The Official Ncaa Division Ii Football Championship Program, 1994, National Collegiate Athletic Association

Documents

Selected excerpts from the official 1994 Division II Football Championship program. The game was held at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama on December 10, 1994. Thus, the excerpt contains information about UNA as a host institution for the game and Braly stadium, as well as information on the Harlon Hill trophy award and typical game statistics.

The Official Ncaa Division Ii Football Championship Program, Dec. 11, 1993, National Collegiate Athletic Association

Documents

Selected excerpts from The Official 1993 NCAA Division II Football Championship Program hosted by the University of North Alabama at Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama on December 11th, 1993, in which UNA competed against Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Ncaaction - Official Souvenir Program, Ncaa Quarterfinal Competition, Una Vs. Virginia Union University, Jeff Hodges, Una Student Photographers

Documents

Selected excerpts from the NCAAction - Official Souvenir Program pertaining to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinal Competition in which UNA competed against Virginia Union University on November 26th, 1983, before advancing to the semifinals on December 3rd.

Ncaaction - Official Souvenir Program, Ncaa Division Ii Semifinal Competition, Una Vs. Central State University Of Ohio, Jeff Hodges, Una Student Photographers

Documents

Selected excerpts from the NCAAction - Official Souvenir Program pertaining to the NCAA Division II Semifinal Competition in which UNA competed against Central State University of Ohio on December 3rd, 1983.

Rise & Roar: First Year In Division I, University Of North Alabama

Documents

Selected pages from the September 22, 2018, publication of the Rise and Roar football promotional magazine outlining UNA’s first year after the transition to Division I of the NCAA. The included pages offer a recollection of the first games played, as well as a short timeline of information relevant to the history of football at the University of North Alabama.

0896: John F. Smith Collection, 1978-2017, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

John F. Smith was a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Army and former director of the Big Green Scholarship Foundation at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

The collection includes records of the Big Green Scholarship Foundation, research and papers of John F. Smith, and framed Marshall University basketball and football memorabilia.

It Just Means More: The Cultural Bond Between The South And Sec Football, Ryan Stinson

Senior Theses

With the success of programs like Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech in the early 1900s, college football quickly became means of establishing Southern superiority over the northern U.S. Their success continued into the 20th and 21st centuries with the creation and rise of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). During and prior to the existence of the SEC, rivalries, traditions, and pageantry developed and thrived in communities across the southeast. These aspects created a unique environment that drew in fans of college football across the region. This resulted in a unique bond between fan, university, team, and community that has thrived within all …

Effects Of Different Loads Used In Post-Activation Potentiation Exercises On Sprint And Vertical Jump Performance Of Young Amateur Soccer Players, Emre Karaday, Yusuf Köklü, Erhan Işıkdemir, Bilal Utku Alemdaroğlu, Özlem Köklü

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different loads used in post-activation potentiation (PAP) exercises on the vertical jump and sprint performance of young amateur soccer players. Materials and methods: Twelve young amateur soccer players (age: 16.3 ± 1.2 years; height: 172.6 ± 3.88 cm; body weight: 63.2 ± 6.7 kg; training experience: 2.3 ± 1.4 years) participated voluntarily. The half squat exercise was performed in unloaded conditions and at three different intensities (L1:80%, L2: 90%, and L3: 100% of one-repetition maximum [1RM]), and its effects on players' countermovement jump (CMJ) and 30 m sprint …

Ua19/16/2 Football Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU football team in spring 2025.

The Relationship Between Individualised Speed Thresholds And Changes In Aerobic Fitness In Elite Professional Youth Soccer Players. A Case Study, Ronan Kavanagh, Kevin Mcdaid, David Rhodes, Jill Alexander, Damian Harper, Rafael Oliveira, Kieran Berry, Mark Connor, Piotr Zmijewski, Ryland Morgans

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: This study aimed to examine the dose-response relationship between training load and aspects of physical fitness in English Premier League (EPL) U23 soccer players. Materials and Methods: Seven male EPL U23 outfield soccer players (age 20.1±1.1 years) participated in this study and performed the Bronco test on five occasions within one season. Individualised running thresholds were employed using maximal aerobic speed (MAS), anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) and maximal sprint speed (MSS) values utilising a GPS system. Results: No significant differences in the Bronco performance between the tests (p > 0.05, ES = 0.101) were observed. Distance covered above 30% …

The Legend Of Taylor Heinicke: An Autoethnography Of Unexpected, Passionate Fandom, Brendan O'Hallarn

Communication & Theatre Arts Faculty Publications

Passionate fandom is not a novel phenomenon in the field of sport. The fervor of fans builds stadiums and has allowed the sport industry to grow exponentially in the past few decades. Scholars have examined the passionate fan through many theoretical lenses, but comparatively little scholarship has looked at sport fandom fervor from inside. An autoethnographic examination of my unexpected journey as a fan of journeyman National Football League (NFL) quarterback Taylor Heinicke demonstrates how fandom can stir passions and create rituals in sport followers. A multimedia diary of Heinicke's unexpected ascension to starting quarterback of the Washington Commanders provides …

Coaching America's Youngest College Football Team: My Plan, Trent Figg

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

“From the start, I’ve made it clear that being a champion isn’t just about football. The time a young man spends playing college football is some of the most formative in a young man’s life, and I refuse to let that time be wasted focusing solely on the game. I’m committed to shaping their character and preparing them to win on the field and in their future roles as husbands, fathers, leaders, and men of faith.”
~ Trent Figg in an op-ed for The Christian Post

Efficiency Of One Against One Game Situations In Polish Soccer National Team And Their Opponents During Uefa European Championship Matches, Andrzej Szwarc, Krzysztof Kromke, Henryk Duda, Andrzej Soroka, Lukasz Radziminski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficiency in one against one (1v1) game situations of Polish national team soccer players and their opponents in 12 matches of the group stage in 4 consecutive cup finals at the European Championship in the years 2008–2021. Material and methods: Audio-visual records of matches were analysed and data about the game were recorded on a self-developed observation sheet. Activity, effectiveness and reliability of individual offensive and defensive actions were assessed in the context of implementation of the game objectives. Results: It was found that the Polish players were involved in …

The Acute Effect Of Releasing The Thoracolumbar Facia By Osteopatic Technique On Lower Extremity Functional Performance On Lumbar Extensor Endurance And Mobility In Soccer Players, Erkan Özyılmaz, Ömer Şenel, Hasan Aka, Zait Burak Aktuğ

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: The aim of this study is to examine the acute effect of osteopathic release of the thoracolumbar fascia on lower extremity functional performance, lumbar extensor endurance and mobility in professional soccer players. Materials and Methods: 30 volunteer male athletes who professionally play soccer participated in the study, and the participants were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The functional performance of the lower extremities, lumbar extensor endurance and mobility of the subjects were measured twice – before and immediately after the Still Technique and placebo applications. Subjects' lower extremity functional performance was determined by the Single Leg Hop …

Factors Influencing Fans To Attend Matches Amid Pandemic: Exploring The Role Of Trio Of Team Affiliation, Sportscape, And Team Quality, Shani Bashiru, Ahmed Jamal Iddrisu, Cyracus B. Bapuuroh, George Anane Takyi, Alhassan Bunyaminu, Zakari Bukari

The Qualitative Report

Football is a sport that has attracted global attention. Individuals who attend competitive football associate with teams and athletes to a point where they become ardent attendees. Post-pandemic, fans have returned in droves to watch live matches at stadiums following the relaxation of strict observance of safety protocols. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine the factors that prompt fans to attend matches during games by focusing on three main factors including team affiliation, sportscape and star players. We used a qualitative phenomenological approach to obtain deeper comprehension regarding factors that influence fans to crowd at stadiums to …

Manque De Réussite : Le Préjudice Dans Le Football Français, Will Bedell

World Languages and Cultures Senior Capstones

Despite being called The Beautiful Game, soccer in France has a few issues that take away from its beauty. This presentation aims to identify the causes and reasons behind the issues of racism, homophobia, and sexism which plague the French soccer scene. By looking at the causes of these from within French culture, history, and their society we can hope to understand why they exist as well as to establish the sources from which these issues arise.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period November 6, 2023 - January 29, 2024.

• Arnold, Emilee. WKU Memorabilia – Big Red, Hilltoppers
• Wilborn, Price. Renee Shaw Inducted into Hall of Distinguished Alumni
• Dobberstein, Molly. WKU’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni – Claude Bloch, Charles Reynolds, Amir Zaheri
• Costellow, Ali. LGBTQ+ WKU Alumni Share Stories from the Hill – Karen Stewart, Georgena Brackett, Spencer Jenkins, Seth Church
• Homecoming Hotspots – Restaurants
• Abney, Shayla. Veterans & ROTC Cadets Share Experiences on the Hill
• Edmonds, Luke & Jake McMahon. Home Field Advantage – Football Fans
• Dobberstein, Molly & Maggie Phelps. Who’s …

Ua19/16/2 Football Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU football team in 2024.

Content Validity Of Men's U-21 Soccer Physical Test, Yuliance Adii, Tri Setyo Guntoro, Sutoro Sutoro, Dewi Nurhidayah, Japhet Ndayisenga

Jurnal Keolahragaan

The purpose of this study was to test the content validity of the men's U21 football physical test. This research is a quantitative descriptive research with survey techniques using the delphy method. The sample in this study consisted of 7 experts, namely 2 physical condition experts, 2 football game experts, 2 soccer coaches, and 1 analyzer of the input results of each expert. A self design rubric used as an instrument in this study. The data analysis technique in this study uses the aiken-v formula. The finding showed the men's U21 football physical test has high content validity based on …

“Little Old Wales”: Expressions Of Nationalism, Language And Pride In Welsh Football, Abigail Mathieson

Masters Theses

Welsh football, through its use of material culture, language, and acknowledgements of history, has become a major force in representing Welsh national identities locally and globally. This thesis expands on Benedict Anderson’s idea of the “imagined community” through contemporary research from academic sources and from voices throughout the Welsh footballing community. It highlights the significance of the sport in national identity, especially within smaller nations such as Wales with histories of post-colonialism. Along with this, football shows the role cultural nationalism plays in the nation of Wales and in its independence movements.

Using Geographic Information To Explore Player-Specific Movement And Its Effects On Play Success In The Nfl, Hayley Horn, Eric Laigaie, Alexander Lopez, Shravan Reddy

SMU Data Science Review

American Football is a billion-dollar industry in the United States. The analytical aspect of the sport is an ever-growing domain, with open-source competitions like the NFL Big Data Bowl accelerating this growth. With the amount of player movement during each play, tracking data can prove valuable in many areas of football analytics. While concussion detection, catch recognition, and completion percentage prediction are all existing use cases for this data, player-specific movement attributes, such as speed and agility, may be helpful in predicting play success. This research calculates player-specific speed and agility attributes from tracking data and supplements them with descriptive …

The Peter Principle In Nfl Coaching Hires: An Analysis Of Success Of Nfl Head Coaching Hiring Based On Experience, Sam Malone-Povolny

Master of Science in Kinesiology

The NFL is a massive professional sports organization with worldwide impact for its players and coaches. NFL head coaches come from all walks of life but end up falling into two categories once hired: Either a former head coach is hired to helm a new team or a rising assistant coach is brought in to inject some new ideas. Whichever category they fall into, the team members become a reflection of the coach’s ideas and values. And, how well the team does in terms of on-field success is often the main dictation of the coach’s future with the franchise. Using …

Ethnicity, Nationalism, And Football: Exploring The Construction Of Ethnic Identities And Their Manifestations For Athletic Club Bilbao And Celtic Football Club, Kelly Wetherton

Honors Theses

This thesis centers on the construction of ethnic identities for fans of Athletic Club and Celtic F.C. and the two clubs’ roles in evincing nationalism. Utilizing survey data from an online, anonymous survey posted to fan forums, the research aimed to determine which of the three leading theories of ethnicity—primordialism, instrumentalism, or social constructivism—was most applicable to the formation of identities for Basque Athletic Club fans and Irish Celtic fans. The results demonstrated that the theory of social constructivism most closely aligns with the case of Basque Athletic Club fans while the identities of Irish Celtic fans can best be …

Refinement Of Saliva Microrna Biomarkers For Sports-Related Concussion, Steven D. Hicks, Cayce Onks, Raymond Y. Kim, Kevin J. Kim, Kevin J. Zhen, Jayson Loeffert, Andrea C. Loeffert, Robert P. Olympia, Gregory Fedorchak, Samantha Devita, Zofia Gagnon, Callan Mcloughlin, Miguel M. Madeira, Scott L. Zuckerman, Timothy Lee, Matthew Heller, Chuck Monteith, Thomas R. Campbell, Christopher Neville, Elise Fengler, Michael N. Dretsch

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Purpose

Recognizing sport-related concussion (SRC) is challenging and relies heavily on subjective symptom reports. An objective, biological marker could improve recognition and understanding of SRC. There is emerging evidence that salivary micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) may serve as biomarkers of concussion; however, it remains unclear whether concussion-related miRNAs are impacted by exercise. We sought to determine whether 40 miRNAs previously implicated in concussion pathophysiology were affected by participation in a variety of contact and non-contact sports. Our goal was to refine a miRNA-based tool capable of identifying athletes with SRC without the confounding effects of exercise.

Methods

This case-control study harmonized …