For all of those who doubt, science has spoken

[AuEGO4]

http://newsinfo.nd.edu/news/33119-n...ry-and-even-university-brand-new-study-shows/

 

[RodentRampage]

The title of the article is "Tailgaters contribute to team victory and even university brand, new study shows." Saying "... even university brand..." seems to imply that contributing to the university brand is surprising, more surprising than contributing to victory. Sports themselves are major contributors to a university's brand. Most of us know university's from their sports teams, there are a relatively small number that are known solely for academics. Likewise, tailgating parties are free advertising for the university. Fun in one reason people choose a university.

I'd be interested to see evidence that tailgating contributes to victory. I'm open to the idea, and while evidence might exist, this article doesn't provide it. Tailgating can result in more fans at games as well as more excited fans. That can help sway recruits as well as keep the players fired up, so it is certainly plausible, but I'd still have to see the evidence.

For example, in the south, tailgaters dress formally in tuxedos and ball gowns. On the coast, tailgates occur in boats and yachts outside stadiums.

That seems questionable. There might have been instances of people dressing formally for a tailgate, but I hardly think that's the norm. And if the stadium is on the coast, there probably will be people partying on boats, but that's not going to be the bulk of tailgaters.

 

[t-docious]

PRAISE BE TO SCIENCE!

 

[Mick Turition]

...and Iowa State proves them wrong. Incredible tailgating at I.S.U. (no, really, not kidding) but program perenial also-ran.

 

[Catechol]

I'd be interested to see evidence that tailgating contributes to victory. I'm open to the idea, and while evidence might exist, this article doesn't provide it. Tailgating can result in more fans at games as well as more excited fans. That can help sway recruits as well as keep the players fired up, so it is certainly plausible, but I'd still have to see the evidence.

Correlation =/= causation. Big tailgating scenes exist largely due to program success, not the other way around, and that seems obvious. There may be exceptions either way. Or it may be that big tailgating scenes help to perpetuate success, because it indicates a larger base of diehard fans/season ticket holders and not so much bandwagon.

 

[50PoundHead]

I find it difficult to believe that my lying face down in a parking lot all those years contributed to much of anything.

 

[husker70]

A theory open to peer review would find that tailgaiting is not the factor that they claim. In fact winning is the factor that sells tickets, builds programs, and tailgaitng comes along. This study finds the tail wagging the dog. Just Win Baby!

 

[GoAUpher]

Correlation =/= causation. Big tailgating scenes exist largely due to program success, not the other way around, and that seems obvious. There may be exceptions either way.

/Indiana and Ole Miss raise their hands.