A survey of University of Utah varsity football athletes

A survey was taken to compare the status of University of Utah football athletes who lettered in varsity football in 1961 through 1966. The comparison was made between three groups. Group I was the group of athletes who did not go on to play any form of post college organized football; Group II were those athletes who did play some form of post college organized football, and the Total Group was the combination of Group I and Group II. The comparisons were made in the areas of football participation, educational achievements, current residences, occupational opportunities and marriage-family status. A concise and comprehensive questionnaire was utilized to gather the desired information. One hundred thirty questionnaires were distributed to former University of Utah football athletes and 76 per cent of the athletes returned them completed. The data from the questionaires were compiled and tabulated on large charts. Comparisons were then made between the three groups in the five specific areas of study. It was found that of the 100 respondents, sixty-seven (67%) did not go on to play post college organized football, whereas thirty-three (33$) did go on to play some form of post college organized football. These groups were designated as Group I and Group II respectively. There was a significant difference in the area of educational achievement. Group I surpassed Group II by having sixty-one (91$) graduate whereas Group II only had seventeen (51.5$) graduate. From Group I, seven (l^$) obtained their Masters Degree. From Group II none of the athletes obtained their Masters Degree. Seventy-five (75$) of the total respondents listed their residences as being out of the State of Utah. Fifty-one (6l$) gave occupation as their reason for not residing in the state. When the Total Group was broken down into Group I, those athletes who did not go on to play post college organized football, and Group II, those athletes who did go on to play post college organized football, it was found that of Group I, forty-two (70$) resided out of the State of Utah, and Group II had thirty-three (100$) residing out of the State of Utah. Seventy-four (7^$) of the total respondents had incorporated some form of football into their occupation either as a player or a coach. The number one occupation of Group I was high school coaching, and in Group II it was playing professional football. In the last area, marriage-family status, fifty-six (83$) of Group I were married as compared with twenty-eight (67$) of Group II. The results of this survey indicated that a greater emphasis should be placed on the athletes to complete their education and also to be encouraged to continue to graduate study due to the greater emphasis for higher educated people in our society.