TOP STORY:  Center for Sports Communication and Marist Poll Release College Sports Study

The Marist Poll in conjunction with the Marist College Center for Sports Communication released a study examining issues in college sports on March 29. The scientific national poll of 620 college sports fans revealed several important findings on the nature of college sports.

First, only 27% said that big time college athletes should receive a salary/stipend beyond their scholarship, while 68% think a scholarship alone was enough compensation. Second, most college sports fans (57%) feel college coaches should be paid less than pro coaches. Third, a majority (55%) of college sports fans said they believe that colleges cheat in recruiting athletes. Finally, while most fans (68%) want a college football playoff, only a small number (4%) said they want to expand the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Most (78%) like it at its current size.

Further analysis can be found in the research section of the Center's web page and the Center's YouTube channel. Full poll results are found at the Marist Poll.

 Sports PR Class (almost) Packs the House

 The Marist Sports Public Relations class again worked with the Marist athletic department on the NCAA Pack the House promotion, an initiative created to increase interest in women's basketball by building attendance at one selected game during the season.  As in year's past, the class focused on promoting student attendance.  While the game did not sell out, 2692 fans attended, including 700 students.  The class used a "prom" to help attract students, which included pre-game photos and a slow dance at halftime.

 ESPN Producer Chris Damiani '96 Visits with Marist Students

ESPN producer and Marist graduate Chris Damiani '96 spoke with Marist sports communication students about life in the industry and the challenges of broadcasting a live sporting event.  Damiani was on campus to lead ESPN's broadcast of both the women's and men's basketball games later that night.  He walked students through prep work for a broadcast, discussed the challenges of the job, and talked about some of his favorite broadcasts.  Watch highlights from the discussion at the Center's YouTube channel.

Center for Sports Communication and Marist Poll Announce Best in Sports of 2011

The Marist Poll in conjunction with the Marist College Center for Sports Communication announced the best in sports for 2011 in a release on December 15.  This is the first collaborative poll between the two organizations.

The survey of 624 sports fans revealed four major findings.  First, the US Women's Soccer Team's performance in the World Cup ranked as the year's greatest sporting accomplishment, far ahead of Derek Jeter's 3000th hit.  Second, 42% of sports fans identified the labor unrest in the NFL and NBA as the sports story with the greatest impact, nearly twice as many as selected scandals in college sport, the second most selected story.

The final two questions revealed the dominance of the NFL in the US, with Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers chosen as 2011's most impactful athlete and the Packer's Super Bowl win as the year's best championship.

Further analysis can be found in the research section of the Center's web page and the Center's YouTube channel.  Full poll results are found at the Marist Poll.

Marist hosts APSE Northeast Regional Meeting

The Marist College Center for Sports Communication will host the Associated Press Sports Editors Northeast Regional Meeting on November 14, 2011.  Sports editors from around the region will host a series of panel discussion throughout the day, with topics ranging from watchdog journalism to how to break into the industry.  All four of the day's panels, held in the Hancock Center on Marist's campus, will be streamed at http://ustream.tv/channel/maristsportscomm.