The Effect Of Team Winning Percentage On BCS Football Recruit Strength And Speed Characteristics

Abstract

Due to the volatility of NCAA Division I BCS Football coaching and support staffs, it is difficult to collect reliable, longitudinal data using consistent physical performance tests on players entering the program. The data set in the current study represents a twenty-nine - year period collected by the same Head Strength and Conditioning Coach in the same football program. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to compare the physical testing of the players entering the program in the early years, (1987 -1998) of the Head Football Coach’s tenure, when the team studied winning percentage was (56.5%) to a later period (1999-2014) when the team’s winning percentage improved to (73.3%). METHODS: A cohort of 1094 NCAA Division I BCS level football players that played at the same institution under the same Head Football Coach and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach during the years of 1987-2104 were divided into two groups depending on the era in which they played. Group One (G1 n=581) played between 1987 and 1998 (12 year period). Group One’s win/loss record was 77-59, with a (56.5% winning percentage). Group 2 (G2 n=513) played between 1999 and 2014 (16 year period) the team win/loss record was 154-56 during this period representing a (73.3% winning percentage). Data were collected when each athlete joined the team in the following areas across the entire twenty-nine-year period. Measurements were collected in Height (HT), Body Mass (BM), One Repetition Maximum (1RM) in the Bench Press (BP), the Vertical Jump (VJ), and 40-yard dash (40YD). All data were collected by the same Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. All data were analyzed using paired t-tests for each parameter tested. RESULTS: G2 had significantly better initial test results in each of the following tests: BM (106.9 vs 101.7 kg.; P<0.01), BP (133.3 vs 124.9 kg.; P<0.01), VJ (30.1 vs 27.0 in.; P<0.01), and 40YD (4.8 vs 5.0 sec.; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that having a successful football program at the Division I BCS level may attract recruits that are bigger, stronger in the upper body, with greater lower body power and running speed. Although it may not be the only thing that affects the decision of 4 and 5-star athletes to sign with a Division I BCS football team, it appears to be a major factor.