| The purpose of this study was to provide an employment profile of former football student-athletes in the newly created Big 12 Conference. The study was based on the premise that there is a lack of employment information concerning collegiate football student-athletes.;To accomplish the purpose of the study, information was gathered about the former football student-athletes of the new Big 12 in four key areas: occupational progress; involvement in career planning; use of various job search strategies; and type of education completed.;A questionnaire was developed to gather data about the former players in the above areas. The questionnaire was sent to a randomly chosen sample of recruited football student-athletes who signed national letters of intent at one of the new Big 12 Institutions during the years 1985 through 1989. After two follow-up mailings, a response rate of 76% was achieved.;Data analysis was conducted using the computer program, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Descriptive statistics were generated for all variables, resulting in frequency distributions and percents. The chi square test of independence was used to explore relationships among variables.;Results indicated that the former football players were satisfied with their jobs, accomplishments, and responsibilities, as well as an increase in salary. A large number had aspirations to play professional football, but few actually did. However, most indicated that football definitely helped their job prospects. The study found that the job search strategies most useful were referral by acquaintance and resume/direct application. Factors important in obtaining the first job were personal contacts, extracurricular activities, football, and academic major. The former players recommended that current student-athletes work hard, take their education seriously, and develop job contacts while they are in school. |
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