The Secret to Success
August 28, 2010—Obviously, the reason sports teams are successful is because they either have great coaches, talented players, or both. But what about the fans? Do they play a role in their team’s success? As a sports fan of many different teams, here are some things I’ve observed over the years.
Exhibit A—When I first attended BYU–Hawaii in 1986, the women’s volleyball team won a NAIA national championship (Pictured above, courtesy of BYU–Hawaii Sports Information). It was their first. They also won the title again in 1987, my second year of college.
From 1988 until 1990, I left college to serve an LDS mission. During that span, the BYU–Hawaii women’s volleyball team did not win a championship. After completion of my mission I returned to BYU–Hawaii. The women’s volleyball team got back on track by winning the 1991 NAIA national championship.
Over the next ten years (1992–2002) BYU–Hawaii’s women’s volleyball team competed at an extremely high level winning seven national championships (5 NAIA and 2 NCAA II). I was at BYU–Hawaii during that ten year span either as a student or full-time employee. In 2002, I left BYU–Hawaii and moved to Arizona where I lived for six years. BYU–Hawaii’s women’s volleyball team did not win a single national title during that six year span.
Exhibit B—In 1990, I purchased a Duke University basketball t-shirt at a sporting goods store in Fukuoka, Japan. Duke went on to win consecutive NCAA men’s basketball national championships in 1991 and 1992.
Exhibit C—In 1990, I purchased a Chicago Bulls logo cap and witnessed the Bulls win the first of three consecutive NBA championships from 1990 through 1993.
Exhibit D—In 2004, I accepted a position at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona. The following year in 2005, the GCC football team won the NJCAA National Championship.
Exhibit E—In the fall of 2006, I met and shook hands with Phillippi Sparks, an assistant football coach for the GCC Gauchos and a former New York Giant and Dallas Cowboy. I also took his picture for use in the Gaucho football game day program. In May of 2007, Sparks’ daughter Jordin won the American Idol competition.
Exhibit F—In 2005, I purchased a University of Hawaii logo cap from a shopping mall in Mesa, Arizona. The following year the Hawaii Warrior football team began an incredible two year run from 2006–2007. They tallied 23 wins against only 4 losses, including an undefeated regular season, WAC title, and Sugar Bowl appearance in 2007.
Exhibit G—During the six years I spent living in Arizona (2002–2008), I never purchased any professional sports teams’ logo wear (Diamondbacks, Suns, Cardinals, Coyotes). While the Suns and Diamondbacks had some success, there really wasn’t a whole lot to cheer about.
After moving back to Hawaii with my family in the summer of 2008, my wife and I took a short trip back to Arizona to tie up some loose ends. During that trip, I bought a $5 Arizona Cardinals cap at a Walmart in Surprise, Arizona. To the surprise of pretty much everyone, the Cardinals made it to the Super Bowl in 2009.
Exhibit H—I moved back to Hawaii in 2008 after accepting a position at BYU–Hawaii. The BYU–Hawaii men’s basketball team went on to have arguably, its most successful season in history, playing in the NCAA II West Region Championship in March of 2009. They secured a PacWest Conference championship with an undefeated record of 12 and 0 and ended the season with an overall record of 27 and 2.
Conclusion—Yes, sports fans (namely me) have a tremendous impact on the success of the teams they follow. Here are the cold, hard facts:
- College sports teams have had success where I was either a student or employee.
- College and professional sports teams have had success after I purchased their teams’ logo wear.
- American Idol contestants have a better shot at winning if they have a relative who works at the same college as me.
Update: My wife bought me a tan “Y” cap from the BYU Bookstore during a recent visit to the Provo campus. Look for the Cougars to have some significant success during the 2010–11 sports season. For more, go here.
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