African American Football Athletes' Perspectives on Institutional Integrity in College Sport

Abstract

This qualitative case study used tenets of critical race theory and a single focus group and individual interviews with 4 African American football athletes at a predominantly White institution of higher education (PWIHE) in an effort to bring the voices of this marginalized group into the dialogue on issues concerning institutional integrity in college sport. Institutional integrity involves an athletic program's actual commitment to the educational interests of college athletes as expressed through their structures, functions, and activities. Three themes emerged from the data: (a) there is a need for more African American role models in leadership positions within the athletic departments of these PWIHE; (b) there is a need for more financial support for athletes; and (c) African American athletes should be given a platform to voice concerns. These findings have implications for those educational stakeholders and researchers who are genuinely concerned with institutional integrity in college sport.

Key words:

• African American male athletes
• college sport reform issues
• critical race qualitative research
• educational development

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John N. Singer

Please address all correspondence concerning this article to John N. Singer, Texas A&M University, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Division of Sport Management, 4243 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4243.