College Football and Social Mobility: A Case Study of Notre Dame Football Players

Abstract

This study examined the social origins and career mobility of college football players who graduated from Notre Dame between 1946 and 1965. It was found that Notre Dame football players came from much lower socioeconomic backgrounds than regular Notre Dame students. In terms of social mobility, both ballplayers and regular students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds have moved well beyond their social origins. Only in educational attainment do the two groups differ significantly. Among ballplayers, first teamers experienced greater income mobility than second teamers and reserves. First team ballplayers were also found to be over-represented as top ranking executives in their companies.