Orange, NJ, November 30, 2017 — A Seton Hall Sports Poll has found that 71% of Americans would like President Trump to stay out of the NFL controversy surrounding the protest actions of players during the national anthem. 23% say he should continue to comment.
Just a month ago, 37% felt it was appropriate for the President to get involved in the issue, when the question was posed regarding his call for a petition to support standing for the anthem.
“That represents a rather dramatic decline in just 30 days regarding the President’s personal involvement,” said Poll Director Rick Gentile. “The 37% support last month was in line with his general support on most issues. It could certainly indicate that the public wants to say ‘enough!’”
The poll was taken this week (November 27-29) across the nation, on both landlines and cell phones, with randomly placed telephone calls. The poll is sponsored by The Sharkey Institute. There were 719 respondents, with a margin of error of +/- 3.7%.
The poll asked if keeping players in the locker room during the playing of the national anthem next season would be an effective way for the NFL to deal with the controversy. 63% said no, and 27% said yes.
The Poll also asked whether people intended to purchase any NFL merchandise this holiday season, with 20% saying yes and 74% saying no. Of those saying yes a fifth said they were affected by the current controversies, and of those saying no, a third were affected by the controversies.
As for the rehiring of Roger Goodell as NFL commissioner, only 19% felt his contract should be extended, while double that — 39% — said the NFL should look for a new commissioner. 42% didn’t know or had no opinion. As for the rehiring of Roger Goodell as NFL commissioner, only 19% felt his contract should be extended, while double that – 39% – said the NFL should look for a new commissioner. 42% didn’t know or had no opinion. Among those saying they were African-American, 43% were in favor of his contract being extended, while only 15% of whites were so inclined.
The Poll also asked whether the current method for determining the college football championship is fair to all qualifying NCAA schools. 34% said yes, 23% no, with 43% indicating “don’t know” or not having an opinion.
The Official Seton Hall Sports Poll podcast discussing these topics with Seth Everett and Rick Gentile can be found at https://itunes.apple.com/mt/podcast/seton-hall-sports-poll/id1053266467.
ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY
One of the country’s leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall University has been a catalyst for leadership — developing students in mind, heart and spirit — since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 academic programs, Seton Hall’s academic excellence has been singled out for distinction by The Princeton Review, U.S.News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Seton Hall, which embraces students of all religions, prepares its graduates to be exemplary servant leaders and global citizens. Its attractive main campus is located in suburban South Orange, New Jersey, and is only 14 miles by train, bus or car from New York City, offering a wealth of employment, internship, cultural and entertainment opportunities. The university’s nationally recognized School of Law is prominently located in downtown Newark.
For more information, visit www.shu.edu.
About the poll:
This poll was conducted by telephone November 27-29 among 719 adults in the United States. The Seton Hall Sports Poll is conducted by the Sharkey Institute.
Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard landline and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
The Seton Hall Sports Poll has been conducted regularly since 2006.
Media: Media: Marty Appel, AppelPR@gmail.com;
Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall
michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu, 908-447-3034
The results:
1. Several NFL owners have proposed a rule stating all players remain in the locker room during the playing of the National Anthem next season to avoid on field protests and the reactions to them. Do you think this would be an effective way for the NFL to deal with the controversy?
Yes 27%
No 63
Don’t know/No opinion 9
2. President Trump originally said all NFL players protesting during the playing of the anthem should be fired and now he is criticizing this new owners’ proposal. Do you think the President should continue to comment on this subject or stay out of the controversy?
Continue to comment 23
Stay out of it 71
Don’t know/No opinion 6
3. The NFL is currently negotiating a very lucrative contract extension for Commissioner Roger Goodell. Do you think Goodell deserves to have his contract extended or should the owners be looking for a new commissioner?
Extend contract 19
Look for replacement 39
Don’t know/No opinion 42
4. Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones has positioned himself as a direct adversary to Commissioner Goodall in opposing the contract extension. Do you think his stance is good for the NFL, bad for the NFL or makes no difference?
Good for the NFL 17
Bad for the NFL 13
Makes no difference 44
Don’t know/No opinion 26
5. Do you intend to purchase any NFL merchandise this holiday season?
Yes 20
No 74
Don’t know 6
6. Is the ongoing controversy over players kneeling during the anthem affecting your decision regarding purchasing NFL merchandise?
Yes 27
No 69
Don’t know/No opinion 4
7. Do you think the current method for determining the college football championship is fair to all qualifying NCAA schools?
Yes 34
No 23
Don’t know/No opinion 43
How closely would you say you follow sports, Very closely, closely, not closely or not at all?
Very closely 22
Closely 35
Not closely 29
Not at all 14