Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research

Wilson Perkins Allen (WPA) Opinion Research, a Washington, DC based company with offices in Oklahoma City, surveyed adults in Oklahoma in May of this year regarding their attitudes toward college football, technology and other issues.  The results—while consistent with a similar study from 2004—might surprise some.

WPA Vice President Brian Smith, a graduate of Harvard University and the director of this study, commented, “As we approach the kickoff of college football season, we thought the media might be interested to learn who Oklahomans will be cheering for when the games kick off Saturday.  Also, it might be of interest to understand what the ‘average’ Sooner fan looks like.”

“Oklahomans are passionate about the Sooners as almost eight in ten (77%) Oklahoma adults say they are OU fans, but almost half (45%) of Sooner fans also cheer for the Oklahoma State Cowboys,” Smith concluded.  “Clearly this is a state that sticks together.”

The following memo outlines some key findings from an Oklahoma statewide study of adults conducted in May of this year.

Oklahomans are Sooners First

• Almost eight in ten (77%) Oklahoma adults are OU fans.
  • Comparatively, this level of support far exceeds the University of Texas (40% of residents)[1] in Texas or the University of Michigan (33%) in Michigan[2].
  • This is very similar to the number (78%) of Oklahoma adults who identified themselves as OU fans in a 2004 study conducted for the Dallas Morning News by our firm.
  • Oklahomans are fiercely loyal to their home state’s teams.
    • More than a quarter (26%) are not fans of any other collegiate team aside from OU.
    • Almost half (45%) say they are also fans of Oklahoma State University.
    • A little fewer than one in ten (7%) say they are also a fan of the University of Tulsa.
    • Less than two in five (18%) are fans of an out-of-state collegiate team.

Sooner Fans

• The Sooner fan base is well-educated and successful.
  • Two in five (40%) self-identified Sooner fans hold a college or post-graduate degree, and 15% are former (or current) students at OU.
  • More than four in five (83%) own their own homes.
  • Nearly two in five (39%) earn over $50,000 a year, including 13% who earn more than $100,000 annually.
  • The mean household income of Sooner fans is $60,519 (nearly $20,000 per year more than the average Oklahoma household income of $41,800!).
  • OU fans are technologically capable and well-connected in this digital world.
    • More than a third (37%) carry a smartphone, and nearly one in five (19%) spend a few hours a day online or checking email.
    • More than a third (35%) use Facebook, and one in twenty (5%) use Twitter.

Methodology

On behalf of the University of Oklahoma, Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research conducted a study of 650 Oklahoman adults.

Respondents were screened to ensure that they were neither a member of the news media, a public relations company, nor a University staff or faculty member.  Respondents were contacted by phone via a live telephone operator interview May 22 and 24, 2011.  The study has a sample size of 650 Oklahoman adults.  The margin of error is equal to ±3.8% in 95 out of 100 cases.  The margin of error for OU fans only is ±4.4% in 95 out of 100 cases.