North Carolinians back the Tar Heels ... unless NC State is playing
FILE: Harrison Barnes (40) shoots a jumper over C.J. Williams (21) during the UNC vs. NC State game on February 21, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Jun 15, 2012
Every basketball season before the Battle of the Blues, Public Policy Polling releases a report analyzing peoples rooting interest in the rivalry. The most recent release in February had 41 percent of North Carolinians pulling for UNC while 31 percent were pulling for Duke (remember this number for later).
An exact science? No. Interesting? Yes.
Friday, PPP took it one step further by including NC State into the mix and gauging their fan base compared to that of Duke and UNC. The result was that North Carolinians back the Tar Heels … unless NC State is playing. It may not make sense now, but stay with me.
First, the big number. North Carolinians hold a 32-27 margin in rooting interest in favor of UNC over NC State. That said, 41 percent of North Carolinians could care less either way according to the poll. UNC carried every geographical region of the state in fan interest over NC State, including in the Triangle where the edge was 37-30 in favor of the Heels.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the State-Carolina comparison – and predictable depending on who you ask – is the ideological divide in the fan bases. According to the report, UNC is backed by people claiming to be “very liberal” by a 51-14 margin. Those on the other end of the spectrum, “very conservative,” stand behind the Wolfpack, 30-27.
Remember the 41-31 number I threw out in the opening paragraph that favored the Tar Heels over the Devils? That number has apparently changed since February. The latest poll now has UNC with a 42-25 edge in backing.
Part one of the statement is now fulfilled – North Carolinians prefer UNC.
So what happens when UNC is removed and NC State is pitted against Duke?
State is backed over Duke in every region of the state and claims a 40-26 overall advantage. How did the gap get so big? Answer is the support of the males. Men back State over Duke in the state by a 44-18 margin (women are closer at 37-32).
But in a three-team circle of rivalries, there has to be one fan base on the sidelines. When that happens, who does the third teams’ fan base cheer for? According to the poll:
When UNC plays State, Duke fans cheer for NC State 28 percent-to-25 percent.
When State plays Duke, UNC fans cheer for NC State 60-22.
When UNC plays Duke, NC State fans cheer for UNC 38-36.
Part two of the statement now fulfilled – when NC State is playing in one of the rivalry games, the non-participating fan base backs NC State.
Ah, the power of numbers.
Most Recent Comments
Posted Jun 20, 1:57 p.m.
Rank: Veteran Posts: 207
Joined: May, 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
RE: North Carolinians back the Tar Heels ... unless NC State is playing
I have a headache now.RE: North Carolinians back the Tar Heels ... unless NC State is playing
I took away two things from this article:- Posted by 903 Rogue G I Joe
1. 41 percent of people don't care about the State or UNC question. The number of people that don't care appears to have gone up over the years because there are more people moving into the areas that are livable in NC (have to assume this poll was taken in high populated areas and not in the backwoods). It's nice to be able to walk around in Duke gear and not have some hillbilly make some snide comment.
2. Duke is still the most hated in the state. No surprise there. The best is always the most hated.
Lehigh says hey.
RE: North Carolinians back the Tar Heels ... unless NC State is playing
- Posted by chapelthrill2012- Posted by 903 Rogue G I Joe- Posted by chapelthrill2012Duke is still the most hated in the state. No surprise there. The best is always the most hated.
What are you the best at? Because it certainly isn't basketball.
Competing at a high level in college athletics with the use of student-athletes that actually are students.
Deflect much?
I'd deflect too if I were a Dookie.
Doesn't matter who you pull for. Deflecting is ALL you do.
Posted Jun 16, 4:43 p.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 1143
Joined: Jun, 2012
Location: Carrboro, NC
RE: North Carolinians back the Tar Heels ... unless NC State is playing
- Posted by 903 Rogue G I Joe- Posted by chapelthrill2012Duke is still the most hated in the state. No surprise there. The best is always the most hated.
What are you the best at? Because it certainly isn't basketball.
Competing at a high level in college athletics with the use of student-athletes that actually are students.
Deflect much?
I'd deflect too if I were a Dookie.
