Raleigh, N.C. – Michigan voters list Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers and the NFL’s Detroit Lions as their two most favorite pro sports teams in Michigan, a new Public Policy Polling survey surrounding various pro and college sports topics finds. When asked which is their favorite pro sports team, 29% of voters said the Detroit Tigers, 27% said the Lions, 20% choose the NHL’s Red Wings, and just 6% said the NBA’s Pistons were their favorite pro team. 17% said someone else was their favorite or they weren’t sure.
African-American voters preferred the Detroit Lions (54%) and Detroit Pistons (23%) for a total of 77% of African-American voters choosing Michigan’s pro football or basketball team as their favorite. Conversely, while many white voters also chose the Lions (24%), a majority of 55% of white voters chose MLB’s Tigers (33%) or the NHL’s Red Wings (22%).
Michigan comes out on top when voters are asked if they’re a fan of Michigan State, the University of Michigan, or neither school. 37% of voters choose Michigan while 31% choose MSU, 32% aren’t a fan of either.
Michigan fans like their football coach, Brady Hoke, with 64% approving of his job performance and just 6% disapproving. UM fans are less charitable towards former football coach Rich Rodriguez (26% favorable opinion, 32% unfavorable, 42% not sure). The jury is still out among UM fans with regard to basketball coach John Beilein, with 39% approving, 8% disapproving and 53% not sure about his job performance.
Michigan State fans are very happy with their current football and basketball coaches. Mark D’Antonio receives high marks as football coach, with 68% approving and just 4% disapproving. Tom Izzo gets an even higher grade, with 78% approving and just 3% disapproving.
PPP surveyed 560 Michican voters between February 10th and 12th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.1%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Is your favorite pro sports team in Michigan the
Lions, Pistons, Red Wings, or Tigers?
Lions ……………………………………………………… 27%
Pistons…………………………………………………… 6%
Red Wings ……………………………………………… 20%
Tigers…………………………………………………….. 29%
Someone else/Not sure ……………………………. 17%
Q2 Are you a Michigan or Michigan State fan, or
do you not root for either school?
Michigan ………………………………………………… 37%
Michigan State ………………………………………… 31%
Not a fan of either school ………………………….. 32%
Q3 (Michigan fans:) Do you approve or disapprove
of the job Brady Hoke is doing as football
coach?
Approve …………………………………………………. 64%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 6%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 29%
Q4 (Michigan fans:) Do you have a favorable or
unfavorable opinion of Rich Rodriguez?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 26%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 32%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 42%
Q5 (Michigan fans:) Do you approve or disapprove
of the job John Beilein is doing as basketball
coach?
Approve …………………………………………………. 39%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 8%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 53%
Q6 (Michigan State fans:) Do you approve or
disapprove of the job Mark D’Antonio is doing
as football coach?
Approve …………………………………………………. 68%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 4%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q7 (Michigan State fans:) Do you approve or
disapprove of the job Tom Izzo is doing as
basketball coach?
Approve …………………………………………………. 78%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 3%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%
Q8 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 40%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 51%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 10%
Q9 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 12%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 20%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 21%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 17%
Q10 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 55%
Man……………………………………………………….. 45%
Q11 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 40%
Republican……………………………………………… 30%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 30%
Q12 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 83%
African-American …………………………………….. 12%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
Q13 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 16%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 26%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 37%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 21%
Q14 Are you or is anyone in your household a
member of a labor union?
Yes………………………………………………………… 30%
No …………………………………………………………. 70%
