Raleigh, N.C. – Pennsylvania voters choose Penn State by a large margin when asked which school they are most a fan of, a new survey from Public Policy Polling finds. When asked which school they are most a fan of, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Temple, or Villanova, 45% of respondents chose Penn State, 16% chose Pitt, 6% chose Temple, 3% chose Villanova, and 30% said they weren’t sure or they were a fan of another school.
Republicans chose PSU over Pitt by a 53-12 margin, while Democrats were more divided with 39% choosing PSU and 20% choosing Pittsburgh.
The late Joe Paterno has seen has favorability numbers in Pennsylvania rebound since the last time PPP polled Pennsylvania in November 2011, at the height of the controversy surrounding sex abuse charges within the Penn State football program and Paterno’s subsequent firing as head coach. Paterno is currently viewed favorably by 64% of Pennsylvania voters and unfavorably by just 15%, up from 51-28 last November.
Penn State fans approve of Bill O’Brien’s hiring as new football coach by a 53-9 margin, with 37% not sure.
Pitt fans remain baffled by Todd Graham’s short tenure with the football program. In the wake of his less than one calendar year as head coach of the Pittsburgh football team, Graham is viewed favorably by 8% of Pitt fans, unfavorably by 23% and 69% not sure. Incoming coach Paul Chryst sees better numbers at 36% favorable and 4% unfavorable, with 59% not sure.
More Pennsylvania voters say they’re Pittsburgh Steelers fans than Philadelphia Eagles fans by a 51-29 margin. Republicans choose the Steelers over the Eagles 55-25, while Democrats are more split but still choose the Steelers 51-32. Steelers fans love the job Mike Tomlin is doing as head coach, approving of his job performance 75-10. Eagles fans are less happy about the job Andy Reid is doing after the Eagles underperformed last season, with 40% approving and 34% disapproving.
PPP surveyed 689 Pennsylvania voters from March 8th to 11th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.7%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Joe Paterno?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 64%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 15%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%
Q2 Would you say that you are mostly a Penn
State, Pitt, Temple, or Villanova fan?
Penn State……………………………………………… 45%
Pitt ………………………………………………………… 16%
Temple …………………………………………………… 6%
Villanova ………………………………………………… 3%
Not sure/Fan of another school………………….. 30%
Q3 (Penn State fans:) Do you approve or
disapprove of Bill O’Brien’s hiring as football
coach?
Approve …………………………………………………. 53%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 9%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 37%
Q4 (Pitt fans:) Do you have a favorable or
unfavorable opinion of Todd Graham?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 8%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 69%
Q5 (Pitt fans:) Do you approve or disapprove of
Paul Chryst’s hiring as football coach?
Approve …………………………………………………. 36%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 4%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 59%
Q6 Are you more a Philadelphia Eagles fans or a
Pittsburgh Steelers fan?
Eagles……………………………………………………. 29%
Steelers………………………………………………….. 51%
Not sure/Fan of another team……………………. 20%
Q7 (Eagles fans:) Do you approve or disapprove of
the job Andy Reid is doing as coach?
Approve …………………………………………………. 40%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 26%
Q8 (Steelers fans:) Do you approve or disapprove
of the job Mike Tomlin is doing as coach?
Approve …………………………………………………. 75%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 10%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q9 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 46%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 47%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 7%
Q10 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 10%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 19%
Q11 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
Q12 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 ……………………………………………….. 46%
Republican……………………………………………… 41%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 13%
Q13 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 84%
African-American …………………………………….. 10%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q14 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………………………………………………….. 18%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 25%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 37%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
