Pennsylvania's NFL Fans Say: Don't Ban The Tush Push, Quinnipiac University Pennsylvania Sports Poll Finds; Eagles Fly As Best PA Team, Pirates & 76ers Viewed As Worst Teams
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The tush push has the football world buzzing again this season after it survived a vote by NFL team owners threatening to ban it. Pennsylvanians are now weighing in on the controversial play where the quarterback pushes forward with the ball while his teammates push him from behind. NFL fans in Pennsylvania 72 - 16 percent think that the tush push should be allowed. This is according to a Quinnipiac University sports poll of adults in Pennsylvania released today. The survey was conducted in collaboration with the Quinnipiac University School of Communications.
The Eagles made the tush push their signature move and Eagles fans 81 - 8 percent support allowing the play. Still, Pennsylvanians who are fans of other NFL teams also support allowing the play, 65 - 23 percent.
"When questions arose about whether or not to ban the Tush Push, the NFL said no. NFL fans in Pennsylvania clearly agree with that sentiment. Just because the other teams can't stop it isn't a good enough reason to get rid of it," said Nick Pietruszkiewicz, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Program Director of Sports Communications, Quinnipiac University.
Brittani Webb, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Media Studies, Quinnipiac University School of Communications added, "NFL fans do not appreciate it when the league waters down or bans risky yet exciting aspects of the game. In the case of the controversial tush push, the support for the Eagles' signature play crosses fandom lines and follows that same 'let them play' attitude."
STEELERS & AARON RODGERS
What do Pennsylvania's NFL fans think about the Steelers signing Aaron Rodgers to a one-year, $13.6 million contract? Forty-four percent think the Steelers made the right move in signing Rodgers to be their starting quarterback, while 34 percent think the Steelers made the wrong move, and 21 percent did not offer an opinion.
Among Steelers fans in the state, 52 percent think signing Rodgers was the right move, while 33 percent think it was the wrong move. Forty-three percent of fans of other NFL teams think it was the right move, while 35 percent think it was the wrong move.
"Aaron Rodgers remains one of the NFL's most polarizing players - his on-field achievements and off- field controversies divide fans. Now, as the league's oldest active player, it's understandable why fans across Pennsylvania are torn on his signing being the right or wrong move," added Webb.
ALL-PA SUPER BOWL
If the Eagles and the Steelers played each other in the Super Bowl, Pennsylvanians 53 - 37 percent say they would want the Eagles to win.
BEST TEAMS
Given a list of eight teams and asked which they think is Pennsylvania's best professional sports team, the Super Bowl LIX winner and currently undefeated Eagles top the list with 48 percent, followed distantly by the Steelers (20 percent) and the Phillies (10 percent), with no other team reaching double digits.
In Eastern Pennsylvania, 68 percent think the Eagles are the best professional sports team in Pennsylvania, followed by the Phillies (14 percent). No other team reaches double digits.
Looking at Philadelphia, 78 percent think the Eagles are the best professional sports team in Pennsylvania. No other team reaches double digits.
In Western Pennsylvania, the Steelers top the list with 49 percent, followed by the Eagles (21 percent) and the Penguins (14 percent). No other team reaches double digits.
In Allegheny County, the Steelers top the list with 48 percent, followed by the Eagles (25 percent) and the Penguins (14 percent), with the remaining listed teams in single digits.
"You could ask this question the day after the Phillies win the World Series or the Flyers win the Stanley Cup and the answer would still be the Eagles. Football is king, and, in Pennsylvania, so are the Eagles," added Pietruszkiewicz.
WORST TEAMS
Given a list of eight teams and asked which they think is Pennsylvania's worst professional sports team, the Pirates top the list (23 percent) followed by the 76ers (15 percent). The Pirates have not had a winning record since 2018, when they went 82 - 79, and have not made the post-season since 2015.
In Eastern Pennsylvania, 23 percent think the 76ers are the worst professional sports team in Pennsylvania, followed by the Pirates (14 percent) and the Flyers (12 percent). No other team reaches double digits.
In Philadelphia, 28 percent think the 76ers are the worst professional sports team in Pennsylvania, followed by the Pirates (14 percent), the Flyers (11 percent), and the Penguins (11 percent). No other team reaches double digits.
"For a long time, the 76ers lived by the phrase 'Trust the Process.' That's over. It didn't work. And fans in Philadelphia have run out of patience," added Pietruszkiewicz.
In Western Pennsylvania, the Pirates top the worst professional sports team list with 45 percent. No other team reaches double digits.
In Allegheny County, 55 percent think the Pirates are the worst professional sports team in Pennsylvania, with no other team reaching double digits.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
It has been six years since longstanding college football rivals Penn State and Pitt faced each other on the field and there is a high interest in seeing them play a game again.
Seventy-three percent of college football fans in the state say they are either very interested (37 percent) or somewhat interested (36 percent) in seeing a game between Penn State and Pitt return to the schedule, while 25 percent say they are either not so interested (10 percent) or not interested at all (15 percent).
1,727 adults in Pennsylvania were surveyed from September 25th - 29th with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points, including the design effect.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on probability-based samples using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
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Poll Questions
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Question 15. Who do you think is Pennsylvania's - best professional sports team: the Phillies, the Pirates, the 76ers, the Eagles, the Steelers, the Flyers, the Penguins, or the Union?
ADULTS....................................................................... AGE IN YRS.............. 4YR COL DEG Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes No The Phillies 10% 11% 9% 6% 9% 11% 13% 12% 9% The Pirates 1 1 2 1 - 1 2 1 2 The 76ers 1 2 1 2 2 1 - 1 1 The Eagles 48 48 48 59 52 42 44 52 46 The Steelers 20 20 20 16 18 25 22 17 22 The Flyers 1 2 1 2 1 1 - 1 1 The Penguins 5 5 6 5 7 6 5 5 5 The Union 1 1 1 - 1 - - 1 - DK/NA 12 11 13 9 10 12 13 9 13 AREA......................................................................... WEST....................... EAST........................ Tot NthWst Alghny SthWst Central Tot NthEst SthEst Philly The Phillies 3% 3% 5% 1% 11% 14% 10% 19% 9% The Pirates 3 1 1 6 1 1 2 - - The 76ers - 1 - - 2 1 1 1 1 The Eagles 21 17 25 21 43 68 60 66 78 The Steelers 49 45 48 53 19 3 5 2 4 The Flyers - - - - 3 1 1 2 1 The Penguins 14 15 14 13 3 1 4 - - The Union - - - - 1 1 - 2 - DK/NA 10 18 6 5 18 10 17 8 7 -
Question 16. Who do you think is Pennsylvania's - worst professional sports team: the Phillies, the Pirates, the 76ers, the Eagles, the Steelers, the Flyers, the Penguins, or the Union?
ADULTS....................................................................... AGE IN YRS.............. 4YR COL DEG Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes No The Phillies 4% 5% 2% 6% 4% 3% 2% 1% 5% The Pirates 23 27 19 19 26 28 23 29 20 The 76ers 15 18 12 16 17 15 14 18 14 The Eagles 6 6 5 7 7 7 1 6 6 The Steelers 6 5 6 8 9 5 2 5 6 The Flyers 8 8 8 8 9 8 10 8 9 The Penguins 6 6 6 10 7 5 4 4 7 The Union 5 5 5 5 4 6 7 6 5 DK/NA 26 17 35 22 16 24 36 22 28 AREA......................................................................... WEST....................... EAST........................ Tot NthWst Alghny SthWst Central Tot NthEst SthEst Philly The Phillies 4% 8% 3% 3% 3% 3% 8% 2% - The Pirates 45 27 55 50 17 14 15 13 14 The 76ers 7 6 7 8 11 23 14 25 28 The Eagles 6 4 - 14 8 4 6 3 2 The Steelers 4 8 - 3 8 6 5 6 6 The Flyers 6 7 7 5 6 12 11 13 11 The Penguins 3 4 3 - 6 8 8 7 11 The Union 5 5 4 6 6 5 4 7 4 DK/NA 20 30 21 10 34 26 29 25 24 -
Question 17. Thinking about - professional football, would you describe yourself as a super fan, a fan, a casual fan, or not a fan?
ADULTS....................................................................... AGE IN YRS.............. 4YR COL DEG Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes No Super fan 14% 15% 12% 9% 20% 15% 10% 13% 14% Fan 26 28 24 13 22 34 36 29 24 Casual fan 34 33 35 49 30 30 30 33 35 Not a fan 26 23 29 28 27 20 22 23 27 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 1 AREA......................................................................... WEST....................... EAST........................ Tot NthWst Alghny SthWst Central Tot NthEst SthEst Philly Super fan 16% 14% 17% 17% 8% 16% 10% 16% 20% Fan 32 28 34 34 20 26 25 26 27 Casual fan 28 31 25 29 39 34 29 37 36 Not a fan 23 28 23 20 31 24 36 21 16 DK/NA 1 - 2 - 1 - - 1 - -
Question 18. Thinking about - college football, would you describe yourself as a super fan, a fan, a casual fan, or not a fan?
ADULTS....................................................................... AGE IN YRS.............. 4YR COL DEG Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes No Super fan 7% 9% 6% 4% 9% 5% 10% 7% 7% Fan 15 21 10 8 16 21 17 18 14 Casual fan 28 29 27 26 23 28 33 30 27 Not a fan 49 41 57 61 52 44 38 45 51 DK/NA 1 1 1 - - 1 1 1 1 AREA......................................................................... WEST....................... EAST........................ Tot NthWst Alghny SthWst Central Tot NthEst SthEst Philly Super fan 9% 9% 9% 8% 9% 5% 8% 3% 6% Fan 19 13 12 32 14 13 19 12 10 Casual fan 26 29 35 14 30 28 28 28 27 Not a fan 47 49 45 45 47 53 45 55 57 DK/NA - - - - 1 1 - 2 1 -
Question 19. (If professional football super fan, fan or casual fan q17) Who is your favorite NFL team?
ADULTS....................................................................... NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE FANS Q17............................................ AGE IN YRS.............. 4YR COL DEG Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes No 49ers 1% 2% 1% 2% 1% 2% - 1% 1% Bears - 1 - - 2 - - 1 - Bengals - - - - 1 - - - - Bills 2 2 2 1 2 3 2 3 1 Broncos - - - - - 1 1 - 1 Browns - - - - - - 1 1 - Buccaneers - - - 1 - - - - - Cardinals - - - - - - - - - Chargers - 1 - 2 - - - - 1 Chiefs 1 1 1 2 - 1 1 1 1 Colts - 1 - - 1 1 - - - Commanders 1 2 1 - 2 1 1 2 1 Cowboys 4 6 3 5 6 3 3 1 6 Dolphins 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 Eagles 45 40 50 52 44 41 45 51 42 Falcons - - - 1 - - - - - Giants 2 3 1 - 4 1 1 1 2 Jaguars - - - - - - - - - Jets 1 - 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 Lions - - - - - - 1 - - Packers 1 2 1 - 1 2 1 1 2 Panthers 1 - 1 1 1 - - 1 - Patriots 1 2 1 1 2 - 2 2 1 Raiders 1 1 - - 2 1 - 1 1 Rams - - - - - - - - - Ravens 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 Saints - - - - - 1 - - - Seahawks - - - 1 - - - - - Steelers 27 27 27 20 20 34 32 26 27 Texans - 1 - 1 - - - - - Titans - - - - - - 1 - - Vikings - - - 1 1 - - 1 - DK/NA 6 6 7 6 6 5 5 2 8 AREA......................................................................... WEST....................... EAST........................ Tot NthWst Alghny SthWst Central Tot NthEst SthEst Philly 49ers 1% 1% - 2% 2% 1% 5% - - Bears 1 1 - 2 - - - 1 - Bengals - - - - - - - - 1 Bills 3 7 1 1 3 1 1 1 - Broncos - - - - 1 - - 1 - Browns 1 1 - 1 - - - - - Buccaneers - - - - - - 2 - - Cardinals - - 1 - - - - - - Chargers - - - - - 1 - 2 - Chiefs 1 2 - 2 2 1 - 1 - Colts - - - - 1 - - - - Commanders 1 - 1 - 1 1 5 1 - Cowboys 3 5 3 3 6 3 5 1 5 Dolphins - - - - 2 1 - 1 - Eagles 9 11 12 4 38 71 49 77 79 Falcons - - - - 1 - - - - Giants - - - - 2 2 7 1 - Jaguars - - - - - - - - - Jets - - - - 1 1 3 - - Lions 1 - - 2 - - - - - Packers 2 4 - 3 1 1 4 1 1 Panthers - - - - 1 1 - - 2 Patriots - - - - 3 1 2 1 1 Raiders - - - - 2 1 - 1 1 Rams - - - 1 - - - - - Ravens - - 1 - 4 - - - 1 Saints - - - - 1 - - - - Seahawks - - - - - - - 1 - Steelers 68 61 75 68 20 4 9 4 1 Texans - - - - - 1 2 - - Titans - - - - 1 - - - - Vikings 1 - 2 - - - - - 1 DK/NA 8 6 4 13 7 5 5 5 6 NFL FAN Q17......... Super Fan Casual 49ers 2% 1% 1% Bears - - 1 Bengals - 1 - Bills 3 2 1 Broncos - 1 - Browns - - 1 Buccaneers - - - Cardinals - - - Chargers 2 - - Chiefs 1 1 1 Colts - - - Commanders 2 1 1 Cowboys 4 2 5 Dolphins 1 - 1 Eagles 49 42 46 Falcons - - - Giants - 3 1 Jaguars - - - Jets 1 1 1 Lions - 1 - Packers 1 2 1 Panthers - 1 1 Patriots 1 1 1 Raiders 1 - 1 Rams - - - Ravens - 1 1 Saints - - - Seahawks - - - Steelers 29 33 21 Texans - 1 - Titans - - - Vikings - - 1 DK/NA 1 4 10 -
Question 20. If the Eagles and the Steelers played each other in the Super Bowl, who would you want to win?
ADULTS....................................................................... AGE IN YRS.............. 4YR COL DEG Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes No Eagles 53% 50% 56% 64% 58% 48% 48% 57% 52% Steelers 37 38 36 30 34 42 43 36 38 DK/NA 10 12 8 6 8 10 9 7 10 AREA......................................................................... WEST....................... EAST........................ Tot NthWst Alghny SthWst Central Tot NthEst SthEst Philly Eagles 13% 16% 14% 9% 51% 80% 60% 85% 93% Steelers 81 78 79 85 32 13 28 8 6 DK/NA 6 6 6 6 17 7 12 7 1 NFL FAN Q17......... Super Fan Casual Eagles 60% 53% 62% Steelers 38 44 34 DK/NA 2 3 4 -
Question 21. (If professional football super fan, fan or casual fan q17) The tush push is a football play typically used on very short yardage. The quarterback pushes forward with the ball while his teammates push him from behind. Do you think this play should be allowed in professional football or should be banned from the game?
ADULTS....................................................................... NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE FANS Q17............................................ AGE IN YRS.............. 4YR COL DEG Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes No Allowed 72% 77% 66% 69% 76% 74% 67% 74% 70% Banned 16 17 16 15 17 15 19 16 16 DK/NA 12 7 17 16 7 10 14 9 13 AREA......................................................................... WEST....................... EAST........................ Tot NthWst Alghny SthWst Central Tot NthEst SthEst Philly Allowed 61% 59% 57% 66% 67% 81% 75% 80% 85% Banned 24 25 27 19 19 11 18 9 8 DK/NA 15 16 16 14 14 9 7 11 6 NFL FAN Q17......... FAVORITE NFL TEAM Q19 Super Fan Casual Eagles Other Allowed 81% 76% 65% 81% 65% Banned 15 18 16 8 23 DK/NA 4 6 20 11 12 -
Question 22. (If professional football super fan, fan or casual fan q17) This summer the Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers to a one-year, thirteen-point-six million dollar contract. Do you think the Steelers made the right move or the wrong move in signing Rodgers to be their starting quarterback?
ADULTS....................................................................... NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE FANS Q17............................................ AGE IN YRS.............. 4YR COL DEG Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes No Right move 44% 53% 36% 45% 47% 43% 42% 40% 46% Wrong move 34 31 38 30 37 38 35 36 33 DK/NA 21 16 26 24 16 19 23 23 20 AREA......................................................................... WEST....................... EAST........................ Tot NthWst Alghny SthWst Central Tot NthEst SthEst Philly Right move 54% 51% 55% 55% 45% 38% 48% 33% 38% Wrong move 32 26 35 35 33 37 40 36 35 DK/NA 14 22 10 11 22 25 13 31 27 NFL FAN Q17......... FAVORITE NFL TEAM Q19 Super Fan Casual Steelers Other Right move 55% 44% 40% 52% 43% Wrong move 39 39 29 33 35 DK/NA 6 17 31 15 22 -
Question 23. (If college football super fan, fan or casual fan q18) Penn State and Pitt have a longstanding college football rivalry but have not played each other since 2019. How interested are you in seeing a game between Penn State and Pitt return to the schedule; very interested, somewhat interested, not so interested, or not interested at all?
ADULTS....................................................................... COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS Q18.................................................... AGE IN YRS.............. 4YR COL DEG Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes No Very interested 37% 39% 33% 33% 40% 35% 38% 34% 38% Somewhat interested 36 35 39 36 39 35 36 38 36 Not so interested 10 11 10 9 8 11 14 13 9 Not interested 15 15 16 22 14 17 12 15 16 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - 2 1 - 1 AREA......................................................................... WEST....................... EAST........................ Tot NthWst Alghny SthWst Central Tot NthEst SthEst Philly Very interested 45% 30% 55% 47% 33% 34% 36% 33% 34% Somewhat interested 35 44 28 35 40 35 38 34 33 Not so interested 8 13 6 7 11 11 11 14 7 Not interested 12 14 11 11 15 18 14 19 22 DK/NA - - - - 1 2 2 - 4 COLLEGE FOOTBALL FAN Q18 Super Fan Casual Very interested 49% 50% 27% Somewhat interested 32 32 40 Not so interested 6 7 14 Not interested 12 11 18 DK/NA 1 - 1