Boston Super Blog

Week Six of the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll results are in, and it appears as if college football fans are huge fans of social media. Whether they use it to cheer on their favorite team or to send jeers to their opponent, they are all over it while watching their team take the field.

The latest Discover Fan Loyalty Poll revealed that overall, one-third of college football fans across the country use social media while they watch their favorite team play. Breaking down the numbers further show that 50 percent use it to cheer on their team, while 7 percent do so to comment on the opposing team. A small number, just 2 percent, criticize their own team on social media. Thirty-one percent do all three when they log on.

Be honest. Are you one of the 31 percent? Admittedly, there are many times when I go on social media to cheer for my team one play, leave a comment on the opposing team the next and then criticize my own on the next play. Any of you who don’t own up to the same thing as least occasionally may not be entirely honest with yourselves right now.

• My views are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Discover Products Inc. and its affiliates.

Of those who do use social media throughout their favorite team’s game, 38 percent of men and 32 percent of women use social media to taunt their friends. I’m surprised that number isn’t higher as well. As long as it’s all in good fun, I see no problem with admitting to being part of that 38 percent. Ha!

Millennials are most likely to take to social media while watching their team play, as 56 percent log on during the game, but other age groups don’t lag far behind:

• 40-49, 40 percent
• 30-39, 38 percent
• 50-64, 26 percent
• 65 or older, 17 percent

I have to give it up for the fans who are 65 years or older who still dish it out, especially via social media. You have to love that level of enthusiasm. Those are some true college football fans!

Aside from breaking down the results by age, Discover also broke the down by gender. It turns out that there is quite a difference behind the intents of men vs. women when logging on to use social media during their favorite college football teams’ games:

·         More women, 66 percent, use social media to cheer on their team, compared to 36 percent of men;

·         Fewer women, 18 percent, log on to social media in order to criticize their team, cheer on their team, or comment on the opposing team, compared to 43 percent of men who do all three;

·         Fewer women, 32 percent, use social media to taunt their friends, while 38 percent of men dish it out online.

Where do you stand in the social media debate? Do you strictly go on to cheer on your team, while shying away from saying anything bad about the opposition? Or, are you taking more shots against the other team and their fans than you are complimenting your own team? Feel free to weigh in below with your responses.

*         Discover Products Inc. sent me a Gift Card for participating as a Blogger in the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll program

How will you be using social media during the 2013-2014 college football bowl game season? Is your team one of the 70 who will be playing in one of 35 bowl games in December or January? Better yet, did your team get invited to play in one of the final five BCS Bowl Games? If so, how will you be using social media during the big game?

Make sure that you stay tuned to Boston Super Blog for all of the latest polls and results from the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll. We have got you covered throughout the remainder of the 2013 college football season, leading all the way up to the BCS Championship Game! Make sure to Like Discover on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!

The Discover Fan Loyalty Poll is conducted twice a month by Rasmussen Reports, a nationally recognized leader in polling, who gathers sentiment by phone from 1500 college football fans who follow games at least once per week on television, radio, in person or online. The Poll leads up to the 2014 Discover Orange Bowl. Discover’s commitment to college football includes relationships with ESPN and Notre Dame Football on NBC.

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America’s cash rewards pioneer, and offers home loans, private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its direct banking business. It operates the Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation’s leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.