A fan watches a Syracuse vs. Notre Dame football game in the JMA Wireless Dome. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)
An innovative initiative focusing on the power of sport fandom for character development has been awarded more than $800,000 in funding through a 2025 Institutional Impact Grant from the Educating Character Initiative, part of Wake Forest University’s Program for Leadership and Character, which is supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. The grant will fund Character Development through Sport Fan Engagement, a project developed by Jeremy S. Jordan, professor and dean of the David B. Falk College of Sport, and the Rev. Brian E. Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel, who are co-principal investigators.
Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew says the project leverages the University’s existing strengths in sport-related academic research and teaching while drawing on themes outlined in the academic strategic plan, particularly human thriving. “This project has the potential to engage individuals across our campus community—students, faculty and staff—and promote the respectful exchange of ideas around the concepts of fandom and character development,” she says.
This significant award recognizes Syracuse University’s commitment to fostering holistic student development and leveraging the unique environment of collegiate sport fandom for character education. The project aims to cultivate ethical reasoning, teamwork, empathy and a stronger sense of community among undergraduate students by engaging them in the social, emotional and cultural dimensions of sport fandom. Ultimately, the project has the potential to not only transform fandom at Syracuse, but also to become a national model for ethical and inclusive fan engagement throughout sport.
“This project represents a truly collaborative effort across Syracuse University to push past the boundaries of knowledge by uniting spiritual inquiry and sport scholarship to explore how the passion of sport fandom can be a powerful catalyst for human flourishing,” Konkol says. “We believe that by focusing on the virtue of teamwork, we can help our students not only understand—but also actively practice—the values that build stronger communities.”
Syracuse University, with its dynamic athletics program, is uniquely positioned to host this initiative. “Sport fandom, particularly in the vibrant atmosphere of NCAA Division I athletics, offers an unparalleled real-time context for character education,” Jordan says. “This grant allows us to harness that energy to teach fairness, loyalty, leadership, humility and sportsmanship in ways that deeply resonate with our students’ lived experiences. We are excited to contribute to a national conversation about the role of sport in character formation.”
The project will include a series of structured educational and experiential components, co-designed with student leaders, including peer-led workshops, team-based challenges, game-day campaigns and reflective discussions, all centered on the character virtue of teamwork. Its structure emphasizes inclusive participation across diverse student populations and encourages cross-campus collaboration among students, faculty and athletics staff.
“Cultivating individuals of character who embody teamwork benefits our university and our students but also strengthens our athletics program,” says John Wildhack, Syracuse University director of athletics. “This initiative will help us learn more about fan behavior and encourage students to develop lifelong connections to the traditions and teams that define the Orange Nation. Passionate and dedicated fans are essential for our teams to compete at the highest levels.”
The program will also include a multi-year research study, The Impact of Sport Fandom on Character Development Among College Students: A Multi-dimensional Analysis Using the Psychological Continuum Model, which is intended to address a critical gap in existing literature.
Beyond its well-recognized athletics program, Syracuse University has evolved its sport-focused educational offerings and is redefining the future of sport research, education and innovation. In July, the Falk College became the nation’s first standalone college of sport on a Research 1 campus. Singular in focus, global in reach and designed for the future, the Falk College aims to be the top academic and research institution in sport.
Hendricks Chapel, known as the spiritual heart of Syracuse University, serves as a global home for religious, spiritual, moral and ethical life. Established in 1930 as a home for all faiths and place for all people, the chapel sponsors over 2,000 programs for more than a million annual attendees to help prepare engaged citizens, scholars and leaders for participation in a changing global society.
Other participating units include the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, the School of Education’s Center for Educational Pedagogy and Practice, the Department of Athletics, Student Experience and Living Learning Communities.
A Syracuse University News story by Wendy Loughlin originally published on Sept. 2, 2025.