Finally, some acknowledgment by the local print media of the great increase in academic progress by all Golden Gopher athletic teams, including football. The Pioneer Press was the first to finally weigh in today at 2:46:14 p.m., although no sports reporter wanted to take credit for conveying the good news:
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_15126965
Gophers have 21 'high-performing' teams in latest Academic Progress Report
Pioneer Press
Updated: 05/20/2010 02:46:14 PM CDT
University of Minnesota athletics programs posted their highest aggregate Academic Progress Rate (APR) score yet, according to the sixth round of NCAA APR totals announced by athletics department officials today.
In all, 22 of Minnesota's 25 teams scored better than 950 in 2008-09 and all 25 programs posted single-year and multi-year scores above the 925 cutline that can trigger scholarship reductions.
With 21 of 25 athletic teams scoring higher than 965 — what the NCAA considers to be "high-performing" teams — the Gophers athletics department achieved its highest average APR score ever — 979.9.
Included in that group of teams were football (968), men's basketball (981), men's ice hockey (990), women's basketball (1,000), women's volleyball (978) and women's ice hockey (1,000).
The APR report is the second positive academic measurement regarding Gophers athletics in the past year. During the fall, Minnesota learned it was one of three Big Ten institutions to post a federal graduation rate of more than 70 percent and that its NCAA Graduation Success Rate had climbed to 76 percent. The Gophers' 71 percent federal grad rate also outpaced the federal grad rate for all University of Minnesota students by five points.
"We have made tremendous strides in our APR numbers," Gophers athletics director Joel Maturi said in a statement. "Combined with the very positive graduation rate figures that were released last fall, I could not be more
pleased."
The Gophers football team posted an 81-point improvement in its APR number compared to last year. Gopher football has now improved 60 points from where it was four years ago when coach Tim Brewster hired.
Other programs posting improved numbers in the 2008-2009 report include men's tennis (+45) and men's golf (+29), along with women's basketball (+21) and wrestling (+14).
A total of nine teams — seven women's and two men's — recorded scores of 1,000, with women's basketball, cross country, rowing, gymnastics, hockey, soccer and tennis joining men's tennis and golf all posting perfect APR scores. Also, the women's soccer program received a special NCAA Public Recognition Award last week for ranking in the top 10 percent in its sport with a perfect multi-year score of 1,000.
The APR is determined by calculating the eligibility and retention for each student-athlete on scholarship during a particular academic year. Student-athletes are awarded one point for each semester they are enrolled and one point for each semester they are eligible for intercollegiate competition. A student-athlete can earn a maximum of four points during an academic year. Additional points are not given for student-athletes that graduate at the end of the semester, but rather the student-athlete is awarded one point for retention and one point for eligibility.
For more information on the APR, go to NCAA.org.
As usual, Myron, and the Strib were late to the game, although he at least had the guts to put his name on the article, checking in at 8:08 p.m. with this entry:
http://www.startribune.com/sports/g...8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr
I will not copy and paste Myron's article, because it is pretty much a rehash of the Gopher's press release, except for this negative note:
" Tubby Smith's program scored 51 points above last year's 930, but next year's numbers for men's basketball might take a hit.
Three players have transferred in the past four months and a fourth, Trevor Mbakwe, is weighing his options. Royce White, who withdrew from school in February, is currently academically ineligible for the fall semester, according to J.T. Bruett, the school's compliance director. "
This huge increase in academic achievement represents a lot of very hard work by all of the student/athletes involved in this achievement, the Academic Counseling Staff, the University Academic Support Programs, and all the coaches of the 25 athletic teams. These hard-working students and athletes deserve our hearty congratulations for a job well done.
WAY TO GO! GO GOPHERS!
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_15126965
Gophers have 21 'high-performing' teams in latest Academic Progress Report
Pioneer Press
Updated: 05/20/2010 02:46:14 PM CDT
University of Minnesota athletics programs posted their highest aggregate Academic Progress Rate (APR) score yet, according to the sixth round of NCAA APR totals announced by athletics department officials today.
In all, 22 of Minnesota's 25 teams scored better than 950 in 2008-09 and all 25 programs posted single-year and multi-year scores above the 925 cutline that can trigger scholarship reductions.
With 21 of 25 athletic teams scoring higher than 965 — what the NCAA considers to be "high-performing" teams — the Gophers athletics department achieved its highest average APR score ever — 979.9.
Included in that group of teams were football (968), men's basketball (981), men's ice hockey (990), women's basketball (1,000), women's volleyball (978) and women's ice hockey (1,000).
The APR report is the second positive academic measurement regarding Gophers athletics in the past year. During the fall, Minnesota learned it was one of three Big Ten institutions to post a federal graduation rate of more than 70 percent and that its NCAA Graduation Success Rate had climbed to 76 percent. The Gophers' 71 percent federal grad rate also outpaced the federal grad rate for all University of Minnesota students by five points.
"We have made tremendous strides in our APR numbers," Gophers athletics director Joel Maturi said in a statement. "Combined with the very positive graduation rate figures that were released last fall, I could not be more
pleased."
The Gophers football team posted an 81-point improvement in its APR number compared to last year. Gopher football has now improved 60 points from where it was four years ago when coach Tim Brewster hired.
Other programs posting improved numbers in the 2008-2009 report include men's tennis (+45) and men's golf (+29), along with women's basketball (+21) and wrestling (+14).
A total of nine teams — seven women's and two men's — recorded scores of 1,000, with women's basketball, cross country, rowing, gymnastics, hockey, soccer and tennis joining men's tennis and golf all posting perfect APR scores. Also, the women's soccer program received a special NCAA Public Recognition Award last week for ranking in the top 10 percent in its sport with a perfect multi-year score of 1,000.
The APR is determined by calculating the eligibility and retention for each student-athlete on scholarship during a particular academic year. Student-athletes are awarded one point for each semester they are enrolled and one point for each semester they are eligible for intercollegiate competition. A student-athlete can earn a maximum of four points during an academic year. Additional points are not given for student-athletes that graduate at the end of the semester, but rather the student-athlete is awarded one point for retention and one point for eligibility.
For more information on the APR, go to NCAA.org.
As usual, Myron, and the Strib were late to the game, although he at least had the guts to put his name on the article, checking in at 8:08 p.m. with this entry:
http://www.startribune.com/sports/g...8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr
I will not copy and paste Myron's article, because it is pretty much a rehash of the Gopher's press release, except for this negative note:
" Tubby Smith's program scored 51 points above last year's 930, but next year's numbers for men's basketball might take a hit.
Three players have transferred in the past four months and a fourth, Trevor Mbakwe, is weighing his options. Royce White, who withdrew from school in February, is currently academically ineligible for the fall semester, according to J.T. Bruett, the school's compliance director. "
This huge increase in academic achievement represents a lot of very hard work by all of the student/athletes involved in this achievement, the Academic Counseling Staff, the University Academic Support Programs, and all the coaches of the 25 athletic teams. These hard-working students and athletes deserve our hearty congratulations for a job well done.
WAY TO GO! GO GOPHERS!
