Troy University Athletics
Trojan Football Honored By AFCA For High Graduation Rate
5/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
WACO, Tex. - The Troy University Football Program was honored today as one of 34 institutions in the NCAA Bowl Sub-Division to record a graduation rate of better than 70 percent for members of the freshman class of 2001-02, the American Football Coaches Association announced.
It is the second consecutive year in which Troy has been honored by AFCA for having a high graduation rate. Troy was the only Sun Belt Conference school honored in 2006 and was joined on the 2007 list by league member Arkansas State.
Northwestern University and the University of Notre Dame shared the AFCA's 2007 Academic Achievement Award, which is presented annually by the Touchdown Club of Memphis. Both institutions posted graduation rates of 95 percent.
Troy was joined on the list of honorees by Alabama, Arkansas State, Ball State, Baylor, Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana Tech, Miami (Ohio), Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn State, Rice, Rutgers, Syracuse, Texas, TCU, Texas Tech, Toledo, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington State and Wisconsin.
"We are very proud of the recognition, which is the result of our young men doing the things they are supposed to do in the class room," Trojans head coach Larry Blakeney said. "Our academic staff, with Matt Mayotte, Emily Cobb and Sherrell Bees and all of the tutors, have done a great job of mentoring our student-athletes. They take great pride in helping our students reach their potential academically, just as our coaches take pride in helping them reach their potential athletically."
Two schools joined Northwestern and Notre Dame with graduation rates of 90 percent or better - Duke and Vanderbilt..
The overall graduation rate of the 107 schools that responded to the survey was 60 percent, surpassing the mark of 58 percent in each of the last two years. Fifty-two of the members responding were above the average of and 55 were below the average. The median graduation rate was 59 percent, compared to 57 percent for the last two years. The 107 respondents to this year's survey is a record high.
The study involves the freshman class from the academic year of 2001-02, including those who entered at that time but who did not receive financial aid until after their initial year, or who transferred from another institution and subsequently received a grant-in-aid.
