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[entropy]

Big Ten, Northwestern pace nation in APR scores

Written by BTN.com staff

The NCAA released its annual Academic Progress rate scores Tuesday, and the Big Ten came in No. 1 among the BCS conferences in football. The Northwestern football team led the nation with a score of 996, three points ahead of second-place Boise State, and Wisconsin (tied fourth) and Ohio State (tied seventh) also landed in the top 10.

[ NCAA.org: Search every school, sports Academic Progress Rate ]


Best APR scores (Big Ten football)
Northwestern 996 (1st in nation)
Wisconsin 985 (T-4th in nation)
Ohio State 982 (T-7th in nation)
Nebraska 972
Indiana 963
Iowa 961
Penn State 961
Illinois 960
Michigan State 955
Minnesota 955
Purdue 953
Michigan 951

Best APR scores of power conferences
Big Ten 964.9
ACC 964.5
SEC 957.1
Pac-12 952.5
Big 12 947.1

"If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else."

Post Extras:

[WM Wolverine]

Thanks to mgoblog: M by year:

*'09 (897)
*'10 (942)
*'11 (984)
*'12 (981)

It uses the last 4-year of data so M will dramatically climb next season.

[WM Wolverine]

APR is completely useless anyway as most every athletic program (including M) attempt to funnel their scholarship athletes into classes only available to athletes. Even Grand Valley State University did this when I went there back when Brian Kelly was the coach.

[entropy]

Michigan not only does that,,, they funnel them into degrees.

[DennisT]

Spielman is a good golfer.

[Mike]

As long as our players can read a playbook I'm satisfied.

[Rob F]

As long as our players can read a playbook I'm satisfied.

heh

I have to admit that to a large extent, I'm that way, too. But I do personally know several school classmates, friends, relatives, and local kids who got their degrees or are currently working towards degrees at U of M, and I take particular interest in their success. While most had no athletic career there (although I do have a 2nd cousin that played on the U of M women's basketball team back in the late 70's, and a high school friend/classmate/ Track teammate, Greg Meyer, gained fame there), one played in the Michigan Marching Band, and each and every one of them graduated and tasted success in their subsequent careers. And even right now, both sons of my next-door neighbor are U of M students. Great kids and proud to know both of them.

But yeah, as much as I take interest in the success academically and post-graduation of those I know who have studied at U of M, Mi:chigan Football is the "straw that stirs the drink", to borrow a phrase from Reggie Jackson. As long as the latest crops of recruits can read a playbook, if nothing else, it's a good start. Even better if they also succeed in the classroom, though...

[SeattleLionsFan]

IMO, if you believe that then pay them. Currently, the only benefit the vast majority of these guys get is an education from a top notch university. So either allow them to get an education, or pay them. They should not put themselves on the line for nothing.

[lineygoblue]

Do you pay just football, or all varsity sports, male and female?

[SeattleLionsFan]

I don't know. Do we also not care if the women's shot putters can read?

[WM Wolverine]

When the wealthy athletic departments are giving their scholarship athletes $3k a year, what happens to the have not's that don't have $2mil plus a year to support all their student athletes?

They won't be drinking at the same table as the athletic departments in the ACC, B10, Big East, Big XII, SEC, Pac 12.

[lineygoblue]

I'm not opposed to players receiving a stipend each month. I'm in favor of it.

Problems arise as to where or if you draw a line.

For instance, do Central Michigan athletes get the same amount as Michigan/MSU athletes? Do Grand Valley athletes get the same amount, or do they even GET any money? Are we talking about only BCS schools' athletes getting paid, or do ALL college athletes in the country get a stipend?

Somebody has to make a decision on issues like that. I'm not sure how it would be done, or if there would be any lines drawn.

[WM Wolverine]

Every scholarship athlete would receive equal amounts. Your All-American, basketball superstar who brings in millions in revenue, licensing receives the same amount as the womens scholarship soccer player who rides the bench...

This stip-end is to cover student expenses (estimated at ~$3k/year) beyond what their scholarships does. Yes, these kids do receive scholarships that are valued over $30k a year in tuition. BUT they unlike other kids don't have the time to get a job, even in the sports off-season as being a scholarship athlete in almost every sport is a year round commitment in practices and training.

The major conferences are all pretty much on-board (5 major football and the Big East basketball); the only issue I see is legal as how the conferences think it'll hold up in court as the smaller conferences will obviously fight it as they don't want to be relegated to a lesser division.

[SeattleLionsFan]

I'm in favor of giving these boys an education. Some others disagreed. My question is then what do they get?

[entropy]

Former Oklahoma State quarterback Wes Lunt has decided to transfer to Illinois after considering his options for more than a month, saying he'd "always dreamed of playing for Illinois, my state school."

"I know it's a team game and I can't do it all by myself," Lunt said. "I do hope we can add some more good recruits."





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Lunt called Illinois coach Tim Beckman on Monday to inform him of his decision.

"I am OK with how I left Oklahoma State," Lunt said. "God had a plan for me. No hard feelings with Coach (Mike Gundy)."

Lunt, who grew up an Illini fan, believes that the spread offense operated by offensive coordinator Bill Cubit would be a good fit.

The Illini finished last season 2-10 with Nathan Scheelhaase and Reilly O'Toole sharing the quarterback job. Scheelhaase will be a senior this fall while O'Toole will be a junior.

"I like this offense," Lunt said. "The quarterbacks get it out quickly. They go vertical. And they pass for a ton of yards. It's a pass-happy offense."

Lunt chose Illinois after Oklahoma State blocked his request to be released to Tennessee, Vanderbilt or Southern Miss. Oklahoma State further notified Lunt he could not transfer to a school in the Big 12, SEC or Pac-12, or Southern Miss or Central Michigan.

"I really built a great relationship with Coach Beckman and Cubit," Lunt said. "I'm going to show up, work hard and try to be successful. This is an ideal situation."