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USF Athletes' Graduation Statistics Still Lag

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By ADAM EMERSON | The Tampa Tribune
and BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 15, 2008

TAMPA - During the past year, University of South Florida leaders have overhauled the academic support for student-athletes and made scholastic success among players a top priority.

NCAA data released this week shows that job may be harder for some sports than others.

Just 56 percent of football players who entered USF between 1998 and 2001 graduated in six years. That compares with the national average of 67 percent in Division 1-A football.

It's also the worst graduation rate among Big East football teams.

In men's basketball, it's worse. At USF, the graduation rate among student-athletes in that sport was 42 percent, compared to the national Division I average of 62 percent.

USF's graduation rates among student-athletes in those sports have fallen while national averages have improved. NCAA figures from last year showed that USF's football players had a graduation rate of 61 percent. That rate dropped five percentage points this year.

Administrators have acknowledged the challenge in turning around the academic performance of their student-athletes, but say their reforms — which impressed the NCAA — need time to work.

Early last school year, the university revoked much of the discretion coaches had in recruiting athletes with poor grades and test scores by forming a faculty committee charged with vetting academically risky prospects before admitting them. The school's undergraduate studies division also took oversight of the Athletic Department's academic support network of tutors and advisers.

USF leaders also have pointed to the stronger performance among women athletes in other sports. Ninety-three percent of softball players, for instance, who entered USF between 1998 and 2001 graduated in six years. That's seven percentage points higher than the national average.

Reporter Adam Emerson can be reached at (813) 259-8285 or aemerson@tampatrib.com. Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com.

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