Login | Member Center | Contact Us | About Us | Site Map | Archive | Alerts/Photos | Subscribe to the paper | knoxnews.com

Home › Other Sports

Mixed news for UT's academic progress rates

By Mark Burgess (Contact)
Originally published 01:15 p.m., May 6, 2008
Updated 09:41 p.m., May 6, 2008

Academic progress rate figures released by the NCAA and the University of Tennessee on Tuesday had the usual good news, bad news feel.

Overall, 17 of 20 men’s and women’s sports at UT met the required 925 ranking set by the NCAA as a sign of strong academic standing for the 2006-07 academic year.

Men’s basketball (911), men’s swimming and diving (920) and baseball (879) were the only sports to fall below NCAA standards.

Around the SEC, Arkansas was penalized a partial baseball scholarship and South Carolina lost one basketball scholarship. No other schools were subject to penalties.

The UT basketball and swimming programs were penalized scholarships, however they elected to pay that penalty during the 2007-08 season before last year’s figures were announced.

The Vols’ baseball team had an 850 ranking two years ago and was penalized 1.17 scholarships. The number improved to 865 last year and 879 in this year’s report.

Basketball was limited to 12 scholarships, swimming to 9.88 and baseball to 10.53.

Baseball is not listed as a team receiving further penalties because “everyone has left in good standing and they have a good plan for improvement,” UT spokesperson Tiffany Carpenter said, adding that first-year head coach Todd Raleigh’s APR track record at Western Carolina also helped Tennessee avoid further penalty.

The recent departures of Duke Crews and Ramar Smith do not factor into this year’s APR score for the men’s basketball team.

Those players will cost Tennessee’s basketball program at least one point each toward the 2007-08 APR for leaving school without graduating and not enrolling as full-time students. However, Tennessee would only be in a position to lose scholarships if its overall basketball APR score is below 925 and Smith or Crews were academically ineligible when they left school.

According to sources within the athletic department, academics were one reason why the two players will not return. Still, both are expected to leave UT as academic qualifiers.

Teams whose overall APR is below the NCAA limit are subject to scholarship penalties only if a player leaves school without graduating and is academically ineligible, known as a “0-for-2.” Whatever financial aid a 0-for-2 player received (in the case of Crews and Smith, full scholarships) would not be available for one year.

APR figures are based on the academic success and retention of student-athletes.

Each student-athlete can earn two points a semester — one for remaining academically eligible and another if he or she returns to the university as a full-time student the following term or graduates.

The APR figure is calculated by adding all the points earned divided by the total possible, which is then multiplied by 1,000.

Fernandez West, associate director of the Thornton Center (which provides academic support for athletes), was pleased with the overall numbers.

“We are very proud of our teams’ performance in the classroom,” he said in a UT release. “The NCAA’s Academic Reform package has challenged student-athletes to improve their academic endeavors, and UT’s student-athletes are stepping up to the challenge.

“Our coaches’ input and effort into the APR has really helped increase or maintain some of the APR numbers.”

No Lady Vol sport had an APR lower than 957 (softball). The women’s basketball team, which won its second consecutive national championship this season, had an APR of 963.

Overall, six of 11 women’s sports posted an APR above 975.

“I am very proud of the accomplishments our student-athletes have made,” women’s athletic director Joan Cronan said in the statement. “Now, we not only keep score on the field of play, but the APR is the win/loss record in the classroom, which is in accord with our mission statement that our student-athletes are students first.”

The APR is in its fourth year and the NCAA reported “only 218 teams at 123 institutions will be sanctioned for poor performance.”

UT football received a ranking of 948, a 10-point improvement over last year’s score, and the third-highest score among men’s programs behind golf (978) and cross country (950).

The Thornton Center and the Renewing Academic Commitment program have been key to improving results in UT’s various sports.

“The Thornton Center has been very active in the NCAA’s academic progression discussions and has put in place a great framework to make sure our athletes stay on track,” men’s athletic director Mike Hamilton said in the release. “If our student-athletes aren’t winning academically, they won’t be competing.”

Drew Edwards contributed to this report.

       66 Comments

Posted by 55Vol on May 6, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Basketball didn't make it? Wonder why?

Posted by GreerVol22 on May 6, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

55Vol,
2 reasons
Duke and Ramar, just a guess but its as good as any.

Posted by General_Fritter on May 6, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Fulmer once again sets the standard.

Posted by General_Fritter on May 6, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Football received a ranking of 948, a 10-point improvement over last year’s score of 938."

Tutors are to be commended. I'll have a fritter on you.

Posted by mjohnsonvols on May 6, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Anything you need to say about Fulmer on this Workin. He beat out Pearl in this so what is the problem here.
I guess it is Fulmers fault the basketball team did not make the grade.
Good job for that made the grade and for the ones that did not get to work.

Posted by KingsportVol on May 6, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We have signed a team of Sling Blades on the baseball team. MMM Taters.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 6, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As a matter of fact I do....one thing thing the story left out is that these rates that were released by the NCAA are for the 03-04, 04-05, and 05-06 seasons. Duke and Ramar don't even factor into this equation yet.

Hey, let's hold Pearl accountable for the years Buzz was here. Pearl took over at the end of the Spring 05 semester. Nice try though moron.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 6, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SEC APR scores:

UGA 965
Florida 962
Vandy 959
Auburn 953
Tennessee 948
LSU 946
Bama 944
UK 943
Ole Miss 939
Arky 936
MSU 924
USC 921

Posted by WD40plusVol on May 6, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WorkinLikeHeck to bring you all the info you need to know on a daily basis because the KNS won't.

Posted by BigOrangeWillie on May 6, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's look on the bright side fellas, at least our guys aren't on a top 15 campus most likely to catch an STD.

http://www.trojancondoms.com/assets/p...

Guess you can't spell Vandy without VD.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 6, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The above was the APR scores for football. Here are the SEC APR scores for basketball:

Vandy 985
UGA 958
Arky 944
UK 941
Bama 928
Florida 919
Ole Miss 917
Tennessee 911
LSU 910
Auburn 905
MSU 901
South Carolina 899

Posted by 99gator on May 6, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

workin....

you got a link

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 6, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Go to this website (it will take a minute to load...it must be getting bombarded). You can look up individual schools by clicking on the APR Penalty information in the other links section on the right hand side:

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/%21ut/...ews/NCAA+News+Online/2008/Division+I/Reforms+inroads+evident+with+APR+release+-+05-06-08+NCAA+News

Posted by King53 on May 6, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

if a kid transfers or leaves early for the pros, does that hurt your score? I am not sure how the scores are tabulated, so i am not sure how to comment on the above results.

Posted by marc_ash on May 6, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let me tell you that I am good friends with Academic coordinators and past AC's that worked in the Thorton Center. They really bust their butt to make sure these young men and women have EVERY opportunity to succeed.

Two of my co-workers that have since left said they gave the athletes an open schedule to come and learn....staying until 10-11pm at times to work into their schedule (often only to have them not show).

As Fritter said, PLEASE commend those people working in the Thorton Center. They really do a great job busting their butt's to make these athletes have all opportunities at their disposal. If the grades are failing, you can be sure it isn't the tutors fault.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 6, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

it hurts your score if they don't graduate within a specified time period.

Posted by GreerVol22 on May 6, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Kingsport...if we fed the baseball team tater fries and fritters on the comode would their performance be any better?

Posted by agentorange on May 6, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

this just in from John Adams: Bruce Pearl should be fired.

Posted by knoxville3131 on May 6, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's pathetic that some student athletes can't meet the NCAA requirements with all of the extra support they are privileged to have. Good job for the rest of them.

Posted by colonelmustard on May 6, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

good link, bigorange willie. yeah, UT really dominates Vandy in sexual health (presented by Trojan Condoms) - UT is 104th, Vandy is 128th.

and guess how UT got ranked higher in sexual health (presented by Trojan Condoms)? not lower prevalence of STDs on campus - it's because UT's student health center is open longer, and the UT health center probably does more HIV and STD tests each year (because there are 3 times as many students at UT than Vandy).

should we all sing rocky top together to celebrate? or should we call ramar and duke and light up a fatty?

Posted by mjohnsonvols on May 6, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Congrats workin you got me. I was wrong did not know that. Thanks for the info.

Now as for calling me a moron I don't really think that was called for.

It's going to be a long summer punk.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 6, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"I was wrong did not know that"

That appears to be the story of your life as well as a recurring theme on this webiste mjohnsonvols.

I know it's going to be a long summer. I've already said this. Moron.

Posted by ElizabethtonvolnNC on May 6, 2008 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MJ- let don't let workinlike-an-idiot get you flustered. Sniffles has to have something to complain about....

Although not too much to complain about finishing in the top half of the SEC....

More orange kool-aid please!

Posted by KingsportVol on May 6, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Greer it couldn't be any worse.I perform better after chopping off a turtle head.Congrats to the University of Minnesota.You guys have some clean farm animals.

Posted by mcbrim1998 on May 6, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Man..if you vols go after each other like this over an NCAA report, I can't wait to see the battle when the vols are 0-3 to begin the season.

Posted by ElizabethtonvolnNC on May 6, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mc_rim-JOB....

Make that 1-2 and life will be good...GAYtor.

Posted by mjohnsonvols on May 6, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Look i'm not flustered and he really does not bother me at all. I just like having a little fun with him.
I tried to be nice and say he was correct in what he said and what I said was wrong and he still calls me a moron.

This guy is a true jerk no doubt about it just kill him with kindness and maybe one day the guy that hides behind 15,000 names will be a Vol fan again.

Posted by pdhuff on May 6, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Do we award letters for 4 yr non-VD or non- STD?

Posted by ElizabethtonvolnNC on May 6, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sniffles is a Guy?!

I apologize for giving her way too much credit on insinuating it might have flustered you...

No worries - 99.9% on here know better

Posted by Ironcity on May 6, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This falls on Buzz. To many of his players had to be kicked off the team for fighting or weed. They really wanted Wingate to graduate even after he got kicked off because of this rating but he just wasn't interested at the time.

Ramar and Crews will likely work against us. This is also why Maze may be a high risk guy. If he doesn't work out he could also hurt us in our grad rate.

Posted by UTfan4life on May 6, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ramar and Duke KILLED us on this one

Posted by GerryOP on May 6, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This from the ESPN news release. Which University is mentioned the most times?

"Eighteen BCS teams were penalized, eight in men's and women's basketball and two in football. Of those, only four teams -- Kansas State, Purdue, Southern California and Tennessee -- made the NCAA men's basketball tournament and all four could lose up to two scholarships next season if a player leaves school while academically ineligible.

Also making the list were traditional powers like the LSU baseball team and Tennessee men's swimming team.

Tennessee and West Virginia, which each had three teams on the list, were the only BCS schools with more than one team penalized. Each school had three teams make it - West Virginia in men's soccer, wrestling and women's rowing and Tennessee in men's basketball, men's swimming and baseball."

Yah, yah, yah, start the hue and cry that ESPN hates us. But, that does not change the facts.

Looks like the folks at The Thornton Center have some work to do. As an institute of higher learning, our athletic program is tied for being the worst. Sad...

On the plus side, it looks like Coach Fulmer is doing a good job of teachin' and mentorin'.

Posted by General_Fritter on May 6, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Kingsport, you are the Master. You made me spit all over myself from laughing so hard on your Slingblade comemnt. MM Fritters.

Posted by General_Fritter on May 6, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A Condom Ranking brought to you by BigOrangeWIllie.
Now that's funny I don't care who you are. I'm about to bust a gut laughing at you guys. You're dring me to drink.

Posted by General_Fritter on May 6, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MeeeenasOTA has clean farm animals? Who knew? Better send Ashley for a looksie.

Posted by VOLS85 on May 7, 2008 at 3:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, I find it sad to say that MC1998isUT'sNCyear had something insightful to say...at least in the first half of his comment...people on this site that claim to enjoy the same team seem to enjoy railing on each other, but at least we're all friends around here...

on the subject of going 0-3, Mc_dumbazz couldn't be more ignorant...1) name the last time UT went 0-3, i dare you 2) ask UCLA how their first game is going to go with NO QB...

Posted by KingsportVol on May 7, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

General you got any biscuit for sale in there.Thats funny.Fulmer needs to go to KY and recruit some of Carls relatives for D-Line.

Posted by pdhuff on May 7, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

GerryOp 6:36 - surely this could not be a slur on Huggin Hamilton's overseeing abilities.

Do the men's swimming and baseball teams just need a could old man-hug? Phil enjoyed his after we destroyed SC with the 14 yd tackle recovery play.

Vol85 3:06AM- I believe it will be close as to how it goes with UCLA with no QB and us with last year's d-line. Hope for the best.

Kingsport, mmmm,taters is a classic. It was on again the other night. mmmm "hurtin' my mama"!

Posted by GerryOP on May 7, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff, slur on Mikey? Someone should be takin' the heat for this. Maybe Pennington needs to write a critical article about the mighty Thornton Center. Penn seems to have a knack for "inspiring" our UTAD folks. Of course, this is the same crowd that could not tell the kid who missed the Outback Bowl that he had not enrolled in the correct courses to satisfy NCAA requirements. Sad....

The T on the uniforms does not stand for Thug, it stands for 'Tupid.

Posted by General_Fritter on May 7, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

2 sheets to the wind. 2 sheets to the wind.

Posted by hiresanders on May 7, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Smith and Crews don't count against this years numbers. We failed because of other reasons. Going to class is optional for Pearl's teams, he got low academic scores while he was at UWGB.

Posted by TommyJack on May 7, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

PD: Swimming team? Never put a man-hug on a guy wearing a speed-o

Posted by hiresanders on May 7, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

BTW, only Tennessee and West Virginia had more than 1 men's team penalized by the NCAA with 3 each...yes, the T on the helmet still stands for Thugs.

Posted by marc_ash on May 7, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hiresanders, must you be so uncouth? You always make me laugh when you come on here...especially when I remember your claim that I'll never forget....let me see, what was it? Oh yea:

"Randy Sanders will be dancing at mid field after Kentucky spanks UT in Lexington."

I suppose if the T on the Vols helmet stands for thugs, I suppose the UK on the Cats helmet stands for sUcKs.

Posted by WD40plusVol on May 7, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Failing a class makes you a "thug"? I thought it made you a loser because you can't spell "Kat".

Posted by vols72 on May 7, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff and TommyJack ...you just said what everyone here alway though about you two... "man-hug"....what kind of a $##&%^ uses a word like that!

Posted by TommyJack on May 7, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

vols72: Really? Is that what you thought?

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 7, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

UWGB? That would be UW-Milwaukee. Try again.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 7, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Gillespie's previous 2 head coaching stops:

TAMU's 3 year APR = 912 (Gillespie was there in 04-05, 05-06, and 06-07)

UTEP's 3 year APR = 900 (Gillespie was there 02-03 and 03-04).

UW-M meanwhile had a 923 of for the 03-04, 04-05, 05-06 seasons which is what was released in this report.

Posted by QDog on May 7, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Fulmer by far is a better leader of young men than Perlvert could ever hope to be!!!

Posted by QDog on May 7, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Working UT Mens BB APR 911

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 7, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

QDawg, I know it's 911. I've already said that as has the article.

Pearl was there for a year and a half of that number (or 1 basketball season) which is from 03-04, 04-05, and 05-06. Next year is the first year that any of Pearl's players can really contribute to the APR. That player is Childress and he's graduating early this year.

Posted by QDog on May 7, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Still Pearl simply was not getting the job done, as you stated 923 @ UW-Mil with more to work with (Stu-Ath)

Posted by itsme53792 on May 7, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

After hearing the voltripe over the past few weeks, let's just take stock here, shall we? As you have been told, Memphis graduated 16 of the last 19 players that did NOT go pro. So the burden...was 3 academic non-performers...plus the noticeable early pro declarations; yet, Memphis passed the APR bar with room to spare. The uthugs, however, had already lost ONE scholarship to APR deficiency...and now are at risk of losing another one next year. Elite programs survive and prosper against high expectations and high-bar measures. Note that SEVEN of the 12 SEC bball programs failed to reach the 925 level. Now that's academic standards for you.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 7, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A 923 would have him 2 points shy of getting of the job done and about better than half of the SEC. I'll start judging Pearl by this number once his class of players start graduating and contributing fully to this number. Looks like that won't be until 2010 when the 3 year average will be from 05-06 (Pearl's first year and Childress has already graduated), 06-07, and 07-08.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 7, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We already took the APR penalty this year. It didn't seem to affect us much in the Fedex Forum though.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 7, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Looks like Pearl and Co. just signed Bobby Maze. He's not even going to bother with his trip to Kentucky.

Posted by T0MMYJACK on May 7, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

First it was "JerkinLikeHeck", and now it's "mc_rimjob". You guys are too observant and witty.

And itsme53792, is beating tiger high in their own hometown, like the Vols did, considered a "high-bar measure"?

Posted by General_Fritter on May 7, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Should have signed the old Kingsport to play. He is the smartest man alive although some say he's a fritter short of a dozen. I say he just got hungry.

Posted by AllLadyVol on May 7, 2008 at 8:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

After hearing some of our beloved Vols attempt to speak to the media, I'm not surprised.

People do tend to live up to the expectations placed upon them...or lack thereof. Case in point: Pat Summitt demands her players attend every class and sit in the first three rows.

Nicky Anosike graduated with a triple major and 4.0s galore. Not that she wouldn't have anyway, but in that environment I'd be afraid to take my eyes off the professor.

Posted by QDog on May 7, 2008 at 8:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Cograts on the new recruit, it will be a great game in Knox just like in Mphs I sure hope we can close out our 08 class with a bang by getting Devin Ebanks to commit he visits this wkend.

Posted by pdhuff on May 7, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Vols72, thanks for being so quick on the uptake with your...sixth post.

Welcome Kreskin.

Suggest you go and review Phil and Mikey locked up at the end of our romp over SC.

Great insight.

Posted by GerryOP on May 7, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff, keep the faith... all is well. At least until September 1st. Again, if we make it through September... Sorry Merle...

Looks like all of the nebbishes signed onto this board at the same time this evening... they're everywhere, they're everywhere.

Posted by pdhuff on May 7, 2008 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

True GerryOp, we must try to remember the one great rule, attack the message, not the messenger.

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too. Tks, Voltaire.

Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Username:

Password:
(Forgotten your password?)

Your Turn: