UT's football graduation rate tied for last in SEC

Tennessee's men ranked low among SEC colleagues in NCAA Graduation Success Rate data released Wednesday for the major sports.

Football's GSR of 52 percent tied with Auburn for last in a survey of student-athletes entering school between 1999-2002.

Basketball's 30 percent ranked 10th, ahead of LSU and Georgia.

Baseball's 56 percent ranked ninth, ahead of Arkansas, Auburn and College World Series champion LSU.

The Lady Vols were joined by Vanderbilt and Florida at 100 percent GSR for basketball.

The NCAA, at the urging of its member schools, developed the GSR to account for athletes who transfer and others not tracked by the federal government statistics. Schools felt they were unfairly penalized by the federal system for students who transferred in good academic standing.

Florida's national champion football team had a GSR of 69 percent, tying for second in the SEC with Ole Miss behind Vanderbilt's 91.

Vanderbilt and Alabama tied in men's basketball at 85.

The Vols led the conference in men's cross country/track at 87.

UT men finished last in golf (57) and tennis (75) and tied for fifth (83) among the eight swimming teams.

Tennessee's women paced the SEC in cross country/track (96) and tied for first with 100 percent rates in soccer, tennis and volleyball.

The overall national GSR for the study period is 72 percent for men and 88 for women.

By sport, the national rate is 67 percent for football (Bowl Subdivsion), 64 for men's basketball, 69 for baseball and 83 for women's basketball.

NCAA men's basketball champion North Carolina's rate was 75 percent.

Connecticut's NCAA champion women's basketball team hit 100.

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Comments » 25

PdxVol writes:

Need to step it up, make us proud guys! Way to go cross country and Lady Vols!

AFVol423 writes:

That's a bit scary. I'd like to see a break down of how many just didn't graduate vs left for other schools or as mentioned above were jailed to bring things to a screaching halt.

VolFanFtl writes:

Yet further proof why, in fact, a head coaching change was made at UT.

Waldorf writes:

Remind me who the head coach was then?

Really, after 98, what did Foolmore spend all his time doing? If you are going to be a non-factor in the sport's top-tier, at least graduate your players!

MidTennVol writes:

This is embarrassing.

lomas98 writes:

in response to Waldorf:

Remind me who the head coach was then?

Really, after 98, what did Foolmore spend all his time doing? If you are going to be a non-factor in the sport's top-tier, at least graduate your players!

Let me get this straight. If a player gets arrested for making a dumb decision or fails a class or doesn't graduate, it is the coaches fault too? If a team loses a game, it is the coaches fault. If a player decides to go to another school during recruiting, it is the coaches fault and he is bad recruiter. If a team wins a game or division title or makes an SECCG, the coach doesn't get a lot of credit. If a team does not win the championship game, it goes back on the coach. Why not blame the professors or academic department if you are going to blame someone? Quit blaming Fulmer or any other head coach for all of the problems. It is the individuals themselves who are to blame if they don't graduate or make a stupid decision. The coaches get all the blame and not enough of the credit when something good does happen.

utvol2485 writes:

These numbers are pathetic, but there's a lot of information missing from this article. Would it be too much to ask from the KNS to expand on this subject a little?

chargervol writes:

in response to hiresanders:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Everybody laughs at everything you post. Nothing new, but, you don't get it. How embarrassing. GO VOLS!!!!

armyvol544 writes:

That rate will go down a bit because of all the guys that left the program and got kicked off when Kiffin came in.

letshave1more writes:

in response to hiresanders:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Was it your wife or mom driving the getaway car? KMA

fball writes:

those guys were at the gas station to survey where their next job will be and thought, what the heck let's pick up some quick cash. Go to UT and you end up pumping gas for a living.

OMEN1618 writes:

Look I understand that alot of times these Student athletes have sub-standard academic disipline, however as a Colts fan I can say their is something to be said for Intelligence on the football field. Year after year the colts draft not the most talented athletes but those with a good mix of talent and athleticism, and year after year the results speak for themselves. Just a thought.

ctexorange writes:

Yeah fulmer's got to go this year 4 arrests in 11 months. This show a terrible lack of discipline!! LOL.

GerryOP writes:

Some more left over stuff Kiffin needs to work on.

CoverOrange writes:

Only answer to this is: So.

If athletes don't want the free piece of paper that makes more room in the job market for those that paid for and got them.

Horse -> water.

VolFanFtl writes:

in response to MidTennVol:

This is embarrassing.

Denmark - while I agree with you that this is embarrassing, it is not for the reason you may think.
These statistics are 7 years old. Again this story is 7 years old.
I guess the KNS can't find anything other story to cover that is a little more up to date. What is the point of this story?

ETSU_Vol writes:

why do we care what happened 7...SEVEN!!! years ago!?! one full college group has already graduated since then, and all but the seniors for the next. those were totally different people and have nothing to do with the people now. new people, new coaches, new story, then end.

seventysevenvol writes:

To quote Gomer Pyle: "surprise, surprise, surprise..."

The_Greater_Pumpkin writes:

REMEMBER.....transfers and guys who quit count against us. THis year alone we lost 21 guys! Bruce had to let some guys go too. That counts against us.

shopsports#273141 writes:

DITTO
why do we care what happened 7...SEVEN!!! years ago!?! one full college group has already graduated since then, and all but the seniors for the next. those were totally different people and have nothing to do with the people now. new people, new coaches, new story, then end.
Why the hell do we care about this since Pearl or Kiffin?? Bull KNS.

FlyFishingVol writes:

Mens football and basketball results are just PITIFUL. We have new coaches and AD since the ratings period. And must hold these new UT leaders accountable for vastly improving these scores. Compensation should be tied to their performance here AND on game results.

FlyFishingVol writes:

in response to The_Greater_Pumpkin:

REMEMBER.....transfers and guys who quit count against us. THis year alone we lost 21 guys! Bruce had to let some guys go too. That counts against us.

But by comparison, other schools have the same issue. Looks like we are less likely to take character into account when recruiting.

BigOrangeInCarolina writes:

This information is neither complete nor relevant. Even if you count the students who came in 2002, it's still outdated by 3 years. Give us the numbers for 2003-2005 and compare it to this chart and, while you're at it, include early departures for draftees and transfers to other schools. Waste of space...

dwolfcreek#397971 writes:

in response to Witch_Doctor:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Fulmer ,thats right ,and he wants back in coaching .

eefor10c writes:

For those who blame Fulmer for everything I guess you blame him for the three FRESHMEN arrested and charged with armed robbery and the freshman SHOPLIFTER! According to the UT football media guide the Vols signed 19 players. Thus, if you want to be fair and judge the quality of Kiffin's recruits you can judge them on the fact that 21% of his recruiting class has been in trouble and they haven't even completed ONE SEMESTER at UT. We also know that Jackson was suspended for a game so that is two incidents for him. Maybe others we don't know about?

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