June 27, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern football program has once again been recognized for its work in the classroom as well as on the field. The Wildcats are one of 28 teams to be recognized for graduating 70 percent or more of their football players by the American Football Coaches Association.
The University of Notre Dame and Vanderbilt University will receive the 2001 AFCA's Academic Achievement Award, which is presented annually by the Touchdown Club of Memphis. Both schools recorded a 100-percent graduation rate for members of its football squad when all members of their freshman classes of 1995-96 earned a degree.
In addition to Northwestern -- which won the national award in 1998 -- 27 other institutions will be recognized for graduating 70 percent or more of their football players, including seven institutions that had a graduation rate of 90 percent or better. The other institutions receiving honorable mention are Akron, Ball State, Baylor, Buffalo, Duke, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, LSU, Marshall, Michigan, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State, Rice, South Carolina, SMU, Syracuse, Texas Tech, Tulane, Tulsa, Virginia, Wake Forest, Washington State, Western Michigan and Wyoming.
Vanderbilt's win is the second for the school, as the Commodores shared the award with Boston College and Duke in 1996. Vanderbilt has also achieved honorable mention status 12 times since the award's inception in 1981. Notre Dame won the award for the sixth time (1982, 1983, 1984-tie, 1988, 1991), putting the Irish second behind the 10 won by Duke University. Notre Dame has earned honorable mention status 14 times.
The overall graduation rate of the 95 institutions participating in the survey was 59 percent, as compared to 57 percent the previous year. Forty-seven of the members that responded were above the average and 48 were below the average. The median graduation rate was 59 percent, compared to 58 percent the last three years. The study involves the freshman class from the academic year of 1995-96, 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.
The 2001 AFCA Academic Achievement Award will be presented to Notre Dame and Vanderbilt at the AFCA Kickoff Luncheon during the Association's 2002 convention in San Antonio, Texas.