A not-so-dirty secret about UGA football: It’s making the grade
"Yeah, baby! We aced that midterm!" (AP photo)
An oft-cited number regarding the Georgia Bulldogs: Seven losses (against six wins) in 2010. Another: Eleven players arrested in that same calendar year.
But here’s another number, a happier number: The Georgia football team had an Academic Progress Rate for the school year 2009-2010 of 976, which tied Florida for second-best in the SEC behind Vanderbilt, which is so committed to academics it no longer has an athletic department.
The Georgia football program, criticized in this and other spaces for not having its priorities in order, is clearly doing something right. This latest APR snapshot wasn’t a one-off, either: In 2007-2008, Georgia football ranked first in the SEC — yes, ahead of Vandy.
I know how it is. We sophisticates on the periphery wink when a college player is called a “student-athlete,” but what we sophisticates forget is this: Even if a college player’s only career ambition is to become a professional athlete, he still has to attend classes and pass enough of them to remain eligible.
I know, I know. You’re winking again. But hear me out.
Going to class isn’t always fun, and the temptation to skip a week’s worth is mighty. (Trust me on this.) If you’re an ordinary student, you might get away with that. If you’re a student-athlete, you can’t. You’ll have academic advisers and assistant coaches and even the head ball coach on you, and they won’t be whispering, “Please make a better effort to get out of bed.” They’ll have you up at 5 a.m. running the stadium steps.
A few of us sophisticated media types were waiting around after a Georgia Tech practice a couple of years ago, and all of a sudden the reigning ACC offensive player of the year came tearing past in full gear. Where was Jonathan Dwyer going in such a rush? He had an evening lab. It was a fleeting thing — Dwyer was running fast — but it resonated.
Some people complain that players who leave early for the pros show no loyalty to their school. Here’s the thing, though: Once you’re a pro, you don’t have to worry about evening labs, or about getting docked four games if you sell your jersey. You’re no longer a student-athlete; you’re a pro with a paying job. You’re free of the NCAA and its arcane restrictions. You’re free to go make big money, same as your head coach.
A college athlete is a big man on campus, but he’s still on campus. He gets a scholarship, yes, but he doesn’t get rich. (Here we pause for your Cecil Newton jokes.) Having been an ordinary college student, albeit in another century, I can attest that student-athletes work 10 times harder than I ever did. They have little time to themselves. (Insert Georgia arrest joke here.)
Go ahead. Make all the jokes you want. But somewhere amid the hilarity, spare a serious thought for the Georgia football program. Those players have been held up to the highest level of scrutiny — again, I’m guilty as charged — but academically they’re doing just fine. They’re ahead of the SEC curve. They’re ahead of Georgia Tech, which had an APR of 966. They have the second-highest APR among the nine Georgia men’s sports programs. (Only golf ranks ahead of football.)
We mention the APR today because, to be frank, it’s a number people forget when the games commence. In college athletics, the tail too often wags the proverbial dog. UConn just won the men’s basketball title, but it did so with a coach who will be suspended three games next season for NCAA violations and with a program that had an APR so low (826) that it cost the Huskies two scholarships. Does such a championship really qualify as “One Shining Moment”?
Consider this our chance to watch a proud dog wag its tail. Georgia football might have disappointed us in other ways, but it has held up its end on a fundamental level. Its guys are making their grades. That’s no joke.
By Mark Bradley
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279 comments Add your comment
showmedog
May 25th, 2011
6:09 pm
How do you lose SEVEN games at UGA in one season? It can’t be the coaching! With Mark Richt, a really good person, something else must be wrong. The players are really smart. Maybe it is the coaching.
lake hartwell realtor
May 25th, 2011
6:19 pm
I love how all the dawgies love this… wait 90% of yall did not even go to ugag! hahah biggest redneck bandwagon fanbase in the south… well 2nd biggest but hey at least bama wins!
Just Me
May 25th, 2011
6:23 pm
Chuck
That list is great. There are so many WORTHLESS degrees it isn’t even funny. America waste education so damn much. The people that are needed to GROW America don’t study the maths and sciences. Students choose to take easier classes so they can get what is really important. UGA the #1 PARTY School reputation. That is what means so much more than working hard in difficult classes. UGA, the town with more bars than the people of legal age can support. You do the MATH and tell me UNDERAGE DRINKING maybe the answer. Thank GOD Leeburn keeps all the Liquor flowing in Athens.
Return to Glory
May 25th, 2011
6:43 pm
No wonder we got our but kicked last year ..lol
The Original WDE
May 25th, 2011
6:44 pm
The GT envy is staggering in these comments.
Let me say that when I was interviewing for big-time ATL finance jobs, it was us and Emory kids at the final rounds.
BG
May 25th, 2011
6:47 pm
Wow, I’m in shock that the AJC did a positive article on the University Of Georgia football team. I’m impressed Mr. Bradley.
KJ
May 25th, 2011
6:52 pm
“when I was interviewing for big-time ATL finance jobs”
Sorry, but assistant manager at the Money Store doesn’t count as “big-time”.
dawg4u
May 25th, 2011
7:04 pm
I have to take issue with you Mark on one fact. Vandy does so have an athletic department. It is in an off campus house basement. Just to set the record straight.
Indian Dawg
May 25th, 2011
7:19 pm
The College of Education at the University of Georgia is consistently ranked within the Top 25 in the nation, and is 3rd among public schools in the South. In addition, half of the specialty programs within the College are ranked in the Top 5 in the nation. Do some research before you decide to bash a school that actually produces something worthwhile in this society. The reason for the lack of education in the high schools of this state isn’t the teachers. It’s the students, and the sorry excuses of parents that don’t hold them accountable.
Feel free to keep hating though, Techies, Bammers, and Reptilian Scum.
Dennis Berdanis
May 25th, 2011
7:30 pm
Well done Bradley. See you can write positive articles about the local teams and not come off as a homer. Well done.
Delbert D.
May 25th, 2011
7:38 pm
Clemson posted the top football APR among public institutions in the ACC with 977. Florida and Georgia tied at 976 among public institutions in the SEC. LSU was next at 966. Georgia Tech was 2nd among public institutions in the ACC, also at 966.
KSUAlum
May 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
Let’s hope our new basketball coach at Kennesaw can do the same with our “student athletes.” We’ve already lost some 3 or 4 scholarships because of our pi$$-poor APR under Tony Ingle.
protectivefixat
May 25th, 2011
7:43 pm
I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, http://BidsWork.com
Delbert D.
May 25th, 2011
7:46 pm
Were those items formerly owned by Cam Newton?
Just Me
May 25th, 2011
8:00 pm
Indian Dawg where did you get your Rankings?
US News Rankings in a few fields:
All colleges I just picked those in the south to counter #3 in the South Ranking.
9 Duke, 17 Vandy, 20 Emory, 25 UVa, 25 Wake, 30 UNC, 31 William & mary, 35 Tech, 47 Miami, 51 Tulane, 53 Florida, 56 UGA
South Public Colleges
2 UVa, 5 UNC, 6 William & Mary, 7 Tech, 17 Florida, 18 UGA & Maryland.
South Business Schools
5 UVa, 7 UNC
Insurance
2 UGA
Accounting
10 UNC
Entrepreneurship
10 UNC
Finance
7 UVa, 8 UNC
Marketing
5 UNC, 8 UVa
Supply Chain Management
8 Maryland, 9 Tennessee
International
#1 South Carolina
Management
3UNC, 6 UVa, 10 Maryland
Management Information Systems
6 Maryland, 7 Ga State, 10 Tech
Indian Dawg I see a lot of schools in the south but not UGA and mostly ACC schools not SEC schools. Being #1 is the SEC is looking like being the Smartest kid on the Short Bus.
George
May 25th, 2011
8:09 pm
If UGA’s football coaches were as good as UGA’s tutors, you wouldn’t go 6 & 7.
Hats off to the tutors, no credit to Mark Richt.
housing majors?
May 25th, 2011
8:19 pm
so many UGA football players in the housing major. must be all of the employment opportunities in the housing market I guess?
I'm just saying
May 25th, 2011
8:29 pm
I forget…how much is a three point basket worth? How many ugump football players were special admittance SAs? ugump players making the grades….BFD. Your school is still second tier…live with it.
claytondawg
May 25th, 2011
8:31 pm
Indian Dawg may not have gotten his rankings totally correct; however, he DID get the following correct: “The reason for the lack of education in the high schools {elementary and middle) of this state isn’t the teachers. It’s the students, and the sorry excuses of parents that don’t hold them accountable.” Being a high-school teacher for 34 years, I have seen what is really happening to the classroom…pompous, arrogant, bratty kids whose parents think they (students AND parents alike) are entitled to an education. No one is “entitled.” You should have the responsibility to EARN IT.
Dirty Dawg
May 25th, 2011
9:03 pm
Thanks Mark, that was a nice piece. By the way, in response to ’showmedog’s’ question about how you lose seven games in a season…one play per game that went against us – most of ‘em, not all but most, the luck of the bounce – turn those plays around and we’re undefeated and winning the National Championship. Point is, as bad as we all felt about last season, we were a ‘nat’s s$$’ away from winning ‘em all…that’s why I’m more optimistic about the coming season than a 5-7 record would dictate.
Pepper Rodgers
May 25th, 2011
9:20 pm
These Tech people just never cease to amaze me. Take a look at Reggie Ball et al and listen to them speak a bit (can’t speak the King’s English) and you’ll quickly realize that they’re not any different from the kids that play at all ACC and SEC schools. The thought that Tech’s brothers are, generally speaking, actually somehow more intellectually able and gifted than kids at these other schools is truly comical. Keep drinking the Kool Aid.
SAL
May 25th, 2011
9:24 pm
Does this include the Ebonics classes??
Mark S.
May 25th, 2011
9:50 pm
Thanks for being professional enough to point out that unlike Tech we don’t just talk academics, we back it up with Data.
gt4ever
May 25th, 2011
9:56 pm
I can’t even believe this article…… L C Dawg, are you that big of a MORON! UGA football players skate through easy crap and they still don’t graduate more than 50 percent of all their football players… I really wish we would just let the academics part DIE….. There are exceptions to the rule, but for the most part UGA and GT football players are there to play football, PERIOD…. An article like this just makes me PUKE. The HYPOCRISY of this subject is too much to swallow…. Big time football is just BIG time football…..
Double Dawg
May 25th, 2011
10:21 pm
Trouble “404,” “Just Me,” etc.: I went to UGA undergraduate and law school. There is on GT alum where I work. He’s the guy we call when a printer won’t print or something like that. He makes 25% of what my fellow UGA grads make. When I asked him for a memo on our firm’s technology needs, what I got displayed writing ability that would have concerned me if my son (rising 8th grader) had written it. Once you leave your dismal island on North Avenue, you’ll see that your inability to attract the affections of a woman isn’t your only shortcoming.
DEAR DOUBLE DAWG
May 25th, 2011
10:25 pm
next time you see space shuttle coverage, think of the numerous GT grads who put that baby into space, and pilot and staff the damn thing. Congrats on your own success, i’m sure chasing ambulances is a fulfilling career.
BobDawg
May 25th, 2011
10:50 pm
UGA has become the “Chapel Hill” of the SEC… Kudos Dawgs!!!!
I'm just saying
May 25th, 2011
10:56 pm
Double Dawg…..well hell yes you make a she-it load more money than the GT grad…I hear that defending law breaking football players is quite lucrative? With ugump’s football players propensity towards lawlessness I am guessing that it wont be long before you can retire…I hear saint Richt has a place for sale…hell a busy lawyer such as yourself can buy that with the wad in your pocket…Good luck defending the Fulmer cup this year dawgs…DD needs the business.
Alabama Jack
May 25th, 2011
11:12 pm
You can teach a new dawg old tricks – just can’t teach them to win – the least of the east.
Just Me
May 25th, 2011
11:20 pm
Players by Degree:……Football…Basketball….Golf….Baseball
Computer Sci. 1….0….0…0
Pre-Business MKT 1…1…5…0
Pre-Business MGT 12…0…0…14
Pre-Business FIN 1…0…0…0
International Affairs 1…0…0…0
Anthropology 1…0…0…0
Consumer Econ 2…0…0…0
Exercise & Sports Sci 4…0…0…2
Telecommunication Arts 1…0…0
Economics 1…0…0…2
Arts & Sciences 9…0…1
Speech Communications 3…1…0…3
Education 8…0…0…0
Management 2…0..2…0
Finance 3…1…1…1
Risk MGT & Insurance 1…0…0…0
Biomedical Eng 1…0…0…1
Agricultural Eng 1…0…0…0
Housing 6…2…1…0
Biology 5…0…0…1
Sports MGT 8…2…0…7
History 1…0…0…0
Health & PE 2…1…0…0
Pre-Journalism 1…0…0…0
Social Studies Education 1…0…0…0
Sociology 1…0…0…0
Psychology 1…0…0…0
Math Education 1…0…0…0
Forestry & Natural Resources 1…0…0…0
Criminal Justice 1…0…0…0
Political Science 0…0…0…1
Environmental Engineering 0…0…0…1
Environmental Health 0…0…0…1
Accounting 0…0…0…1
Pre-Med 0…0…0…1
Indian Dawg
May 25th, 2011
11:31 pm
Just Me, I got my stats here:
http://www.uga.edu/news/artman/publish/printer_090422USNWR_grad_schools.shtml
If you look at the bottom of the page, I believe UGA got they’re rankings from usnews.com
I don’t think an institution would post such a thing if it wasn’t true, as it’s easy to call out and make a scene out of. I just realized this was based on 2009, however I don’t think academic rankings would change as much as BCS rankings within a 1.5 year span. lol.
Claytondawg, having graduated from Douglas County High School 3 years ago, and being the only one from my class to go to UGA or any respectable college, I whole-heartedly agree with you. It’s not just the bratty, spoiled, meth-using rich kids from down the block, its the ridiculous, pant-sagging, thug wannabees as well. In my house, any grade less than an A meant a verbal beat down and double chores. Entitlement was never an issue for me, but it’s so sad to see kids literally throwing their futures away. 34 years? I don’t know how you do it, sir.
Indian Dawg
May 25th, 2011
11:44 pm
Just Me, I got my rankings from here:
http://www.uga.edu/news/artman/publish/printer_090422USNWR_grad_schools.shtml
I just realized this was based on data from 2009, however I doubt academic rankings change as fluidly as BCS rankings.lol
Claytondawg, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I graduated from Douglas County 4 years ago, and I thought it was extremely sad that I and about 2 other kids were the only ones who went to a respectable institution afterwards. In my house, anything less than an A meant a verbal beat down and double chores. Polar opposite from the meth-using rich kids from down the block and the gang-sign-throwing thug wannabees. It all starts at the home. 34 years? I don’t know how you do it, sir.
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May 26th, 2011
12:01 am
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Concerned!
May 26th, 2011
12:25 am
Come on Mark Bradley what have you been smoking. Most UGA football players are taking the major HOUSING. Compare that to what many are taking for majors at Vandy.
Come again on making a defense for PLAYERS who are joking the system.
HOUSING has replaced the majors from the past like Physical Ed. and Recreation. We are a little bit better as now the type is cleaner and less glaring. So we get a high rating which is really not indicative of true students. I am not impressed, as possible you want to be able to go to Athens without looking over your shoulder.
Just Me
May 26th, 2011
12:32 am
I have noticed in the NCAA commercial that none of the Student Athletes shown are ” Going Pro” in P.E. or Turf Management. I guess no UGA football players are in that Advertising Campaign.
2smartjones
May 26th, 2011
1:17 am
Bradley – More importantly is the “Grandma Bandit” in touch with UGA’s Development staff and giving back (in Robinhood style) to these fine Georgia student athletes?
Whether she is or not, she represents your state well on film with every heist in that UGA hat!
Buzz 2010
May 26th, 2011
2:00 am
Dawgs are loaded and in it for a solid five win campaign this fall..Hey man, it’s a dream team
and they believe they can.. So hunker it down!!
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 26th, 2011
4:02 am
Good article Mr. Bradley. And for all of you high horse people that will still cut down these kids and the studies they chose, I say get a life people. They are taking advantage of what God gave them, and still trying to uphold, what to them is a rigorous schedule. They are providing entertainment to you negative posters and all you have to do, is try and downgrade them. Envy is a terrible thing, when it controls your life.
Sissy Dawg
May 26th, 2011
6:36 am
A great academic institution like Georgia can be proud. I understand that Elmer Fudd should get most of the credit. Since he became Academic Dean, the player have really responded well. Overall they have now moved into the top twelve in academics in the SEC.
bill
May 26th, 2011
7:56 am
i am a Georgia hater but this and the Richt sale for charity’s sake should be recognized for their good news. It is not bad to give credit where it is due. I am sure given time the players will be in the news again for bad behavior. Mark Richt appears to be genuinely good man. I hope he goes 0-11 this season but its not personal.
Moof,Moof---TheHairLipDog
May 26th, 2011
8:04 am
But the question still needs to be answered. Are they smarter than a 5th grader?
GT
May 26th, 2011
8:18 am
Georgia can’t control police locking their guys up,or losing football games, there is a third independent party all about the truth. What they can control is players grades. Not unlike the other public owned educational facility, the Atlanta Public School system. This is like an ugly woman winning a beauty contest. You can’t help be suspicious unless you are the AJC. One day you are brain dead the next you are above Vanderbilt. Lets have a public forum. Lets bring the Vandy starting 22 players and let them have some academic contest with Georgia’s 22. I got a feeling the Athens police and the Georgia State Patrol would like to ask some of these guys a few questions too. You don’t find a lot of “real” student with rap sheets.
JDM
May 26th, 2011
8:26 am
Congratulations to Georgia. If you know the US News and World Report national university reputation ratings then this is no surprise. Their ratings are: (1) Vanderbilt (2) Florida and (3) Georgia. The rest of the SEC is in the hinterlands somewhere. Mark Richt is a great coach and Georgia would be crazy to ever consider letting him go.
BG
May 26th, 2011
8:40 am
Just me are you alone in the basement?? GT sucks at everything!!!
ga gator
May 26th, 2011
8:46 am
BobDawg
May 25th, 2011
10:50 pm
UGA has become the “Chapel Hill” of the SEC… Kudos Dawgs!!!!
Don’t jump to those conclusions Bob before you check out your facts. UGA is certainly a very fine institution but there are only 2 schools in the SEC who are members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (Vandy and UF). UGA has not received a membership invite and GT has only recently received one. I would also rate Virginia, Wake Forest and Duke ahead of UNC in that category.
Tech Calculus
May 26th, 2011
9:02 am
Can you count to 4 Mr. Ball?
1, 2, 3, 3, 4
Very good Mr Ball, you get an A.
Always makes me laugh to hear GT fans bashing UGA when their QB could not even count to 4.
athdog
May 26th, 2011
9:03 am
Yep, that construction degree, or the nice ‘technology and culture’ degree at Yech sounds pretty tough. It’d probably take some of the guys at north avenue four years to learn how to drive a nail. Face it, Yechsters, you’re a nice engineering school, if you want to be a doctor, veterinarian, pharmacist, geneticist, chemist, US Senator or Governor of the state, you’re going to need to come to Athens
Just Me
May 26th, 2011
9:18 am
athdog
UGA doesn’t have a medical school yet. Doctor = Emory or MCG. A vet? You can’t keep Ugas alive try Auburn. Pharmacists or Chemists? Yes, that is what ALL UGA student practice to be on the weekends. How do you think UGA gets to be the #1 Party School? Geneticist? Practicing spreading your Genes on Passed out chicks in the Dorms ain’t a Genetics Degree. Senator or Governor? Yes, all the practice at drinking, lying, cheating, and sex out of wedlock is helping UGA produce so many of our great politicians.
GT93
May 26th, 2011
9:35 am
Congrats to the UGA Football players … well done.
Whisky Breath
May 26th, 2011
9:36 am
Sounds like to me Mark you are trying to find something positive to say about the dogs. Hey, do you include that long list of kids in the last year that got ran out of school? How about the ones that committed crimes? Schlulz taught you this move, didn’t he? You are better than this Mark.
You don’t have to tell the fans what they want to hear.