Clemson Football Program Lauded for APR Score Third Straight Year

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson football and golf programs were both honored Wednesday when the NCAA released its Academic Performance Public Recognition Awards.   Both Clemson programs rank among the top 10 percent of all programs nationally in terms of  APR scores (Academic Progress Rate) for their respective sport.

It is the third time both programs have been ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation.  It is the third consecutive year for Dabo Swinney‘s football team, and the second consecutive year for Larry Penley‘s golf team.

“Both Coach Swinney and Coach Penley create the proper balance between competitive excellence and academic success,” said Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich.  “I am proud that these programs are leading the way for our Clemson.”

Thirteen FBS football programs were honored by the NCAA on Wednesday.  The list included ACC schools Clemson, Boston College, Duke and Georgia Tech.  (Radakovich was the Director of Athletics at Georgia Tech before coming to Clemson this past winter.)

The ACC was the only conference with four schools on the list.  The other institutions honored for football APR scores were Boise State, Northwestern, Rice, Rutgers, Stanford, Ohio State, Alabama, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Clemson, Alabama and Stanford were the only schools in the nation in the top 10 of the final USA Today poll and in the top 10 percentage of the APR scores.

Clemson joins Boise State, Duke, Northwestern, Rice, Rutgers and Ohio State as the only schools to rank in the top 10 percent of the APR for college football each of the last three years.

Swinney joins Chris Petersen (Boise State), David Cutcliffe (Duke), Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern) and David Bailiff (Rice) as the only coaches to have a top 10 percent APR score each of the last three years.

“One of the things we talk about with our players is developing to the best of their abilities in every area, “Swinney.  “We have had consistency when it comes to graduation rate and academic progress.  It reflects on the team’s overall commitment to being the best.

“I want to thank the staff at Vickery Hall for their work with our student-athletes.  Their level of dedication is reflected in us being one of the few schools to rank in the top 10 percent each of the last three years.”

Larry Penley‘s golf team has now been among the top 10 percent in the APR nationally for consecutive years.  It was also accomplished in 2004-05, giving Penley three top 10 percent seasons since the system was adopted just 10 years ago.  On the course, the Clemson team made its 32^nd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance this year, the second longest streak in college golf.

Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR).  This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports.

The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship.  The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team’s academic performance.

Multiyear APRs for all Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition, will be announced June 11.