2008 Woodie Awards
Coach digs in on graduation rate
Aaron Kraut
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: Sports
A day after the men's basketball team received a zero on a graduation rate report issued by the NCAA, Athletics Department officials questioned whether the report itself is a fair measurement of the program.
In the annual NCAA Graduation Success Rate Report covering all scholarship athletes who entered the university from 1997 to 2000, the men's basketball team scored zero percent, as none of the ten players included in the report graduated within the NCAA-mandated six-year window. No other Division I men's basketball program scored below 17 percent.
Associate Athletics Director Anton Goff, who oversees the academic support and career development unit, said while the NCAA does not punish schools for a low GSR score, the score has a correlation to the Academic Progress Rate. Goff said a 60 percent mark on the GSR roughly equates to a passing score of 925 on the APR.Men's basketball coach Gary Williams said the GSR report unfairly judges the success or failure of the players upon whether or not they graduate within six years. According to an Athletics Department press release, two of the ten eventually graduated, including Tahj Holden, who completed his degree this past summer outside of the six-year window.
"To say that it is a zero graduation rate - that's not true," said Williams.
Williams said the players shouldn't just be measured by whether or not they graduate, as it doesn't serve as an accurate portrait of their post-Terp professional career.
"I feel that these players have succeeded," said Williams. "Their skill is basketball; you go to college to maximize whatever you're good at."
NCAA spokesman Bob Williams defended the report, saying student athletes should be focused on graduating as well as playing their sport.
"In terms of a position that says well, our students didn't have a chance to complete their academics because they were trying out for the NBA, one would have to ask themselves what is the purpose of going to college," Williams said. "The purpose of going to college is to get an education, and that's probably where the focus should be put."
In the annual NCAA Graduation Success Rate Report covering all scholarship athletes who entered the university from 1997 to 2000, the men's basketball team scored zero percent, as none of the ten players included in the report graduated within the NCAA-mandated six-year window. No other Division I men's basketball program scored below 17 percent.
Associate Athletics Director Anton Goff, who oversees the academic support and career development unit, said while the NCAA does not punish schools for a low GSR score, the score has a correlation to the Academic Progress Rate. Goff said a 60 percent mark on the GSR roughly equates to a passing score of 925 on the APR.Men's basketball coach Gary Williams said the GSR report unfairly judges the success or failure of the players upon whether or not they graduate within six years. According to an Athletics Department press release, two of the ten eventually graduated, including Tahj Holden, who completed his degree this past summer outside of the six-year window.
"To say that it is a zero graduation rate - that's not true," said Williams.
Williams said the players shouldn't just be measured by whether or not they graduate, as it doesn't serve as an accurate portrait of their post-Terp professional career.
"I feel that these players have succeeded," said Williams. "Their skill is basketball; you go to college to maximize whatever you're good at."
NCAA spokesman Bob Williams defended the report, saying student athletes should be focused on graduating as well as playing their sport.
"In terms of a position that says well, our students didn't have a chance to complete their academics because they were trying out for the NBA, one would have to ask themselves what is the purpose of going to college," Williams said. "The purpose of going to college is to get an education, and that's probably where the focus should be put."
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Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 9
Steve
posted 10/05/07 @ 8:57 AM EST
Coach Williams: I hope you realize how much of an idiot you made yourself look like with your quote in this article. Unless they are TRULY destined to play professional sports for a living (which accounts for less than 1% of student athletes), the main purpose for going to college is to GET A FUCKING EDUCATION. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 10/05/07 @ 11:22 AM EST
Can anyone argue that Juan Dixon is not a success in life because he's been too busy with the NBA to get his degree? Coach Williams is exactly right; college prepares you for life, and those of us that are alums know that our success is more attributable to what we learned and experienced in college than the fact we obtained the prescribed number of credits to get a diploma. (Continued…)
BG
posted 10/05/07 @ 11:23 AM EST
I agree 100% with you Steve, Gary really needs to start thinking before he gives out statements like that. Atleast try to make is sound like you're somewhat interested in having your players graduate with a real degree. (Continued…)
Chaz
posted 10/05/07 @ 11:37 AM EST
Gary Williams is overrated as a coach and as a person. He obviously does not care about his players. Say what you want about coaches like Booby Knight, but at least his players graduate. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 10/05/07 @ 5:10 PM EST
Who else thought the zero was a typo at first glance? This is completely embarrassing and Gary's response just made it worse: pretty much defending the score. (Continued…)
Rob
posted 10/06/07 @ 6:43 PM EST
So I guess all those complaining about this report and Gary Williams will be satisfied with the basketball program if they graduate 100% and never make the NCAA tournament?
Or if the University of Maryland creates phony degree programs like some college football programs do with the "Sports management" degree. (Continued…)
Laughing Man
posted 10/06/07 @ 10:37 PM EST
While I disagreed with most of his points in the article. He does have a point however of Maryland requiring the last 12 credits having to be taken on campus. (Continued…)
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