Football APR: A Conference Comparison

Submitted by Geaux_Blue on

 

(Yes, this is bad)

 

Saving you all the legwork of checking the aptly titled APR of 928 message board post, these graphics demonstrate the disappointing numbers that, yes, have existed before a guy from West Virginia showed up. While nearly every school in the Big Ten has seen a steady increase of APR (or at least plateaud as is the case of Iowa), Michigan has faced a freefall from numbers that really weren't all that great to begin with. For example, Michigan's highest APR (958 in 05-06) would be 1 point greater than PSU's worst season.

The obvious goat of the Big Ten is Minnesota, with the only penalties of any team in the Big Ten in 2007-2008 (3 scholarships). Northwestern's numbers are mind blowing and also shoot to hell any developed belief that "perhaps the APR is bad because the academics at Michigan are a bit better."

Numbers can be improved upon, obviously. Purdue is an excellent case as seen above: despite ridiculous numbers the first four years, their numbers have increased and taken them out of Kenny Loggins territory. If they continue to post poor numbers, Michigan will find themselves without health insurance because they live in the Danger Zone. 

In short, Captain Obvious held a press conference to notify the public that this needs to improve. OSU has had top caliber talent for the entirety of this stretch and still managed to average over 950. A high amount of attention will have to be paid on player eligibility and STOPPING THE DAMN TRANSFERS. BUILD A WALL. SNIPER ON THE UNION ROOF. WHATEVER.

Comments

Deep Under Cover

May 24th, 2011 at 3:04 PM ^

"OSU has had top caliber talent for the entirety of this stretch and still managed to average over 950"

I think an asterisk would be appropriate here. Who knows what kind of shenanigans gave them those numbers.

superstringer

May 24th, 2011 at 3:09 PM ^

First, there is no prize for winning the APR.  Northwestern doesn't get a trophy, they certainly don't get more wins or points on the field, there is no diff from being 926 or 999.

Second, I don't trust this bunk anyway.  If Kentucky basketball -- which annually replaces its entire starting lineup -- can maintain a super-high score, then, this entire process is fickle and worthless.  If you know how to game it, then game it.

D.C. Dave

May 24th, 2011 at 3:43 PM ^

A houseplant could pass at Ohio State, if you could get it to go to class. And you could, if you'd give it a good deal on a car.

A degree from Columbus is virtually worthless they're so easy to get. I meet more impressive graduates from Michigan State than I do from Ohio State, and that's saying something because MSU was the bottom-of-the-list safety school for everyone i knew if they could not get into any college they wanted to attend.

Other than this proving what we already knew -- that RichRod's approach was not to worry too much about who stayed, who went to class and who left -- the only thing Hoke needs to do is keep the numbers high enough to placate the NCAA, which just wants to appear interested in athletes being students. Otherwise, who cares.

The SEC schools have responded by building huge "academic centers" for athletes to go to so they can meet with the "tutors" who "help" write their papers. If you want a real eye-opener, check out some of the geniuses stopping in at the academic center at LSU -- which is probably the worst flagship state university in the United States (it is annually ranked 'third tier' by U.S. News). Many of LSU's players can barely speak, but they somehow are able to write surprisingly well after a visit to the center. Those tutors must be really good.

In the real world, the only Big Ten graduates competing with Michigan grads are those from Northwestern and, to a slightly lesser degree, Wisconsin. Ask anyone who does hiring -- those are the three they pay attention to.

The rest are just schools you go to if you can't go to a prestigious school.

 

D.C. Dave

May 27th, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^

It's not having an academic center, it's the level of corruption inside the academic center.

The SEC schools do not hold the view that it's important that football players learn. They hold the view that they must keep them eligible and nothing else matters. And the level of work at a typical SEC institution is more like high school than college.

There's no comparison between those schools and Big Ten institutions.

Sweet Life

May 26th, 2011 at 9:42 AM ^

This is just so much BS.  Michigan is  great school, but that doesn't mean that all the other B10 schools suck.  Lots of very smart kids go to schools like Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Penn State, etc. because they provide an excellent education at in-state prices.  Many of them also have individual programs that are higher ranked than those at Michigan.  To say that anyone who goes to one of those other schools just couldn't get into a more prestigious school is ridiculous. 

TrppWlbrnID

May 24th, 2011 at 4:55 PM ^

do you mean Footloose? or Holiday Road? or the House at Pooh Corner?

Mr Loggins is a great american song writer and his ouevre extends far past tom cruise vehicles. i suggest you spend some time with the rest of the cheapskates at your public library and listen to all of his work - you're life will be the better for it.

/s?

Waters Demos

May 26th, 2011 at 8:50 PM ^

where I can applaud you without diluting your message.

Your comment in the "spartanfreude" thread fuckin' dominates. 

Not just because I happen to hold the same opinion, either.  I wouldn't give a shit if that was the extent of it. 

It's funny because I used to regard you as a bitter individual based on your posts.  But I've come to respect you (you have since struck me as lamenting low-minded bullshit, and preoccupied with preserving intelligent debate, and you probably get downvoted, etc... as some sort of "elitist" for that), and your aforementioned comment only serves to reinforce my respect. 

Of course, that's all worthless coming from me.  But - there - you have it.