Athletes at Michigan play school, and do it well

Submitted by The Mad Hatter on

The past four years have produced the best academic stretch for Michigan athletics since the NCAA began tracking the data 10 years ago.

A record 10 U-M teams received Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) Public Recognition Awards from the National Collegiate Athletic Association on Wednesday, the NCAA announced. The total is the highest for Michigan teams since the APR came into existence in 2004-05, and surpassed last year's total of six.

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/05/10_michigan_teams_earn_academi.html

schreibee

May 20th, 2015 at 12:54 PM ^

I just showed this to a Buckeye co-worker. He just laughed and pulled out his phone to show me his home screen - a shot of Cardale holding up the NC trophy...

Somewhere Nevin Shapiro is STILL trying to get the NCAA to look at all his incriminating evidence... it's not really a very level playing field, is it?

74polSKA

May 20th, 2015 at 1:31 PM ^

What you say is true in the working world, but not in the world of fandom. I used to enjoy pointing out what a better school Michigan is than OSU and how our players are generally more mature/intelligent, etc and do much better after their playing careers have finished. As a Michigan sports fan and non alum, I am the one who looks sad now bringing up those facts because, though true, they don't really do anything for my fandom or change the fact that we have been crappy for a long time at football (and now OSU fans don't care about basketball since their play has dropped off). If holding up a picture of your QB raising the championship trophy makes you a knob, I wish I could be one. 

Wendyk5

May 20th, 2015 at 3:10 PM ^

I don't mean to say that I don't want that trophy. But Cardale Jones isn't the guy I'd want holding it. That's what makes that Ohio State fan look like a knob. He doesn't care who's holding it, he doesn't care what Cardale tweeted a few years ago, he just wants the win. I want to win at school and on the field. 

Wendyk5

May 20th, 2015 at 10:35 PM ^

I'll give this to you, Buckeye Jon Ross: If we had won the trophy, we'd probably be willing to overlook a lot of stuff, too. We're no different in that respect. But let's not be disingenous about Cardale Jones. He didn't suddenly find God; someone talked to him after that tweet and told him to zip it. 

schreibee

May 20th, 2015 at 1:40 PM ^

Whoa! Wendy, really, a "knob"?! A buckeye slappy - a "knob"?

Them may be the most civilized, albeit anachronistic fighting words hurled in this border war since shots were fired over the Toledo Strip - in 1835!

But the fact remains it's a very un-level playing field between those who "play school" and those who play against them whilst attending school...

EastCoast Esq.

May 20th, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^

You can't say this to friends without looking like a complete douche, but....

What would you rather have?

(1) A shiny trophy to look at that makes you feel good but conveys no tangible benefits.

(2) A degree that will get you, personally, ahead in the world.

I know that the sports fans in us are envious of our rivals' success (as a Philly fan I know this many times over), but at the end of the day one is entertainment and the other is life.

I went to Michigan in part because of sports, but it wouldn't have been on my radar at all if it weren't for its reputation. I didn't grow up a Michigan fan and my ONLY connection to the University is my own, personal attendance there, which only happened because of its incredible academic reputation. The accomplishments of our student-athletes only confirms that I made the right decision, no questions asked.

LSAClassOf2000

May 20th, 2015 at 1:04 PM ^

For those interested in the searchable database of APR, the NCAA provides it here - LINK

Keep in mind, that it is a running four-year average, but considering that for football - for example - the 2012-2013 average was 975, I will be very interested to see what it is when the updated figures are rolled out. Basketball's 2012-13 figure was 990, for those who didn't know. Great work indeed.

ThadMattasagoblin

May 20th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^

That's great and all but let's win too. I'd rather not turn into northwestern who never wins anything but points out how smart they are when they lose their games by 50.