Air Force football team ranked second nationally in academic performance

6/9/2010 - U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) -- The U.S. Air Force Academy football team here has the second-highest multi-year Academic Progress Rate of any team in the Football Bowl Subdivision, according the a report issued June 9 by NCAA officials.

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.

The Academy program's 988 ranks second only to Rutgers, who had a 992, among the 120 FBS football playing schools. The multi-year APR is for the 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic years.

The Academy's number is easily the best within the Mountain West Conference. TCU is second with a 968 while Utah is third at 949. Colorado State is fourth with a 945, followed by Brigham Young University (940), New Mexico and University of Nevada, Las Vegas (934), San Diego State (931) and Wyoming (928).

The Academy is also the highest ranking service academy, as Navy posted a 973 and Army a 964. The remainder of the national top five shows Rice third with 987, Northwestern fourth at 986 and Duke fifth at 983.

"This is hands down the finest accomplishment in all of college football," said Troy Calhoun, the Air Force Academy head football coach. "There should be no hesitation to identify educational achievements along with character development in major conference intercollegiate sports."

"The Air Force Academy is a very challenging leadership school; and yet, the determination and perseverance of these cadets with the support of our outstanding faculty and staff moved them beyond the necessary standards of the Academy," he said. "It's remarkable that a team can have its members take over 18 semester hours of the nation's most demanding curriculum, prepare to serve our country, and still balance participation as a Division 1 athlete in a major conference."

Top 5 FBS schools
Rutgers - 992
Air Force - 988
Rice -- 987
Northwestern -- 986
Duke - 983

Mountain West Conference
Air Force -- 988
TCU -- 968
Utah -- 949
Colorado State - 945
BYU - 940
New Mexico - 934
UNLV - 934
San Diego State -- 931
Wyoming - 928

Each year, NCAA officials honor selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multi-year APR. This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort, and is intended to highlight teams who demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports. Specifically, these teams posted multi-year APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport.