NCAA Hides Behind Statistics

As the saying goes, there's lies, damn lies and statistics.

In the name of higher academic standards the NCAA board of directors decided to talk big, but in reality do nothing.

On Thursday, the NCAA decided that in order to play in the postseason, schools must have a four-year average Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 930 or better. That equates to graduating about half of the players on a given roster.

For that, the headlines will praise them. Already the Knight Commission, a college sports watchdog, commended the change.

But APR does not equate to student athletes actually graduating from college.

Of course, like all good formulas it can be manipulated.

APR is calculated by allocating points for eligibility and retention, two factors that research identifies as two indicators of graduation. Each player earns a maximum of two points per term, one for being academically eligible and one for staying with the college.

It's not hard to keep athletes academically eligible.

BYU could struggle with
the new APR rules.

Football factories, Boise State now included, have it down to a science with most freshman and sophomores studying general studies (or football). Just because a player is eligible does not mean they walk away with a degree.

APR is also weighted to help the Alabamas of collegiate sports, while it hurts some of the smaller Division I institutions.

Places like Idaho and Washington State have their APR's killed due to retention struggles. Winter's brutal on the Palouse.

Also under the new rules, BYU might have seen a postseason bowl ban turning in an APR score below 930, despite the fact that most of the athletes really do earn a diploma.

But this should standout as a red flag. Among the "Big Six" BCS conferences, the SEC, known for its academic prowess, had exactly zero schools below the new APR benchmark.

APR scores have been trending upward in recent years as universities figure out how the beat the system.

NCAA President Mark Emmert says the higher APR benchmark sends "a clear signal to the world about what we care about and what we stand for."

Unfortunately, Emmert and the NCAA are going to hide behind their statistics. They may talk tough, but the system can be beat, and this reform is just a smoke screen.

Always a ruse for The Blue

Curiosity took over last week when I spotted this University of Idaho Athletics tweet.

I wanted to know which Idaho athletes earned all-WAC academic honors? And why more Vandals didn't make it?

As I scrolled through the list of student-athletes who had at least 3.0 GPA and took part in half of their team's contests, I was shocked to find more Boise State Broncos show up than any other WAC school. That was especially true for football.

It was a surprise because Boise State University has a academic reputation on par with Greendale Community College in many of its programs.

So how did the Broncos get 14 more all-WAC academic players than Idaho (a school with a solid classroom reputation)? Something wasn't right.

After a few minutes of digging it was clear this was just another Boise State gimmick, like the trick plays they use to score against BCS opponents.

Of their 22 academic performers only four Broncos had declared majors, two of which could qualify as tough (accounting and psychology). It's not hard to make the dean's list when you're taking 'rock's for jocks,' weightlifting and basket-weaving.

On the flip side, only one of Idaho's six academic players was an undeclared major, one was pre-med and yet another was earning a master's in accounting.

At first glance, things may appear in order on the Smurf Turf, but there's always another dimension when you look.

Rather than challenging its athletes to go for a Heisman in the classroom, Boise State is content having its athletes pose like Lady Liberty.

Boise State All-WAC Academic Honors

Accounting: Richard Brockel; Communication: Jeron Johnson, Kyle Wilson; Psychology: Michael Choate

Undeclared: Michael Adams, Michael Atkinson, Kyle Efaw, Zach Gholson, Byron Hout, Joseph Kellogg, Chandler Koch, Darren Koontz, Kellen Moore, Hazen Moss, Daniel Paul, James Percy, Christopher Potter, Nathaniel Potter, Tyler Shoemaker, Matthew Slater, Tommy Smith, Aaron Tevis

Idaho All-WAC Academic Honors

Accounting: Aaron Lavarias, Adam Juratovac (Masters); Business: Robert Cowan; Chemistry/Pre-Med: Nathan Enderle; Finance: Peter Bjorvik; Undeclared: Preston Davis