Athletic grades below non-athlete population
Joshua Lemons
Issue date: 12/9/09 Section: Campus News
The UTM athletics teams' cumulative GPAs remained the same as the spring of 2009, with an overall 2.74 GPA.
The highest average of all of the sports teams was the now defunct men's tennis team, with an overall average of 3.46, up from 3.32 in fall 2008. Following closely behind
was the women's tennis team with a team GPA of 3.43, down just one point from fall 2008's 3.44 average. Soccer and volleyball followed next, with soccer falling slightly from a 3.32 in fall 2008 to a 3.27 in spring 2009. Volleyball raised its average to 3.25 from 3.11 in fall 2008.
The lowest GPAs were the men's basketball team, falling from a 2.46 GPA in the fall of 2008 to a 2.14 in the spring, and football dropping from 2.5 in the fall to 2.31 in the spring The women's basketball team also dropped from a 2.46 to a 2.36 in the spring.
Lt. Col. Bill Kahler, assistant athletic director, said the goal of the athletic department is to maintain a GPA higher than that of the non-athlete student population.
"We always like to be above the student average and we didn't make it, so we will just try to do better," Kahler said.
He also said that the high GPAs from the smaller groups are easier to achieve than a sport like football, where 85 different GPAs are averaged.
"The smaller the group, the easier it is to take care of business," Kahler said.
Of the 312 student athletes, 99 made the dean's list and another 28 had a GPA of 3.00 to 3.19. Only nine athletes are on academic probation.
In other sports, women's cross country dropped from 3.17 in fall 2008 to 3.01 in spring 2009, but cheerleading increased from 2.85 in fall 2008 to 2.88 in spring 2009. Baseball dropped from 2.90 to 2.83 in the spring and rodeo increased from 2.70 in fall 2008 to 2.78 in spring 2009. Women's rifle dropped from 3.08 in the fall to 2.69 in the spring; golf also dropped with a GPA of 2.90 in fall 2008 to 2.65 in spring 2009. Men's cross country dropped from 2.80 in fall 2008 to 2.49 in spring 2009. The men's rifle team had a GPA of 2.96 in spring 2009 and equestrian had a 2.93, but neither were listed in fall 2008 grades.
The highest average of all of the sports teams was the now defunct men's tennis team, with an overall average of 3.46, up from 3.32 in fall 2008. Following closely behind
was the women's tennis team with a team GPA of 3.43, down just one point from fall 2008's 3.44 average. Soccer and volleyball followed next, with soccer falling slightly from a 3.32 in fall 2008 to a 3.27 in spring 2009. Volleyball raised its average to 3.25 from 3.11 in fall 2008.
The lowest GPAs were the men's basketball team, falling from a 2.46 GPA in the fall of 2008 to a 2.14 in the spring, and football dropping from 2.5 in the fall to 2.31 in the spring The women's basketball team also dropped from a 2.46 to a 2.36 in the spring.
Lt. Col. Bill Kahler, assistant athletic director, said the goal of the athletic department is to maintain a GPA higher than that of the non-athlete student population.
"We always like to be above the student average and we didn't make it, so we will just try to do better," Kahler said.
He also said that the high GPAs from the smaller groups are easier to achieve than a sport like football, where 85 different GPAs are averaged.
"The smaller the group, the easier it is to take care of business," Kahler said.
Of the 312 student athletes, 99 made the dean's list and another 28 had a GPA of 3.00 to 3.19. Only nine athletes are on academic probation.
In other sports, women's cross country dropped from 3.17 in fall 2008 to 3.01 in spring 2009, but cheerleading increased from 2.85 in fall 2008 to 2.88 in spring 2009. Baseball dropped from 2.90 to 2.83 in the spring and rodeo increased from 2.70 in fall 2008 to 2.78 in spring 2009. Women's rifle dropped from 3.08 in the fall to 2.69 in the spring; golf also dropped with a GPA of 2.90 in fall 2008 to 2.65 in spring 2009. Men's cross country dropped from 2.80 in fall 2008 to 2.49 in spring 2009. The men's rifle team had a GPA of 2.96 in spring 2009 and equestrian had a 2.93, but neither were listed in fall 2008 grades.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 12
N Bradley
posted 12/09/09 @ 11:18 PM CST
It might be helpful to know what the average student GPA was so that we can compare the average athlete GPA of 2.74 to that of the non-athlete GPA. Is it a dramatic difference, or only that of a hundredth of a decimal point?
Marissa
posted 12/13/09 @ 10:33 PM CST
what is the non-athlete GPA? and what is your point?
uhh
posted 12/14/09 @ 3:01 PM CST
Good to know that the athletes are below non-athletic student's standards. I would like to remind you that the university recommended to make a motion to let scholars students and athletes register for classes before the rest of the student population. (Continued…)
NCAA
posted 12/14/09 @ 3:17 PM CST
Why not mention that UTM has be penalized scholarships for violating the necessary multiyear progress rate for both football and men's basketball? (See the NCAA penalty summary of 5/1/2009)
south
K
posted 12/19/09 @ 1:33 AM CST
non athletes are not missing at least two days out the week and coming back to school at 4 in da morning then go to a 8 oclock class not to mention we are missing assisgnments and quizes and stuff dut to da sport, athletes are the hardest working students on campus and got it the hardest we just cant sleep all day and study all day like normal students because of the sport. (Continued…)
to uhh
posted 12/20/09 @ 7:25 PM CST
Dear Uhh...
Maybe athletics shouldn't get special scheduling, but Scholars are the top 15 students of each entering freshman class. So, if you're looking at it from academic standards--go scholars! (Just to let you know, I'm not biased. (Continued…)
H
posted 12/21/09 @ 4:15 PM CST
People do not go to school to play sports; they go to get an education. If athletes cannot keep their grades up, then maybe they shouldn't be playing a sport. (Continued…)
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