Samford University's 17 athletic teams posted an average score of 989 out of 1,000 in the NCAA's Division I Multi-Year Academic Progress Rate (APR) report, released by the NCAA on Wednesday.
Four Samford teams (men's basketball, men's golf, women's cross country and women's tennis) turned in perfect multi-year scores of 1,000, while no Samford team scored lower than 975.
"We are proud that Samford continues to have impressive showings in the NCAA's Academic Progress Ratings," Samford President Andrew Westmoreland said. "Although these are just one public measurement of academic success at Samford, they demonstrate the strong commitment that our student-athletes have to excel both in the classroom and in athletics competition. We are proud of what our teams and our coaches have accomplished and consistently maintained in all 17 varsity sports since these ratings were established. That's what the Samford mission is all about, nurturing persons to be the best they can be in all aspects of life."
A total of 10 Samford teams posted a score of at least 990. The sports of men's basketball (1,000), men's golf (1,000), men's tennis (993), women's basketball (991), women's cross country (1,000), women's golf (991), women's soccer (998), women's tennis (1,000), women's indoor track (993) and women's volleyball (991), each scored 990 or above.
"Our student-athletes' multi-year scores show how hard they have worked in the classroom," Martin Newton, Samford's director of athletics, said. "We are extremely proud of the dedication our student-athletes continue to show in achieving these high scores year after year. Samford athletics is dedicated to winning both on the field and in the classroom."
Samford led or tied for the lead among schools in the state of Alabama in 11 of the school's 17 sports. The Bulldogs led the state in football (976), men's basketball (1,000), men's golf (1,000), men's indoor track (984), women's basketball (991), women's cross country (1,000), women's soccer (998), women's tennis (1,000), women's indoor track (993), women's outdoor track (989) and women's volleyball (991).
Samford led or tied for the lead in the Southern Conference in four different sports. Men's basketball, men's golf, women's cross country and women's tennis each posted the highest score in their respective sport among SoCon schools.
The APR compilations, first made public in 2005, are based on academic eligibility, retention and graduation rates for student-athletes at all 334 NCAA Division I member institutions. These scores and multiyear rate figures reflect the data from the 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic years. Samford competes in eight men's and nine women's varsity sports at the Division I level. In the inaugural overall ratings, involving the 2003-04 school year, Samford tied for seventh nationally.
SAMFORD'S APR SCORES BY SPORT (Scores are out of a possible 1000 points)
Men's
Baseball 976
Basketball 1000
Cross Country 975
Football 976
Golf 1000
Tennis 993
Indoor Track 984
Outdoor Track 983
Women's
Basketball 991
Cross Country 1000
Golf 991
Soccer 998
Softball 977
Tennis 1000
Indoor Track 993
Outdoor Track 989
Volleyball 991