Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Earns 2002 AFCA Academic Achievement Award
6/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 25, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern University's football program is receiving the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 2002 Academic Achievement Award, which is presented annually by the Touchdown Club of Memphis. NU recorded a 100 percent graduation rate for members of its football squad when all members of its freshman class of 1996-97 earned a degree.
"The real credit for this recognition is two-fold," said Northwestern Head Football Coach Randy Walker. "One, our student-athletes have made a commitment to excellence in both the classroom and on the playing field. We have a dedicated academic services department and they have a terrific working relationship with our student-athletes.
"Second, Northwestern has never wavered from its mission, and that is to educate and graduate some of the brightest students in the world. We take great pride in this award."
Northwestern's win is the second for the school, and it has been honored every year it has been eligible for the award. The Wildcats also earned the honor in 1998 with a 100 percent rate. Northwestern earned honorable mention honors in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Prior to 1998, the award honored only members of the College Football Association.
Since 1998, when the award was expanded to include all Division I-A conferences, Big Ten schools have been honored 23 times, with the Wildcats winning the award twice.
For more information on AFCA Academic Achievement Award, log on to the AFCA web site at American Football Coaches Association.
All-Time Academic Achievement Award Recipients* 1981: Duke 1982: Notre Dame 1983: Notre Dame 1984: Duke & Notre Dame 1985: Virginia 1986: Virginia 1987: Duke 1988: Notre Dame 1989: Kentucky 1990: Duke 1991: Notre Dame 1992: Boston College & TCU 1993: Duke 1994: Duke 1995: Boston College, Duke & Wake Forest 1996: Boston College, Duke & Vanderbilt 1997: Duke 1998: Northwestern 1999: Duke 2000: Syracuse 2001: Notre Dame & Vanderbilt 2002: Northwestern* Presented by the College Football Association from 1981-97. NOTE: Northwestern became eligible for the award in 1998.
