Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Receives AFCA Academic Achievement Award
6/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 10, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern University's football program is receiving the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 2004 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 1998-99 earned a degree.
The Wildcats are sharing this year's award with Boston College, which also had a 100 percent graduation rate.
Northwestern's win is the third 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 and 2002 with 100-percent rates. Northwestern earned honorable mention status in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. Prior to 1998, the award only honored members of the College Football Association, which did not include Big Ten schools.
"The real credit goes to our institution and the commitment it makes in helping the student-athletes achieve their academic goals," Northwestern Head Coach Randy Walker said. "Second, credit has to go to the student-athlete, who makes a commitment at Northwestern to be a quality student-athlete, and excel in both the classroom and on the playing field."
Since 1998, when the award was expanded to include all Division I-A conferences, Big Ten schools have been honored 32 times, with the Wildcats winning the award three times.
The study involves the freshman class from the academic year of 1998-99, including those who entered at that time but who did not receive financial aid until after their initial year, or who transferred from another institution and subsequently received a grant-in-aid.
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 2003: Duke 2004: Northwestern & Boston College* Presented by the College Football Association from 1981-97. NOTE: Northwestern became eligible for the award in 1998.
