• Bears lead Big 12 in graduation success rate for third straight year

    Jason SmithMany people involved in college athletics, from administrators to fans, tend to forget about the “student” part of the “student-athlete” and focus solely on their school’s wins and losses. But that’s not the case at Baylor, and the university’s concern for the 18- to 22-year-olds shows up in the NCAA’s annual academic reports.

    For the third straight year, Baylor leads the Big 12 Conference in Graduation Success Rate (GSR), a score calculated by the NCAA that reveals whether institutions’ student-athletes are graduating or at least leaving school while still academically eligible (many times to begin careers in pro sports).

    Interestingly, the football team’s active roster includes five players who have already earned their degrees, led by Jason Smith (pictured) — who was also announced this week as one of three Bears to earn midseason all-America honors.

    The news comes on the heels of a 2007-08 school year which saw a school-record 87 Baylor student-athletes named Academic All-Big 12, including a school-best 69 first-team honorees. The Bears also set a school record as 449 student-athletes were named to the fall 2007 and spring 2008 Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Rolls, including 69 with 4.0 grade-point averages.

    All this, and winning on the field, too.

    Sic ’em, Baylor student-athletes!