May 23, 2007

Waco, Texas - The Vanderbilt football program was one of four recognized nationally for exceptional graduation rates among its football student-athletes, according to a report released recently by the American Football Coaches Association.

The Commodore football program achieved a graduation rate of 90 percent, according to the AFCA report that is presented annually by the Touchdown Club of Memphis. The only other schools among 107 Division I reporting programs to match or exceed Vanderbilt's graduation rate were Notre Dame, Northwestern and Duke.

"We are very happy with this news," Head Coach Bobby Johnson said. "Vanderbilt University and all of us associated with the Commodore football program take tremendous pride in our student-athletes' academic accomplishments. Our student-athletes work very hard on and off the field, and understand the importance of earning a degree from Vanderbilt.

"While there are many factors behind Vanderbilt's high graduation rate among student-athletes, the efforts of our academic support staff under the direction of Elizabeth Wright cannot be overestimated. Her staff does a great job and is a huge asset to our program."

The announcement continues Vanderbilt's outstanding performance in the academic category. Just twice in the last 20 years has Vanderbilt not been recognized.

Vanderbilt has captured the AFCA's Academic Achievement Award twice, in 1996 and 2001. The Commodores are one of six programs nationally to earn multiple achievement awards.

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