JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – The grave academic failures of Southwestern Athletic Conference schools have crippled some of the league’s most popular, revenue-generating programs heading into the football season.
Jackson State, Southern and Grambling have received postseason bans in either football or men’s basketball for failing to meet the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate standards. The APR is the NCAA’s gauge for academic performance, awarding points for academic eligibility and retention.
Southern became the first school banned in both football and basketball for APR issues. All three schools have also suffered scholarship losses and cut practice time.
Conference administrators, coaches and players say the embarrassing situation must change, but it won’t be easy. SWAC schools have small budgets and don’t have the resources to provide the extensive academic counseling that larger Division I schools do.
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