Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Texas Southern University announced Friday that
the football team has been barred from postseason play for the 2012-2013
seasons due to falling short in fulfilling an NCAA graduation rate
requirement.
The school disclosed that when the NCAA releases its annual Academic Progress
Report (APR), it will show the football program failed to meet the required
average score over the most recent four-year evaluation period for graduation
rates.
Last month, representatives from Texas Southern met before an NCAA committee
and learned the football program had received a four-year average score of 811
out of 1,000. The NCAA standard rate is 930. Because of this, the football
team is ineligible for postseason play, and that includes the SWAC
Championship Game and NCAA Division I FCS championship.
"Texas Southern University athletics is a much improved program today and
despite this setback we are proud of the improvements that we have made to
date in all 16 programs," TSU athletics director Charles McClelland said. "I
am confident that we are heading in the right direction. Our student-athletes
are graduating at a 45 percent rate and we have added six additional staff
members to help our kids succeed."
Other penalties imposed on Texas Southern included the elimination of spring
football practice and the spring game.
The Tigers finished last season with a 4-7 record overall, including 2-7 in
the SWAC.
The Sports Network