The rub is that, in some college sports programs, less than half the athletes actually graduate.

That principle says that athletes will graduate in the same proportion as non-athletes.

Black male athletes graduated at a 41 percent rate compared with 32 percent for black males in the student body.

Lennon said presidents and administrators who reviewed this problem wanted to be sure that athletes graduated from high school.

The report said white male athletes and students in general in the study graduated at the same rate, 57 percent.

We bring athletes here to graduate them and make them successful as human beings after they get their degrees.

While more black athletes are graduating, many have been rushed through without having had time to become part of undergraduate communities.

The three athletes, who are now in their mid-20's, have graduated from college and are working.

Interestingly, athletes graduate at a higher rate than the general student population, 56 to 48 percent.

Iona had a sports psychologist on hand for the players and promised to honor all 12 of the partial-aid scholarships until the athletes graduated.