Spring Break
Academics and athletics
Following mandates, WSU football team getting on par off the field, succeeding on the field because of it
Matt Gerrish
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: Sports
Going into the 2008 season, members of the Weber State University Football Team may have thought they had a hindrance to their goals on the field.
On May 6, 2008, the NCAA implemented academic sanctions on the WSU Football Team for its poor academic performance during the past four seasons.
The Wildcats' academic progress report was in the bottom 10 percent of NCAA Division I football teams, forcing the Wildcats to lose about five scholarships, and cut their normal 20-hour practice week down to 16 hours per week. With the four fewer hours of practice time, the team has been conducting weekly four-hour study sessions to help the squad improve its APR, and so far the results have been positive.
"Our APR has gone from 802 to 973 over the year already," said Jerry Bovee, director of WSU Administrative Support Services. "As the guys have accepted it and used it, they've gotten good one-on-one help for their schoolwork."
So far on the year, No. 8 WSU has compiled a 9-2 overall record, and a 7-0 Big Sky Conference record, already clinching at least a share of the conference championship. Wildcat Head Coach Ron McBride said he is sure the team's academic focus this year has carried over onto the playing field.
"You have to see it as a positive," McBride said. "If you don't, you just give yourself an excuse to lose. We've kind of just worked around it, and it's forced them to concentrate more."
With one less practice every week, the time off the field has also had an impact on the players physically. So far this season, WSU hasn't been bitten badly by the injury bug and most players have enjoyed a fairly healthy season.
"They're better rested and their legs aren't as tired," McBride said. "We've definitely stayed healthy for the most part."
Wildcat players have taken McBride's advice and seen the study sessions as a positive thing, rather than a hinderance.
"There are really two positives to them," said WSU offensive lineman Jared Wilcox. "It has been forcing people to get things done, and they give us a day to mend a little bit. That extra day gives us time for our bodies to heal, and it has been making people be held accountable for their responsibilities. It's been setting a good trend."
Although positive takes on the study sessions like Wilcox's are probably refreshing to hear, the four-hour long sessions may have been tough to get into for some players.
"Initially it was so different for them, because everybody had to be in the study session," Bovee said. "Even the 4.0 students have to be in there with the rest of the team, so it was probably difficult to swallow."
With one game left in the regular season for WSU, focus is undoubtedly an important goal for the Wildcats heading into the FCS playoffs for the first time since 1991. The Wildcats have turned things around off the field, and are hoping to carry that on the field to finish up the season.
On May 6, 2008, the NCAA implemented academic sanctions on the WSU Football Team for its poor academic performance during the past four seasons.
The Wildcats' academic progress report was in the bottom 10 percent of NCAA Division I football teams, forcing the Wildcats to lose about five scholarships, and cut their normal 20-hour practice week down to 16 hours per week. With the four fewer hours of practice time, the team has been conducting weekly four-hour study sessions to help the squad improve its APR, and so far the results have been positive.
"Our APR has gone from 802 to 973 over the year already," said Jerry Bovee, director of WSU Administrative Support Services. "As the guys have accepted it and used it, they've gotten good one-on-one help for their schoolwork."
So far on the year, No. 8 WSU has compiled a 9-2 overall record, and a 7-0 Big Sky Conference record, already clinching at least a share of the conference championship. Wildcat Head Coach Ron McBride said he is sure the team's academic focus this year has carried over onto the playing field.
"You have to see it as a positive," McBride said. "If you don't, you just give yourself an excuse to lose. We've kind of just worked around it, and it's forced them to concentrate more."
With one less practice every week, the time off the field has also had an impact on the players physically. So far this season, WSU hasn't been bitten badly by the injury bug and most players have enjoyed a fairly healthy season.
"They're better rested and their legs aren't as tired," McBride said. "We've definitely stayed healthy for the most part."
Wildcat players have taken McBride's advice and seen the study sessions as a positive thing, rather than a hinderance.
"There are really two positives to them," said WSU offensive lineman Jared Wilcox. "It has been forcing people to get things done, and they give us a day to mend a little bit. That extra day gives us time for our bodies to heal, and it has been making people be held accountable for their responsibilities. It's been setting a good trend."
Although positive takes on the study sessions like Wilcox's are probably refreshing to hear, the four-hour long sessions may have been tough to get into for some players.
"Initially it was so different for them, because everybody had to be in the study session," Bovee said. "Even the 4.0 students have to be in there with the rest of the team, so it was probably difficult to swallow."
With one game left in the regular season for WSU, focus is undoubtedly an important goal for the Wildcats heading into the FCS playoffs for the first time since 1991. The Wildcats have turned things around off the field, and are hoping to carry that on the field to finish up the season.
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