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PETE YOUNGGraduation rates for athletes at Florida and South Florida climbed again this year.
Scholarship athletes at UF who entered school in 1996 graduated at a rate of 63 percent, up 12 percent from a year ago and up 22 percent from two years ago, according to the most recent NCAA study released this week. It remains 14 percent below the 77 percent rate for UF's student population.
USF scholarship athletes graduated at a rate of 58 percent, 4 percent higher than a year ago and 12 percent higher than USF's overall student rate of 46 percent.
The increases at UF and USF reflect a national increase for all athletes from 60 to 62 percent. The study measures the percentage of students who graduate within six years of enrolling.
Florida State's athlete graduation rate of 57 percent is a 10 percent drop from a year ago and 6 percent below the 63 percent rate for all FSU students.
The athlete graduation rate at UF received a big boost from the football team, whose graduation rate soared to 69 percent, up from 32 percent a year ago. FSU's football graduation rate also is up from last year, from 53 to 59 percent.
The first incoming USF football class signed in 1996, but since the Bulls did not start playing until 1997 they won't be included until next year's study, senior associate athletic director Barbara Sparks-McGlinchy said. However, USF's graduation rate for transfer football players is listed at 72 percent, up from 64 percent a year ago.
CLARETT MAY TRANSFER: The relationship between running back Maurice Clarett and Ohio State has turned so sour that he likely will never play another game for the team, Jim Brown, the Hall of Fame player who is advising the Clarett family, told the New York Times.
Brown, who speaks to Clarett or his mother, Michelle, almost daily, also said Clarett was seriously considering transferring. Clarett missed Ohio State's opener Saturday as part of a suspension for his exaggerations in a theft report filed with the police.
"Maurice is exploring every option at this point," Brown told the newspaper. "I think it's safe to say that Maurice probably won't play again at Ohio State."
ARKANSAS: Fullback Mark Pierce was suspended for a game. He was arrested Sunday on misdemeanor charges after he became belligerent with police officers, a police report says.
BRIGHAM YOUNG: Cornerback Brandon Heaney will have surgery on his shoulder and will miss the rest of the season.
CENTRAL FLORIDA: Senior quarterback Ryan Schneider has a left ankle injury and is questionable for next week's home opener against Florida Atlantic.
MIAMI: Senior offensive lineman Carlos Joseph returned to practice after sitting out two days with an ankle injury. Coach Larry Coker said Joseph should be able to play Saturday but will not start.
TOLEDO: Coach Tom Amstutz, who led the team to bowl appearances in his first two seasons, agreed to a two-year contract extension.
BLUE-GRAY GAME: The Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic will return on Christmas Day after a one-year hiatus. The 65th Blue-Gray game will be played at Troy State's Movie Gallery Stadium.
- Information from Times wires was used in this report.