Its one of the most tradition-rich programs in the MAC, he said

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The NCAA announced Tuesday that 77 percent of black mens Division I basketball players who entered college in 2009 earned a degree within six years, up five points from a year earlier and a record high.That improvement helped the overall Graduation Success Rate match last years record of 86 percent of athletes graduating within six years, the NCAA said. Of all black Division I student-athletes, 74 percent graduated within six years. NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a news release the improved rates were hugely significant.Over the last 15 years, the overall Graduation Success Rate has dramatically improved, but the really good news is how college sports helps more and more minority students, especially those playing our highest-profile sport, earn a degree that will help them long after their athletics career is over, he said.The graduation rate for black basketball players is up 31 percentage points over the past 15 years, the NCAA said . Overall, all black male athletes have increased their GSR by 19 percentage points to 70 percent during that time. Black female athletes improved their rate 13 points to 84 percent over that same time.For all Division I athletes, the rate increased 12 percentage points during the past 15 years.B. David Ridpath, an associate professor and sports business and president of The Drake Group, an NCAA watchdog, said the GSR provides only a partial picture, pointing to reports of athletes at North Carolina taking courses aimed at boosting their GPAs in a department popular with athletes.Are we essentially practicing eligibility maintenance, potentially in a major with friendly faculty? he said. Are these kids graduating with a very meaningful, vital degree that can benefit them for the next 50 to 60 years of their life? In some cases, yes, this is happening. But all too often -- and I know this because I worked in college athletics -- were essentially pushing these kids through, keeping them eligible and in cases where they do graduate they might not be graduating with the requisite skills.Among football teams in The Associated Press Top 25 , the only teams with a GSR 65 percent or lower were No. 25 Troy at 65 percent and No. 13 Oklahoma State at 50 percent. Among Top 25 mens basketball teams , No. 4 Oregon had a GSR of 38 percent, No. 25 California 40 percent, No. 5 North Carolina, No. 18 Syracuse and No. 24 Cincinnati all had GSRs of 50 percent, and No. 13 Michigan State has a GSR of 63 percent.The University of Connecticut mens basketball team had one of the lower graduation rates at 22 percent, according to the latest results. But those 2009 numbers were actually a big improvement over previous years. The teams GSR rose from just 8 percent in 2006, 17 percent the following year and 20 percent in 2008.School spokesman Mike Enright said the poor graduation rate reflects the same time period for which UConn was sanctioned by the NCAA and missed the 2013 postseason because of an another indicator, the Academic Progress Rate, which measures whether players are in good academic standing.The school has reported perfect or near perfect APR scores since 2012-13 and is expecting similar numbers this year, Enright said. He also said all current members of the basketball team are on track to graduate.The academic achievement of our mens basketball team has been outstanding the past several years and I have a full expectation that this will continue, athletic director David Benedict said.---AP Sports Writer Pat Eaton-Robb in Storrs, Connecticut, contributed to this report. Phillip Lindsay Broncos Jersey . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. Courtland Sutton Youth Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. http://www.broncosrookiestore.com/ . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. DreMont Jones Womens Jersey .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. John Elway Jersey . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio States depth at wide receiver took a hit Monday when the university announced Monday that Torrance Gibson has been suspended from school for unspecified reasons.Coach Urban Meyer said the suspension was not related to football, and I disagree with it. He didnt comment further. The university said Gibson was suspended for the fall semester for violating the student conduct code.Gibson is a redshirt freshman quarterback-turned-receiver. Coaches said he was to be in the mix at wide receiver with Noah Brown, Corey Smith, Parris Campbell, Austin Mack and others. Brown is expected to start at one of the wideout spots but the others were battling for the spot, including Gibson, who caught two touchdown passes in the spring game. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder came to Ohio State as a five-star recruit at quarterback from Plantation, Florida, and then asked for the move to receiver.As we say here, you have to be ready when your number is called, said Billy Price, an offensive guard and team captain. With Torrance, the suspension, its unfortunate but it gives an opportunity for a younger guy to get in there and be able to show what hes done during camp. So well make sure the team is ready.The Buckeyes open the season at home Saturday against Bowling Green.STARTERS STILL NOT SETMeyer said Monday that coaches are still working on depth charts and all the starters havent been named yet. Freshman Michael Jordan has won the starting job at left guard, but coaches have yet to designate starters at some other spots, including the one wide receiver spot, defensive tackle and one of the cornerbacks. A freshman starting on the offensive line is rare at Ohio State, which says something about the lack of depth up front this season.WALK-ON TAKES OVER KICKING DUTIESA walk-on placekicker will start Saturday after a hamstring injury to kicker Sean Nuernberger, who missed most of camp. Meyer didnt say how long he would be out.The new kicker is Tyler Durbin, whose name is so unfamiliar that Meyer had to check with a staff member during the press conference Monday to make sure he got it right.Durbin is a former soccer player at James Madison who has been wiith the team since spring 2015.ddddddddddddTremendous talent, Meyer said. Hes the one who hit a 62-yarder in camp.Nuernberger is 16 for 24 in field goals over the past two seasons and converted all of his 106 extra point attempts.FOND MEMORIES OF BOWLING GREENMeyer faces Bowling Green as an opposing coach for the first time since he began his head coaching career there in 2001 and 2002. He took over a down-on-its-luck program and went 17-6 there in the two seasons before moving onto Utah.Meyer said he loved his players there and has stayed in touch with some of them.Its one of the most tradition-rich programs in the MAC, he said. A lot of great respect for them. I loved my time there, and a lot of great people there.The other BG connection is Buckeyes offensive line coach Greg Studrawa, who played there from 1984-87 and was an assistant coach from 2001-06.MEYER ON TEBOW: DONT COUNT HIM OUTMeyer said hes supportive of Tim Tebows effort to play professional baseball.Tebow, the former Heisman Trophy winner and an NFL first-round draft pick, has said he wants to hold a workout for Major League Baseball teams to scout him. Tebow hasnt played baseball since high school.Meyer, who coached the former quarterback at Florida, said he first saw him in a high school baseball game.Incredible. Incredible baseball player, Meyer said. Thats when I drank the Kool-Aid when I watched, because I kept hearing this Tebow, Tebow, Tebow. You got a little tired of it. I went and watched him play in spring baseball. Hes playing outfield. Ive never seen a guy change a game, motivate, lead and do everything. And I walked away and said that guy is one of the most unique players Ive ever seen.The coach said the 29-year-old Tebow has talked to him about the endeavor.Hes been thinking about it for a while, Meyer said. This didnt just happen overnight. And Im very biased and everybody knows that. And dont count him out.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacyFor some of his other recent stories: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mitch-stacy ' ' '