And here all of you haters thought that the SEC in general and Alabama specifically were focused solely on the latter portion of the “student-athlete” moniker.
As you may or may not have heard, Alabama will take on Michigan State in the 80th renewal of the Cotton Bowl Thursday that will simultaneously serve as one of two College Football Playoff semifinals. At the moment, the Tide is nearly a 10-point favorite over the Spartans because of their ability on a football field; if brains in the classroom mean anything when it comes to this contest, perhaps Vegas should rethink that line.
In a press release, UA revealed that it currently has 29 college graduates on its bowl roster. That number breaks the FBS record of 28... set by ‘Bama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl (following the 2013 season) against 2015 CFP participant Oklahoma. Three of the 29 this time around have also earned their master’s degree: starting quarterback Jake Coker, starting center Ryan Kelly and reserve offensive lineman Isaac Luatua.
Deservedly so, ‘Bama patted itself on the back in a release that highlighted the academic prowess of their football players:This year’s Tide total means that more 20-percent of those wearing the crimson and white of Alabama in the Cotton Bowl have at least one college degree already in hand.
The Tide’s Cotton Bowl graduate tally is three ahead of second-place Temple and seven ahead of third-place Kansas State. Clemson is the closest squad in the College Football Playoff with 15.
In addition to leading the nation in graduates on a bowl roster, the Tide also has the highest Graduation Success Rate among the four teams selected for this year’s College Football Playoff. When the GSR was announced by the NCAA in October, the Tide football program produced a score of 86 while Clemson posted an 84, Michigan State a 66 and Oklahoma a 65.
This year’s Cotton Bowl also marks the seventh straight year that the Crimson Tide has suited up more than 20 graduates for a bowl game.With all of that officially on the record, I’ll brace myself for the inevitable onslaught of basket-weaving major comments in three... two... one...
