You're assuming that all students who go pro early would not have graduated anyway had they been 'forced' to stay in school - while this is not really an unfamiliar assumption, it's really not fair at all, and reinforces negative (albeit somewhat prevalent) stereotypes about these athletes . . . not all of them are Andy Katzenmoyer. It's really not fair to assume this.

Football isn't the only one where grad rates are skewed by early entrants, basketball is also. Especially when considering the 5/8 rule before it changed. If you can only take 5 in a year and 3 turn pro early(40% if the other 2 graduate), they probably won't graduate till several years later, probably after their pro career is over or close to it.

That's the case for several Univ. of Arkansas players who are just now graduating 7-10 yrs. after they went pro and their careers haven't panned out.

That's why I can't stand these rates for athletics. Guys transferring out count against it, those transferring in don't count. Someone who is good enough to jump early counts against it. Someone who is a bad apple and gets kicked out of school rightfully, counts against it. Most factors a coach can't account for when recruiting except for the character issues of some (Willie Williams, Randy Moss, etc.).

Well said. This is why I really get worried for major programs when the NCAA starts talking sanctions for programs that don't meet certain graduation level criteria.

Especially your big programs that have lots of transfers in and out.