The Vanderbilt football team was recognized as one of seven I-A universities to graduate at least 90 percent of its eligible student-athletes, the American Football Coaches Association announced this week.

According to the AFCA release, Vanderbilt and six other universities - Boston College, Connecticut, Northwestern, Rice, Duke and Wake Forest - were in a group that graduated at least 90 percent of its 1997-98 freshman class of football players. Duke captured the AFCA’s prestigious Academic Achievement Award with a 100 percent graduation rate.

The Vanderbilt football program is a two-time winner of the Academic Achievement Award. The team was recognized with Notre Dame in 2001 for graduating 100 percent of its 1995-96 freshman class. The Commodores also shared the award with Duke and Boston College in 1996. The Vanderbilt program has been recognized as a high achiever in the academic competition in 16 of the last 17 years. “We are proud of the recognition regarding our success with graduation rates in the football program. Vanderbilt has always had a strong commitment to graduating its student-athletes. Our football staff and academic support staff take great pride in this accomplishment,” Commodore Head Coach Bobby Johnson said.

Of the 102 responding I-A member universities, 31 were recognized for graduating 70 percent or more of its football players. The overall graduation rate was 59 percent, one percent less than the previous year. The study involves the freshman class from the academic year of 1997-98, including those who entered at that time but who did not receive financial aid until after their initial year, or who transferred from another institution and subsequently received a grant-in-aid.