NORMAL, Ill. – For the third-consecutive semester, the Illinois State football program set a team grade-point average (GPA) record, after the team recorded a cumulative GPA of 2.941 during the Spring 2014 semester.
The mark bested the team's previous high GPA of 2.759 during the Fall 2013 semester, which topped the GPA of 2.717 set during the Spring 2013 semester.
"Our main goal as a staff when we started here was to upgrade the academic standards of the football program," ISU head coach Brock Spack said. "We set out a benchmark of 3.0 for our players and felt that was very achievable, but a lot of people thought that was reaching a bit. With a 2.94 this semester, we've proved that a 3.0 is very attainable and as a program, we want to live up to the high academic standard of Illinois State University and the athletic department."
A total of 49 student-athletes (54 percent of the roster) were named to the on the AFNI Honor Rol,l after securing at least a 3.0 GPA, and eight current or former players recorded perfect 4.0 marks during the semester. All-American defensive end Colton Underwood, cornerback Mike Banks, wide receiver Scott Kuehn, defensive lineman Matt McCown, fullback Matt Meyers, defensive back Steve Nelson, offensive lineman Mark Spelman and offensive lineman Jake Wienhoff each recorded perfect marks in the classroom this spring and helped the team set the new mark.
"All the credit goes to our players for working hard and focusing on their studies," Spack said. "They did a great job and our coaching staff, the staff at the Karin L. Bone Athletics Study Center including Dr. Paul Downey, Kyle Sny and Keenan Wimbley, and our academic advisors, including Julie Paska, were crucial in helping them achieve their goals in the classroom."
In addition, 18 players received their degrees from Illinois State during the December and May commencement ceremonies.
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