Bowl teams show dismal grad rates

Twenty-seven of the 56 schools with bowl-bound football teams graduated less than half their players, according to a study released Tuesday.

The annual study by the Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sports at the University of Central Florida also showed that 39 of the schools graduated less than half of their black players.

Among the bowl teams, 51 of 55 graduated at least 40 percent of their white players, according to the study, while 30 schools graduated at least 40 percent of their black players. Only six schools graduated a higher percentage of black players than white players.

There are 56 teams playing in this year’s bowl games, but only 55 teams were examined because Navy doesn’t release graduation rates. Last year, 32 bowl-bound teams graduated less than half of their football players.

“You find the gaps between African-American and white football players a little bit wider at the bowl level,” said Richard Lapchick, the study’s author. “It’s a problem throughout Division I-A.”

The schools with the worst graduation rates, both overall and for black players, were Pittsburgh and Texas. Pittsburgh had an overall graduation rate of 31 percent and 20 percent for black players. Texas had an overall graduation rate of 34 percent, 33 percent for its black players.

Syracuse (78 percent overall, 69 for black players), Notre Dame (78 and 74) and Boston College (77 and 76) had the best graduation rates overall and for black players.

Hawkins signs 5-year deal

Boise State coach Dan Hawkins signed a five-year, $2.6 million contract extension that could keep him with the Broncos through the 2009 season.

“I’m very excited about what we have accomplished and even more excited about what is possible in the future,” Hawkins said.

The contract will pay Hawkins a base salary of $525,000 per year.

Hawkins’ new deal is packed with incentives.

If Boise State wins at least six games, Hawkins would receive a 5 percent raise the following year. Eight or nine wins guarantees a 10 percent raise, while winning 10 or more games would give Hawkins a 15 percent raise.

Petrino says he’ll stay at Louisville

Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said he plans to stay with the Cardinals, taking himself off the market for teams with coaching vacancies.

“I want to make it clear that I’m not interested in any other coaching jobs, and am happy at the University of Louisville,” Petrino said in a statement issued by the school.

The statement came after the Mississippi athletic director Pete Boone said that Petrino’s agent had contacted him about that school’s coaching vacancy. Boone said the agent later called back to say the coach was no longer interested.

Western Michigan hires Cubit

Stanford offensive coordinator Bill Cubit was hired to be the head coach at Western Michigan, returning to the school where he was once offensive coordinator.

Cubit replaces Gary Darnell, who was fired Nov. 14 but stayed on to coach his team’s final game of the season six days later. The Broncos lost that game 31-21 to Marshall to finish the season 1-10 and 0-8 in the Mid-American Conference.

Strong to coach Gators in Peach

Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong will coach the Gators in the Peach Bowl, taking a spot left vacant because Ron Zook is leaving for Illinois and Urban Meyer wants to coach Utah through its postseason game.

Athletic director Jeremy Foley said that he called Zook, who was fired in October, to tell him he has coached his last game for the Gators.

With Zook – who was introduced as Illinois’ new coach on Tuesday – no longer tied to Florida, Meyer is clear to begin contacting recruits. Meyer will coach Utah in the Fiesta Bowl against Pittsburgh before fully assuming his duties with the Gators.