According to the report, Middle Tennessee enjoyed a passing mark in each of its 17 Division I sports with four teams (women's golf, men's golf, men's tennis and volleyball) each turning in a perfect mark of 1,000.

The academic progress rate (APR) measures academic eligibility and retention rates and is passed on a 1,000-point scale with 925 being considered a passing grade.

While the overall results across the board are pleasing the continued progress of Middle Tennessee football program continues to draw rave reviews. The Blue Raider football team had a 958 score - the fourth straight year the program has seen its grade rise since the APR was introduced in 2003-04. The football program had the nation's lowest score (812) in the initial 2003-04 report.

"One of the many major topics during my interview for the position (of director of athletics at Middle Tennessee) was to improve the APR, especially in football," Director of Athletics Chris Massaro said. "That was also made very clear in hiring a football coach, and coach Rick Stockstill has done a very good job. It's been a departmental priority and we are proud of the work.

"From where we were a few years ago, it has been a university-wide effort to change things. It really goes from President (Sidney) McPhee to the academic counselors to the coaches to the student-athletes. It's been an effort of teamwork and that work is paying dividends."

While every Blue Raider sport reached the passing mark of 925, 15 of the 17 scored in excess of 950. In addition to the four perfect scores, women's basketball came in with a 981, followed by women's track (indoor, outdoor and cross country) with a 978 and men's basketball scored a 977.

"When you look at the scores and take into consideration the progress we have made across the board each year, clearly we are making strides," Massaro said. "Our student-athletes continue to exhibit the ability to successfully balance academics and athletics. I am pleased with the progress we are showing in this highly-important area."

The APR is calculated by measuring the academic eligibility and retention of student-athletes by each team each term. Based on current data, an APR of 925 calculates to an approximate Graduation Success Rate of 60 percent. An inability to reach the NCAA's cutoff line of 925 could result in reduction of scholarships for that particular sport, as well as penalties for athletic departments if their cumulative APR score of its programs dipped below 925.

Following are the most recent APR scores of Middle Tennessee's athletic teams in the most recent NCAA release: baseball (972), football (958), men's basketball (977), men's golf (1,000), men's tennis (1,000), men's tennis (1,000), men's track (955), soccer (944), softball (944), volleyball (1,000), women's basketball (981), women's golf (1,000), women's tennis (967), women's track (978).

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