After months of research for his dissertation, “Factors that Positively Affect Academic Performance of African American Football Student Athletes Who Graduated from Southeastern Conference Institutions,” Dr. Derrick Gragg was inspired to share his findings in order to help bring about change in the culture of college athletics. 

In 2004 African-American males made up 54.6% of Division I football teams and 60.8% of men’s basketball teams (Porter, 2006).  Additionally, in many instances, African-American male student-athletes (AAMSAs) make up an even larger percentage of starters (those who are on the field or court when a contest commences) or major contributors to their teams.  While statistics show that graduation rates for these cohorts of student-athletes has risen gradually during the past decade, they still graduate at rates lower than – and at times, much lower than - their White male teammates as well as African-American female student-athletes.  Thus, it appears that overall, their institutions, athletic administrators and coaches may be failing to support them academically and in other ways as well. 

Dr. Gragg has since found that the findings of his dissertation are universal amongst student-athletes, regardless of their racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose for conducting the study was to identify the factors that affected academic persistence and graduation rates of African-American male student-athletes who participated in the sport of football at Southeastern Conference (SEC) institutions. This study differs from most studies that focus mainly on student-athlete academic nonperformance by focusing mostly on the student-athletes who successfully navigate the academic processes of higher education and ultimately graduate. Why do some African- American student-athletes graduate while others do not?  What is it about the individuals who do graduate that separates them from their African-American teammates who do not succeed academically?  Are there any modern-day “Paul Robesons”?  This study sought to address these questions and many more.

Research Question and Subsidiary Question

The primary research question for this study was: What are the main factors that positively affected academic performance of African-American football student-athletes (AAFSAs) who graduated from Southeastern Conference institutions?  The subsidiary research question was: What do AAFSAs and student-athlete support program (SASP) staff members feel are the main obstacles to African-American student-athlete graduation?

 Significance of Study

Graduation rates for African-American football student-athletes at many Football Bowl Subdivision institutions are abysmally low.  Such rates are typically lower than graduation rates for the general student body, rates of White teammates, and rates of female student-athletes. 
Thus, African-American football student-athletes are in an academic “state of crisis.”  This study analyzed the influences on those who succeeded despite the past culture of African-American football student-athlete academic underachievement and/or failure. 

This study is significant because of the lack of research that currently exists regarding African-American student-athlete academic success.  This study broadened and enhanced the current literature that exists for this topic and drew significant implications for improvement.  This study is also significant because, compared to research on White student academic success; there is a dearth of research discussing academic success of African-American students in general, African-American males and African-American male student-athletes specifically. 

Finally, this study provides vital information to faculty members, leaders of Football Bowl Subdivision institutions and interested parties across the country seeking to improve the academic performance of student-athletes.