Razorback Athletics Annual Report, 2013-2014
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University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Razorback Athletics Annual Report Athletics 2014 Razorback Athletics Annual Report, 2013-2014 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Dept. of Intercollegiate Athletics Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/athlar Citation University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Dept. of Intercollegiate Athletics. (2014). Razorback Athletics Annual Report, 2013-2014. Razorback Athletics Annual Report. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/ athlar/6 This Periodical is brought to you for free and open access by the Athletics at ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Razorback Athletics Annual Report by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Arkansas’ primary cardinal football IN TODAY’S WORLD OF SOCIAL MEDIA, COMMUNICATION IS OFTEN LIMITED TO A SMALL jerseys featuring the forward-facing Hog on the neckline. number of words, or in the case of Twitter, 140 characters. Brevity is required. But sometimes those constraints can be difficult when trying to convey a message as significant as the University of Arkansas’ remarkable academic and athletics trajectory. Cardinal and White continue to serve as the primary colors for After all, the University is a rapidly growing institution with almost 26,000 students the Razorbacks. Cardinal has been Arkansas’s primary color since the students took it to a vote in 1895. Student-Athletes representing all 50 states and 120 countries. The state’s foremost partner and resource for Sam Wolf (soccer) and Jonathan Williams (football) show how education and economic development is making a positive impact in every county in Arkansas, Cardinal and White are still at the center of the Razorbacks’ look. throughout the nation and around the world. The department of intercollegiate athletics reflects this diversity and success, featuring more than 460 student-athletes competing in 19 sports in the nation’s most competitive conference. So in the abbreviated world of text messages and hashtags, what is the best way to describe Faculty Athletics Committee Chairman Dr. Curt Rom (left to right), Chancellor Dave Gearhart, football student-athlete Kody Walker, the University of Arkansas’ commitment to becoming one of the nation’s top 50 institutions women’s basketball student-athlete Joey Bailey, Associate Athletic Director Eric Wood, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long and longtime Razorback Athletics benefactor Marilyn Bogle officially break ground on the new Student-Athlete Success Center. or the Razorbacks’ goal of winning Southeastern Conference and national championships? It turns out the answer was right there all along – in our fight song. “Never Yield” also describes the commitment to future success with the construction of When William Edwin Douglass, a 1913 graduate, wrote the words “Arkansas Will Never critical new facilities like the Student-Athlete Success Center, the Fowler Family Baseball Yield,” it was seemingly a simple phrase. Yet in only two words, Douglass captured the and Track Training Center and the Basketball Performance Center. It also applies to indomitable spirit that helps guide Razorback Athletics’ continued success in the classroom, Razorback Foundation members who support that commitment and continue to invest in throughout the state, and on the fields of athletic competition. the lives of Razorback student-athletes. As we fulfill our mission to develop student-athletes to their fullest potential through It is unlikely William Edwin Douglass had any idea his words, “Never Yield,” would still intercollegiate athletics, we know that nothing better prepares these young men and women resonate with his beloved university more than a century later. The short phrase remains a for life after their Razorback careers than a quality education and a college degree. Last rallying cry and has taken the Razorback program a long way. But “Never Yield” continues spring, for the ninth consecutive semester, student-athletes posted an average GPA of more to inspire Razorbacks everywhere and has the potential to take the University of Arkansas than 3.0, earning a program best of 3.18. even further! Go Hogs! While we are extremely proud of our academic achievements and the more than 260 student-athletes who made the honor roll, those are simply measuring sticks on the way to the ultimate goal of graduation. In 2013-14, a total of 112 current or former Razorbacks G. David Gearhart Jeff Long earned their college degree from the University of Arkansas, an 81 percent increase from the Chancellor Vice Chancellor & 62 graduates only seven years ago. Director of Athletics Bobby Portis, Anthlon Bell and Michael Qualls model the new Nike men’s basketball uniforms. Razorback student-athletes are also giving back to the Arkansans they represent by volunteering more than 6,200 hours in various outreach programs, including assisting those affected by the deadly tornadoes that ravaged parts of our state this past spring. RAZORBACK ATHLETICS MISSION To assist in creating a consistent look for a wide variety of applications, When the Razorbacks take the field, our signature mantra is on display for those around the To assist in the development of student-athletes to their a custom numeral set and custom nation to see. Whether it is a Razorback sweep of the SEC Cross Country Championships wordmarks for “Arkansas” and fullest potential through intercollegiate athletics “Razorbacks” were designed to or soccer’s historic run to the NCAA Round of 16, Arkansas consistently ranks among the enhance the overall brand and create consistency across multiple sports. most successful athletics programs in the country. Sheet music to the Arkansas Fight Song courtesy of The University of Arkansas Razorback Band: A history, 1874-2004 (University of Arkansas Press, 2004). FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, the Arkansas Razorbacks have been defined by their unwavering determination for success. Never Yield originates from a signature line in the University of Arkansas’ fight song and captures the spirit and passion of Razorback student-athletes, coaches and fans. While it has always been a battle cry specific to the University of Arkansas, Never Yield serves as a program wide motto to help raise the national profile of Razorback Athletics while bringing fans together in their support for the more than 460 student-athletes representing the University of Arkansas. On the field, in the classroom and in the community, Razorback student-athletes are exemplifying the Never Yield mantra as they travel the path to graduation while proudly representing our institution, our state and Razorbacks around the world! 2013 | 2014 UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT 1 GRADUATION AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FULLY ENGAGED BY A COMPREHENSIVE ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAM coordinated by the Office of Student-Athlete Success (OSAS), more than 460 University of Arkansas student-athletes are doing truly extraordinary ARKANSAS ACADEMICS things in the classroom on the way to graduation. The multi-faceted program is designed to equip Razorback student-athletes with the skills 13-14 ACADEMIC YEAR: 112 GRADUATES TEAMS WITH 3.0 GPA OR necessary to be successful in a competitive academic environment and in life. GREATER BY SEMESTER The results have been astounding. The program’s Graduation Success Rate 45 4.0s 50 4.0s has risen to a school record 74 percent. In 2013-14, a total of 112 current or IN FALL 4.0 IN SPRING former Razorback student-athletes earned their college diploma, an 81 1412 percent increase from six years ago. ABOVE ABOVE In the 2014 spring semester, Razorback student-athletes not only recorded an 3.0 3.0 average cumulative GPA of 3.0 or more for the ninth-consecutive semester, GPA GPA but set a new record with a 3.18 cumulative GPA for the 2013-14 academic 13-14 AVERAGE CUM. GPA FALL SPRING year. A total of 14 Razorback teams posted a squad GPA exceeding 3.0 in the fall semester while 12 teams achieved the mark in the spring. For the second-consecutive year, Arkansas saw all 19 sport programs exceed 3.18 the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) benchmark of 930, including 16 FALL SPRING 261 252 programs that bested the score by 10 points or more. The program’s average STUDENT-ATHLETES STUDENT-ATHLETES 3.17 3.19 FALL SEMESTER 3.0 SPRING SEMESTER APR topped 970 for the third-straight year. GRADE POINT AVG While the past six years have fostered remarkable success, Razorback Athletics continues to enhance its commitment to providing student-athletes 3.0+ 3.0+ 3.0+ 3.0+ 3.0+ 3.0+ 3.0+ 3.0+ 3.0+ with some of the nation’s top academic and personal growth resources. In GPA GPA GPA GPA GPA GPA GPA GPA GPA 2014, OSAS partnered with the Enhanced Learning Center on campus 9 CONSECUTIVE SEMESTERS WITH GPA 3.0 OR HIGHER to gain Level 1 certification from the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) for its tutor program. The certification demonstrates UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS STUDENT-ATHLETE GRADUATES Arkansas’ program is one of high quality that adheres to external standards in the tutoring field and marks the first step to being fully certified by the 81% 62 07-08 INCREASE 13-14 112 National Association of Athletic Academic Advisors (N4A). Arkansas became only the second Southeastern Conference institution to earn Level 1 certification. In the past year, 83 tutors in the OSAS program were certified and helped accommodate 16,424 tutor appointments for Razorback student-athletes. 2 2013 | 2014 UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT A total of six Razorback men’s basketball student-athletes participated in spring commencement. Fred Gulley III, Rickey Scott, Kikko Many of the 261 Razorback student-athletes who earned a place on the honor roll (3.0 or better) in the fall semester, lead a Hog Call after Haydar, Coty Clarke, Mardracus Wade and Alandise Harris all earned their degrees from the University of Arkansas.