It's nice to see a non-financial aid piece here!  But at least you're keeping a Nebraska theme (i.e. Nelnet).

As a Missouri grad. (BS, 94) some will question my motives for the following, but I'll say it anyway:  Nebraska shouldn't lower its admissions standards or let up in emphasizing classroom work.  It's better to be a loser with Academic All Americans than without.  Sad as it is to say this, Mizzou will be in the latter category when its winning streak (whether this season or more) ends.

But in defense of Nebraska's officials, they had Academic All Americans when Osborne was the coach.  I think the administration there is reacting to the fact that they had both winning and academics before, but now they've only got one.  Fair enough.  Comparing them with Notre Dame is the right thing to do.

And the largess of Charlie Weiss's contract at least ensures that he can adjust while keeping academic standards high.  If he had a disposable contract, then pressure from alums would win out. - TL

Ms. Luebchow:

Nebraska has always had a high emphasis on student-athlete performance in the classroom.  As you should be aware, the University of Nebraska has graduated more academic All-Americans than any other school, ever.

An additional point to note is that the figures you cite, for graduation rates between 1997 and 2000, were for student-athletes attending prior to the Bill Callahan era. 

The reality is that, at Nebraska, the expectation is for on-field performance GIVEN classroom excellence.

Thank you,

Sean McFarlin

Thank you Sean for pointing out the obvious information this article neglects.

Anyone that ever bothered to hear Chancellor Perlman speak would probably reconsider what they think was entering his mind.

Pederson was fired in part because of the poor performance of the football program, but only in part. More pressing to the Chancellor, according to the Chancellor himself, was conflict of personalities within the Athletic Department. Pederson is the man who, according to some, fired Frank Solich mainly to prove he was the boss and Nebraska athletics was his show- sounds like a fun guy to work with.

I understand and agree with the basic argument trying to be made here, but using programs that have always had academic excellence and are firing people who fail on the field as an example is a pretty poor way of going about proving your point. Yes, these coaches continue the tradition of emphasizing academics, but schools like Notre Dame and Nebraska want coaches/ADs who can make students excel in the classroom AND on the field.

Your comment "Schools are telling coaches: win football games, and we’ll extend your contract. It would be nice if you could figure out a way to also graduate your players, but that’s not how you’re going to keep your job." does not apply to Nebraska or Notre Dame nearly as much (if at all- for all we know Callahan would be fired on the spot if students started failing class, similarly, his players academic success might be the only reason Perlman did not fire he and Pederson long ago) as schools like Texas and LSU, so why not work your angle from that side?

I anxiously await the followup article, "In Austin, Fs and Felons Might Get You a Raise".

Giving Bill Callahan credit for Nebraska's Academic All-Americans and graduation rate is tantamount to giving the current President of the United States credit for the Constitution.  Such things were the reality at Nebraska long before Callahan destroyed our on-field credibility.  It's amazing the author of this article didn't figure this out, given that data from 1997 (incidently, Nebraska's last championship year) to 2000 was quoted.  Bill Callahan did not have one iota of involvement with Nebraska football prior to 2004.  Tom Osborne won with players who also excelled in the classroom, and I fully expect Callahan's replacement to do so as well.

Again, Nebraska has always had academic success. Lindsey needs to do her homework! Obviously she didn't go to Notre Dame or Nebraska.

Cherry-picking information is a lazy way to make an argument. But a quick search of the web would turn up a number of pages, including the University of Nebraska's own site (https://www.nmnathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=174&SPID=41&DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=3943) detailing the long tradition of academic excellence at Nebraska. I was a student, though not an athlete, when Bob Devaney became football coach back in 1962. One of the first reforms he instituted was academic tutoring for athletes. Before his arrival many athletes were majoring in physical education, which at that time included getting grades for the sports in which they participated. Over the past 45 years Nebraska athletes have been earning their academic honors in engineering, accounting, pre-med, and other rigorous disciplines.

Back in the 80's, which researching scholarship opportunities for my own children, I came across a book that stated, and I paraphrase, "Athletic scholarships--Body by Fischer; Mind by Mattel--Nebraska will find those students." Earlier this year, when the University of Michigan stumbled early in its football season, some were quick to disparage "the Harvard of the West". And Notre Dame's storied history of academic excellence has taken many a hit this year from those wishing to link it to their lack of success on the field.

One wonders whether the sniping at academic success of schools like Notre Dame, the University of Michigan, and yes, Nebraska, is driven more by envy and opportunism in denigrating when excellence in the area of athletic competition falters.