Having marked up a heaping helping of righteous indignation for slapdash journalism this week I felt it important to highlight a fantastic piece of investigative and explanatory reporting courtesy the Indianapolis Star.

Earlier this week Mark Alesia authored a thoroughly researched piece examining the issue of "special admits" in NCAA athletics. These are the students admitted under exceptions to normal admission standards for reasons including "special talent." Often these are students whose academic eligibility is in question.

The University of California topped the list with 95 percent of its freshman football players on scholarship were special admits, compared with 2 percent of the student body. In their defense, officials with the institution defended the figures saying they are the result of a strict in accounting for special admits.

And as hazy as the numbers are for this practice, the info for the graduation rates for these athletes is even more difficult to discern.

Because there are no national statistics on graduation rates for special admits, it's difficult to judge the degree to which schools are educating these athletes.

The numbers for football players at SEC schools involved in the report are as follows…

• Georgia – 94%
• LSU – 82%
• Kentucky – 64%
• Alabama – 21%
• Florida – 18%
• Auburn – 12%
• Mississippi – no special admits
• Mississippi State – no special admits
• Arkansas – did not respond

HT - Fanbogs