More bowl-bound black football players are graduating, but still at lower rates than their white teammates. And overall, football players from Bowl Subdivision schools are graduating more, a study released yesterday shows.

Of the 68 schools going to bowl games, 19 graduated less than 50 percent of black players, according to the report by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at the University of Central Florida. However, the number of bowl-bound schools that graduate at least half their players rose from 88 percent last year to 91 percent this year.

"Anytime you get this type of improvement for both, black and whites, it's progress," said TIDES director Richard Lapchick. "These are the best overall numbers we've had."

The study examined NCAA-generated graduation rates of freshmen who enrolled in 2001.

The gap between bowl-bound graduating white and black players also closed a bit, from 18 percentage points in 2007 to 16. The number of black graduates grew from 55.5 percent to 59.1 percent.

However, the gap widened among the 119-member FBS schools. At those, a total of 76 percent of whites graduated compared with 59 percent of blacks in the study. Last year, 64 percent of whites and 50 percent of blacks graduated. Among bowl teams, only Oklahoma graduated less than half of its white players.

Lapchick said the improvement in black graduation rates, while encouraging, still shows plenty of work needs done.

"The huge gap remains an issue," Lapchick said.

The NCAA uses graduation rates as the primary factor in its Academic Progress Rating. If a school's APR drops below a certain level, it can be sanctioned, starting with losing scholarships and escalating to restrictions on practice time and postseason play.

The formula considers a 50 percent graduation rate in each sport to be acceptable.

Lapchick said schools are devoting more resources to academic support, such as study halls and tutors, because of the possible sanctions from having a low APR rating.

Navy had the best overall football graduation rate among bowl teams at 95 percent and tied Notre Dame for the best among blacks with 93 percent.

Arizona had the worst overall graduation rate, 41 percent, and among black players, 29 percent.

UTAH STATE

BALDWIN ALUM HIRED

New Utah State coach Gary Andersen has added two assistants to his staff, including one from Maui.

Andersen hired Weber State defensive assistants Kevin Clune and Chad Kauha'aha'a, a former Baldwin High player and head coach, to join his staff.

Clune will coach linebackers and Kauha'aha'a will coach the line on defensive coordinator Bill Busch's defense.

Andersen also hired Steve Mathis as director of football operations.

TEXAS

QB MCCOY TO RETURN

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy confirmed that he will return to the Longhorns for his senior season in 2009.

McCoy has led No. 3 Texas (11-1) to a Fiesta Bowl matchup against Ohio State with 3,445 yards passing and 32 touchdowns, both team records. He's also the team's leading rusher with 576 yards and is expected to be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy this week.

"I'm not going anywhere," McCoy said in an interview published yesterday on the Austin American-Statesman's Web site.

McCoy said he wants to try to win a national championship next season after falling one spot short of the Bowl Championship Series title game this season.

McCoy has said all season he plans to be back next year, but said recently that he would at least inquire about his potential draft status.

ELSEWHERE

New Mexico: Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley was hired yesterday as New Mexico's football coach, becoming the fourth black coach at a major school. Locksley has spent four years at Illinois as coordinator. Though the Illini struggled, Locksley has been credited with building one of the Big Ten's best offenses after following Ron Zook from Florida. Locksley replaces Rocky Long, who resigned last month after 11 seasons in New Mexico, including 4-8 this season.

Central Florida: A Central Florida football player who collapsed during training last week is improving and could be released from the hospital as early as today, his father said last night. Brandon Davis became dehydrated while participating in a routine weightlifting session Wednesday and was taken to Florida Hospital East. His kidneys failed and he had tests on his liver and heart, his father, Adrian Davis said.

Auburn: University of Miami athletic director Kirby Hocutt confirmed yesterday that Auburn contacted him "in the last couple of days" about its interest in Hurricanes offensive coordinator Patrick Nix as a candidate for head coach. Nix graduated from Auburn and played quarterback for the Tigers from 1992-1995. Tommy Tuberville resigned — or was fired, depending on the source — last Wednesday after a 5-7 season.

Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy kicked junior receiver Jeremy Broadway off the football team for breaking team rules. Broadway was formerly a starter for the Cowboys, but caught only two passes this season for 118 yards, including a 95-yard touchdown reception against Iowa State that was the longest pass play in school history.