CLEVELAND, OHIO - The Drake football program has been honored by the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) for showing the greatest improvement in the Academic Progress Rate among the 10 member schools of the Pioneer Football League.

In addition, the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association also recognized the inaugural recipients of the Academic Progress Rate (APR) Award at each of the 14 FCS conferences that posted the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR) score.

"We feel our program is moving forward in many areas," said Drake head football coach Chris Creighton. "Our team takes pride in competing at the Division 1 level without compromising in the academic arena."

"The FCS ADA continues to look for ways to recognize its institutions and support our mission of graduating student-athletes," said FCS ADA President Peter Fields, athletics director at Montana State. "Using the APR as a measuring tool is another way for us to honor deserving institutions."

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member colleges and universities adopted a comprehensive academic reform package designed to improve the academic success and graduation of all student-athletes. The centerpiece of the package is the academic measurement for teams, known as the APR.

Drake will receive its award during the FCS ADA Luncheon June 22 in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention at the Marriott Hotel in Anaheim, Calif.

Conference        Highest APR in 2008-09    Most Improved for 2008-09
Pioneer Football        Davidson            Drake
Big Sky            Northern Colorado        Montana
Big South            Gardner-Webb        N/A
Colonial Athletic Association    Northeastern        Hofstra
Great West Football        California Polytechnic State    Southern Utah
Ivy League        Pennsylvania        Columbia University- Barnard College
Mid-Eastern Athletic        Norfolk State        Florida A&M
Missouri Valley Football    North Dakota State        Indiana State
Northeast            Duquesne            Robert Morris
Ohio Valley        Eastern Kentucky        Jacksonville State
Patriot League        Colgate            Lehigh
Southern            Furman            Wofford
Southland            Sam Houston State        Southeastern Louisiana
Southwestern Athletic     Mississippi Valley State    Alabama State