The Associated Press released a report Nov. 18 showing OU’s football program is ranked the lowest in graduation rates in the Big 12, at 45 percent. The ranking period coincides with Bob Stoops’ first four years as head coach.

There is no discrediting that playing football in college is no simple task. It’s a sport that takes over their lives; they eat, breathe and sleep football (the cliché has merit in their case).

And we have to present a qualifying statement: 45 percent of the football players did graduate. We’re well aware the football player stereotype is absolutely unfair in the obvious case of the majority.

But we can’t shrug off the fact that a majority of the team take might be taking advantage of the opportunity for free education they are receiving.

These low numbers reveal more than just a deficit on the football players’ part. It exposes a sad truth about our university.

Since when did a university become something other than an institution of education? For any department on a university campus, the priority should never fall short of academia. And we feel that the low rate of graduation for football players is indicative of a priority shortfall.

To the football players who fall into the stereotype, we hope for your sake that you break out of it. Not only are you devaluing our university’s name as a prestigious academic institution, you’re hindering your chances of success.

Sure, it could be your dream to be an NFL player. But being realistic never hurt; we hope you realize that whether you are the best football player your university has ever seen, one unexpected injury can end your career (and we all know that injuries are all too prevalent, as seen this season).

So, please, take advantage of your education. It’s not just free – it’s an education most students would love to get for free or at least for a lower cost. There’s nothing more beneficial than knowledge. And that lasts forever.