UGA’s athletic director says helping student-athletes succeed academically is a top priority for coaches.

But UGA football team’s academic performance compared to other SEC football teams has actually gotten worse over time.

Six years ago, UGA had the second highest academic progress rate in the conference. Today, it's number nine. UGA's NCAA graduation rate puts it seventh among SEC schools.

UGA's new football coach, Kirby Smart, is eligible for a $50,000 bonus if his team meets academic targets. That's less than 1 percent of Smart's total possible compensation, Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Matt Kempner says.

Athletic director Greg McGarity told Kempner that academic targets "are difficult to achieve."

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