PHILADELPHIA, PA - With the close of the Fall semester at La Salle University, it was clear that football is not only on track to improve on the field, but that the team is getting better where it counts the most: academically.

Out of 87 players on the team, 39 earned at least a 3.0 GPA last semester, with 31 of those owning a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for their collegiate career so far. In addition to that, 77 percent of the team improved on their overall GPA this year under the leadership of the new coaching staff.

Out of the 39 players, nine freshmen earned a 3.0 or better GPA in their first semester of college: Jerry Barlow (3.1), Aaron Bernotas (3.1), Pat Brown (3.0), Chris Dell Fave (3.1), Dave Macknet (3.7), John Pascale (3.3), Ralph Pierre-Louis (3.1), Tyrek Smith (3.2), and Bryant Torres (3.3).

With the team utilizing tools such as study hall hours and the university's outstanding academic support services, football players are on par to improve and have an even more successful academic semester this spring.