From now until kickoff in Arlington, Texas, we'll be counting down from 100 to 1 until Alabama and Michigan get the season started. Today, we move to No. 70 and what it means to UA football.

Often athletics overshadow the real purpose of colleges like the University of Alabama. This past May, UA student-athletes did more than win on the playing field, they won in the classroom with more than 70 Crimson Tide athletes earning their degrees.

At least one member of Alabama's 19 sports walked across the stage during spring commencement. All-Americans Courtney Upshaw, Carson Tinker, Damion Square, DeMarcus DuBose, William Ming and Michael Williams were part of two BCS national football championships during their time at Alabama. All-American gymnast Rachel Terry, a two-time recipient of the NCAA Elite 89 Award, was a member of the back-to-back national championship teams during her UA tenure.

The championship softball team graduated All-Americans Whitney Larsen and Kelsi Dunne and All-Region honoree Cassie Reilly-Boccia, while All-SEC selection Justine Bernier is among the soccer team’s graduates. All-American golfer and NCAA Elite 88 Award winner Brooke Pancake will receive her degree this weekend along with fellow All-Americans Taylor Dugas (baseball), Adam Booher (swimming and diving), and Krystle Schade (track and field).

All-SEC basketball stars Ericka Russell and JaMychal Green are scheduled to graduate this weekend as are rowing co-captains Tabitha Coleman and Kristen Iverson and volleyball captain Stephanie Riley.

Last week, Alabama learned how well it fared in the annual APR (Academic Progress Rate) release. The APR is a measuring stick of how well all schools and programs retain and graduate athletes over a four year period. Alabama football finished tied for fourth in the SEC with an APR score of 970, within the top 30 percent nationally.