Colgate is No. 1 in the nation, along with Notre Dame, in graduation rates for its Division I student-athletes, according to a report issued by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The latest NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data show that 99 percent of athletes at Colgate and Notre Dame graduated.

The men's soccer team is in, having won the Patriot League title and a spot in the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year.

The men's football team wants in, and by winning a critical match-up against Holy Cross on Saturday it would capture the Patriot League championship and receive an automatic berth in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Welcome to NCAA Division I athletics, everyone.

The NCAA national office has released the latest round of graduation success rates and Colgate, along with two other schools, had the highest graduation in Division I for its student-athletes with 99 percent.

The data is from the four-class aggregate of entering classes from 1998 through 2001 and show the percentage of student-athletes earning a degree within six years.

"It was the best experience of my life."

That was the simple text message that Jesse Winchester '08 had sent to the Colgate athletics department after his NHL debut on Saturday night.

Winchester, a dominant force for the Raiders hockey team the past four years, jumped directly to the NHL after being signed by the Ottawa Senators three days after the Raiders season ended.