For sure gt cares about grad rates. I would argue when you say gt hasnt changed that in fact its gotten worse.
Admissions for football are harder than under GOL. Grad rates are a focus due to apr and the school now uses apr as a reason to tighten admissions even though that correlation is overdoing it.
Look in our society today everything is lining to a more socialist approach. The school doesnt trust the AA to do its job so it puts in admissions regulation. Rather than saying, hey you can recruit who you want to, but if u miss in apr and have too many fail outs its your job. Instead they provide a standard and handcuffs and say good luck, we dont trust you we know better than you so here is your regulation. I think its dumb. CPJ makes more money than anyone on that campus by a wide margin. Hold him accountable but let him do the job unrestricted. If he draws the line somewhere fine, its his call. No one knows the recruits better than that staff. They know if the kid has a chance at succeeding.
Not any different than the federal government expansion of regulation, rules and the we know better than you how to do your job or life.
Its bad imo. We need to move back to the model of people need to be able to do their jobs with consequences etc