Notre Dame Sweeps BIG EAST Commissioner’s Trophies For Seventh-Straight Year
Irish men’s teams post 97 points, while the women end up with 120.

May 23, 2003

The University of Notre Dame athletic teams continued their excellence in the BIG EAST Conference during the 2002-03 season, capturing both the men’s and women’s commissioner’s trophies for the seventh-straight year. The 2002 trophy is the eighth-straight for the Notre Dame men’s teams (who have won it each season since they joined the conference). The women earned their seventh-straight award.

The men’s 97 points ended up 22 better than Virginia Tech in second place (75), followed by Rutgers (71), Connecticut (59.5) and Georgetown (55.5). The women posted 120 points, with Miami (92), Villanova (85), Boston College (83), and Rutgers (78) rounding out the top five.

Notre Dame’s performance was keyed by capturing a share of league titles in a conference-best eight sports during the 2002-03 season. Team championships were earned by the Irish men’s teams in indoor track and field, tennis and outdoor track and field. The women finished first in cross country, volleyball, swimming and diving, tennis and softball. League champions in each sport are based upon regular season finish when the BIG EAST conducts round-robin competition, or a championship finish when there is no in-season competition.

The Irish and Villanova are the only teams in conference history to claim the trophies in both men’s and women’s athletics. The Wildcats won the titles in 1982-83, ’83-’84, and ’86-’87. Notre Dame is the only school in BIG EAST Conference history to claim seven-straight men’s and women’s trophies. The men’s trophy was first awarded in 1979-80, the league’s inaugural year. The women’s trophy began in 1982-83.

2002-03 BIG EAST Commissioner’s Trophy Final Standings

Men
rank, school, points
1. Notre Dame, 97
2. Virginia Tech, 75
3. Rutgers, 71
4. Connecticut, 59.5
5. Georgetown, 55.5
6. St. John’s, 52.5
7. Boston College, 52
8. West Virginia, 50
t9. Pittsburgh, 58.5
t9. Seton Hall, 48.5
11. Villanova, 48
12. Syracuse, 40.5
13. Providence, 34.5
14. Miami, 30.5

Women
rank, school, points
1. Notre Dame, 120
2. Miami, 92
3. Villanova, 85
4. Boston College, 83
5. Rutgers, 78
6. Connecticut, 75.5
7. Virginia Tech, 67.5
8. Georgetown, 65.5
9. Syracuse, 63.5
10. Pittsburgh, 55.5
11. West Virginia, 53
12. Seton Hall, 38
13. Providence, 30
14. St. John’s, 27.5