Dec. 4, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame stands 31st in the first set of fall sports standings released in the 2008-09 Learfield Sports Division I Directors’ Cup all-sports competition sponsored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

Fall NCAA competition so far has earned the Irish 52 points based on their 19th-place finish in men’s cross country (36 points) and their 29th-place finish in women’s cross country (16 points).

Yet to come are fall points for Notre Dame’s NCAA appearance in women’s soccer (the Irish play in a national semifinal Friday night versus Stanford), its NCAA play in men’s soccer (the Irish participated in a second-round contest), and a potential football bowl game.

The second set of fall standings will be released Dec. 18, a third set of fall standings will be released Dec. 23 and the final fall standings will be available Jan. 13.

Oregon (190 points) leads the competition, thanks to its ’08 NCAA title in men’s cross country and a runner-up finish in women’s cross country. Second is Stanford with 151 points, followed by Washington (138 points, as the ’08 NCAA women’s cross country champion), Princeton (135), Virginia (130) and Georgetown (121.5).

The current standings include results from NCAA fall competition in field hockey, and men’s and women’s cross country.

In previous years in which the Directors’ Cup competition has been held, Notre Dame has finished 11th in 1993-94, 30th in 1994-95, 11th in 1995-96, 14th in 1996-97, tied for 31st in 1997-98, 25th in 1998-99, 21st in 1999-2000, 11th in 2000-01, 13th in 2001-02, tied for 13th in 2002-03, 19th in 2003-04, 16th in 2004-05, a best-ever sixth in 2005-06, 22nd in 2006-07 and 21st in 2007-08.

Here are the current standings: 1.Oregon 190, 2.Stanford 151, 3.Washington 138, 4.Princeton 135, 5.Virginia 130, 6.Georgetown 121.5, 7.Michigan State 115.5, 8.Wisconsin 112, 9.Iowa 109, 10.Florida State 106; 31.Notre Dame 52.