Dec. 1, 2005

The University of Notre Dame stands third in the first set of fall sports standings released in the 2005-06 United States Sports Academy Division I Directors’ Cup all-sports competition sponsored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (formerly known as Sears Directors’ Cup).

Fall NCAA competition so far has earned the Irish 154 points based on their third-place finish in men’s cross country (85 points) and their seventh-place finish in women’s cross country (69 points). Yet to come are fall points for Notre Dame’s NCAA quarterfinal appearance in women’s soccer, its NCAA third-round appearance in men’s soccer, volleyball (the Irish play an NCAA first-round Friday night) and football (based on the final USA Today poll after the bowl games).

The second set of fall standings will be released Dec. 15, a third set of fall standings will be released Dec. 29 and the final fall standings will be available Jan. 10.

Stanford (172 points) leads the competition, thanks to its ’05 NCAA title in women’s cross country and a sixth-place finish in men’s cross country. Second is Colorado (NCAA women’s cross country runnerup), followed by Notre Dame, Wisconsin (NCAA men’s cross country champion) and Duke (second in field hockey, third in women’s cross country).

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 and 16th in 2004-05.

Here are the current standings:

1.Stanford 172, 2.Colorado 165, 3.Notre Dame 154, 4.Wisconsin 134, 5.Duke 130, 6.(tie)Arkansas and Oklahoma State 126, 8.Arizona State 120, 9.BYU 117, 10.Michigan 102.