April 7, 2006

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame, in first place through the fall and the first set of winter sports standings, dropped to fourth place in the latest winter 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).

So far this winter, the Irish have earned 133 points based on their fourth-place finish in fencing (40 points), a 33rd-place finish in men’s indoor track and field (39.5), a 39th-place finish in women’s indoor track and field (32.5), and a 41st-place finish in women’s swimming (21). Still to come are points from Notre Dame’s first-round NCAA appearance in women’s basketball.

Fall NCAA competition earned the Irish 412 points based on their third-place finish in men’s cross country (85 points), their seventh-place finish in women’s cross country (69 points), their quarterfinal appearance in women’s soccer (73), their third-round appearance in men’s soccer (64), their regional semifinal appearance in women’s volleyball (64) and their 11th-place finish in football based on the final USA Today poll (57). Notre Dame ranked atop the final fall standings for the second straight year – and its 412 points marked its highest-ever fall total.

Stanford (621.5 points) is first, thanks to its ’05 NCAA title in women’s cross country and runnerup finishes in men’s water polo and women’s indoor track and field. Texas (women’s indoor track and field NCAA champion) is second with 574.5 points, followed by Penn State (546.25 points), NCAA runnerup in fencing, a third-place finisher in football and an NCAA semifinalist in women’s soccer.

The current standings include results from NCAA fall competition in women’s field hockey, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s volleyball, men’s Division I-A and I-AA football, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s water polo – plus winter competition in women’s ice hockey, fencing, rifle, skiing, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s wrestling, and men’s and women’s indoor track and field.

The next sets of winter standings will be available April 13 and 27.

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 621.5, 2.Texas 574.5, 3.Penn State 546.25, 4.Notre Dame 545, 5.Wisconsin 541, 6.Minnesota 512, 7.USC 508.75, 8.Ohio State 450, 9.Arizona 439.5, 10.Nebraska 427.5.