May 29, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame stands 15th in the first set of spring sports standings released Thursday in the 2007-08 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). The Irish also finished the winter season in the 15th spot.

Spring NCAA competition so far has produced 187 points — based on Notre Dame’s quarterfinal appearance in men’s lacrosse (60 points), a second-round appearance in women’s tennis (50), a regional appearance in women’s golf (27 points after a tie for 46th place overall), plus first-round qualifications in men’s tennis (25) and women’s lacrosse (25). Only 11 schools have scored more spring points than 187 by Irish teams.

Still to come are points (25) from an NCAA regional appearance in softball – plus potential points from the men’s and women’s NCAA outdoor track and field championships (regional competition takes place this weekend).

Winter competition in NCAA events earned Notre Dame 355.5 points – 90 for its NCAA runner-up finish in the men’s ice hockey Frozen Four, 90 more for its runner-up finish in men’s and women’s fencing (a combined championship), 64 for a regional semifinal appearance in women’s basketball, 50 for a second-round appearance in men’s basketball, 37.5 for a tie for 36th place in the men’s indoor track and field championships, and 24 for a 41st-place finish in men’s swimming and diving (the first points ever won for the Irish in men’s swimming).

Fall NCAA competition earned the Irish 188 points — 32 based on their 21st-place finish in men’s cross country, 83 for Notre Dame’s national semifinal appearance in women’s soccer, and 73 for its national quarterfinal appearance in men’s soccer.

Stanford (1,348 points) currently leads the competition, after winning the NCAA men’s water polo title and finishing as the runner-up in women’s basketball and men’s gymnastics. Second is Michigan (958), followed by Ohio State (934.75), Penn State (912) and Texas (887.5).

The current standings include results from NCAA fall competition in women’s field hockey, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s water polo, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, the football championship subdivision (former I-AA) and the football bowl subdivision (formerly I-A). They also include winter results from men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, fencing, men’s and women’s hockey, men’s and women’s gymnastics, women’s bowling, rifle, skiing, and wrestling. Also included are spring sports results in men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s lacrosse, women’s golf, women’s water polo and men’s volleyball.

Additional spring sports standings will be published June 11 and June 26.

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 and 22nd in 2006-07.

Here are the current standings:
1.Stanford 1,348, 2.Michigan 958, 3.Ohio State 934.75, 4.Penn State 912, 5.Texas 887.5, 6.UCLA 882, 7.California 881, 8.North Carolina 824, 9.Florida 823.75, 10.Duke 798, 11.USC 787.5, 12.LSU 764.5, 13.Arizona State 762, 14.Georgia 756.25, 15.NOTRE DAME 730.5, 16.Tennessee 717.75, 17.Florida State 697, 18.Wisconsin 678.5, 19.Virginia 670, 20.Texas A&M 652.5.

— ND —