Dec. 29, 2005

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame remains in first place in the third 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 355 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) and their regional semifinal appearance in women’s volleyball (64).

Yet to come are fall points for Notre Dame’s final standing in football (based on the final USA Today poll after the bowl games). The final fall standings will be available Jan. 10.

Stanford (282 points) ranks second, thanks to its ’05 NCAA title in women’s cross country, a runnerup finish in men’s water polo, and a sixth-place finish in men’s cross country. Third is Duke (second in field hockey, third in women’s cross country), followed by Colorado (NCAA women’s cross country runnerup) and Wisconsin.

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-AA football, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s water polo.

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.Notre Dame 355, 2.Stanford 282, 3.Duke 280, 4.Colorado 240, 5.Wisconsin 232, 6.Penn State 223.5, 7.North Carolina 213.5, 8.Santa Clara 206, 9.UCLA 204, 10.Maryland 200, 11.California 199.5, 12.Arizona 197, 13.Virginia 181, 14.Arkansas 176, 15.Wake Forest 170.5