Dec. 21, 2007

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame stands 14th in the third set of fall sports standings released 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).

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.

The final fall standings will be available Jan. 10.

California (325 points) currently leads the competition, after winning the NCAA water polo title. Second is Stanford (315), followed by Oregon and Penn State (254 each) and USC (253).

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, and the football championship subdivision (former I-AA).

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.California 325, 2.Stanford 315, 3.(tie)Oregon and Penn State 254, 5.USC 253, 6.Connecticut 229, 7.Wake Forest 216, 8.Florida State 209, 9.UCLA 206, 10.West Virginia 200; 14.Notre Dame 188.

— ND —