Jan. 10, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame stands 21st in the final 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.

California (370 points) currently leads the competition, after winning the NCAA men’s water polo title. Second is USC (343), followed by Stanford (315), Oregon (304) and Penn State (303).

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 (formerly I-AA) and the football bowl subdivision (formerly I-A).

Winter sports updates will be published March 27, April 10 and May 1.

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 370, 2.USC 343, 3.Stanford 315, 4.Oregon 304, 5.Penn State 303, 6..Wake Forest 278, 7.West Virginia 273.5, 8.Connecticut 254, 9.Texas 244.5, 10.Florida 243.5, 11.Michigan 237, 12.Florida State 234, 13.UCLA 231, 14.Virginia 218, 15.Michgan State 214, 16.BYU 212.75, 17.Wisconsin 212, 18.Ohio State 208, 19.LSU 200, 20.Duke 199, 21.Notre Dame 188, 22.North Carolina 184, 23.Oklahoma State 180, 24.Illinois 178, 25.Colorado 172.

— ND —