April 7, 2005

The University of Notre Dame stands in fifth place in the second set of winter sports standings released in the 2004-05 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 current standing comes after the Irish finished the fall seasons in first place — marking the first time in the 12-year history of the program that Notre Dame ranked number one. The previous highest ranking for the Irish had been second in the 2004-05 second set of fall standings.

Winter competition so far has netted Notre Dame 153 points — based on its NCAA combined men’s and women’s championship in fencing (50 points), a 24th-place NCAA finish in women’s swimming (49.5 points) and a 20th-place NCAA finish in men’s indoor track and field (53.5 points). Still to come are points from Notre Dame’s second-round NCAA appearance in women’s basketball. Fall NCAA competition earned the Irish 337 points based on their NCAA title in women’s soccer (100 points), their fourth-place finish in women’s cross country (80 points), their 11th-place finish in men’s cross country (57 points) and their second-round NCAA appearances in both men’s soccer and volleyball (50 points each).

Stanford (699.75 points) is first, thanks to its NCAA title in women’s volleyball and a runnerup finish in men’s swimming. Michigan (689.25) is second, highlighted by an NCAA runnerup finish in wrestling, a quarterfinal appearance in field hockey and a sixth-place finish in women’s cross country.

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

The next sets of winter standings will be available on April 14 and April 28.

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 and 19th in 2003-04.

Here are the current standings:

1.Stanford 699.75, 2.Michigan 689.25, 3.Texas 543.25, 4.Wisconsin 528.75, 5.Notre Dame 490, 6.Auburn 477.5, 7.Tennessee 469.25, 8.UCLA 455.5, 9.Florida 454, 10.Ohio State 438.