Dec. 13, 2007

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame stands 21st in the second 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 so far has earned the Irish 32 points based on their 21st-place finish in men’s cross country, plus 83 points for Notre Dame’s national semifinal appearance in women’s soccer. Still to come are 73 points for its national quarterfinal appearance in men’s soccer.

The third set of fall standings will be released Dec. 20 and the final fall standings will be available Jan. 10.

Stanford (225 points) leads the competition, thanks to its ’07 NCAA title in women’s cross country. Second is Florida State (’07 NCAA women’s soccer runner-up, plus third in women’s cross country) with 209 points, followed by California (192), Oregon (190) and North Carolina (184).

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, and women’s soccer.

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 225, 2.Florida State 209, 3.California 192, 4.Oregon 190, 5.North Carolina 184, 6.USC 170, 7.Connecticut 156, 8.Penn State 154, 9.Northern Arizona 149, 10.Colorado 147; 21.Notre Dame 115.

— ND —