May 1, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The University of Notre Dame stands 15th in the final set of winter sports standings released today 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).

Winter competition in NCAA events earned Notre Dame 355.5 points - 90 for its NCAA runner-up finish in the men's ice hockey Frozen Four, 90 more for its runner-up finish in men's and women's fencing (a combined championship), 64 for a regional semifinal appearance in women's basketball, 50 for a second-round appearance in men's basketball, 37.5 for a tie for 36th place in the men's indoor track and field championships, and 24 for a 41st-place finish in men's swimming and diving (the first points ever won for the Irish in men's swimming).

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.

Stanford (1,082 points) currently leads the competition, after winning the NCAA water polo title and finishing as the runner-up in women's basketball and men's gymnastics. Second is Michigan (780), followed by Penn State (762), Ohio State (703.75) and California (702).

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 (former I-AA) and the football bowl subdivision (formerly I-A). They also include winter results from men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's indoor track and field, fencing, men's and women's hockey, men's and women's gymnastics, women's bowling, rifle, skiing, and wrestling.

Spring sports standings will be published May 29, June 11 and June 26.

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 1,082, 2.Michigan 780, 3.Penn State 762, 4.Ohio State 703.75, 5.California 702, 6.Texas 684, 7.West Virginia 630.5, 8.Wisconsin 628.5, 9.Arizona State 612, 10.Florida 607.75, 11.North Carolina 607, 12.LSU 604.5, 13.Minnesota 581, 14.Tennessee 576.75, 15.NOTRE DAME 543.5, 16.Florida State 535, 17.Georgia 525.5, 18.UCLA 502, 19.Michigan State 490.25, 20.Oklahoma 484.5.