UVA Athletic Program Ranks Sixth in Fall Sears Cup Standings

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--The University of Virginia intercollegiate athletic program ranks sixth in the 1997-98 Sears Directors Cup standings after the completion of the fall athletic seasons. Stanford, which finished first in the 1997 Sears Directors' Cup standings, ranks first after the fall seasons followed by North Carolina, Michigan, Nebraska, UCLA and Virginia.

Virginia and North Carolina are among five Atlantic Coast Conference schools listed in the Top 25 after the fall seasons. Clemson, Florida State and Maryland are all tied for 23rd in the rankings.

Among the highlights of Virginia's 1997 fall intercollegiate athletic seasons were performances by UVa's field hockey and men's and women's soccer teams. Virginia's men's soccer team compiled an overall record of 19-4-3, won the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Championship and finished second in the NCAA Tournament. The field hockey team reached the NCAA Tournament semifinals and had an overall record of 19-3. The women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA Tournament and finished the season with an overall record of 14-5-2.

The Sears Directors' Cup, administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and sponsored by Sears, is designed to honor the institution with the best all-around athletics program in each of the NCAA's Divisions I, II and III and the NAIA. It is the first cross-sectional all-sports national recognition award for both men and women.

A new scoring structure was implemented this year in which points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 20 sports, ten for men and ten for women. Each national champion receives 100 points.

Virginia finished 22nd in the 1997 Sears Directors' Cup standings, 21st in 1996 and 19th in 1995. Sears Directors' Cup Division I Top 25 Rankings for the Fall of 1997

1)    Stanford                14)   Connecticut
2)    North Carolina                Wisconsin
3)    Michigan                      Youngstown State
4)    Nebraska                17)   Dartmouth
5)    UCLA                          McNeese State
6)    Virginia                      Old Dominion
7)    Brigham Young                 Princeton
      Colorado                      Southern California
9)    Florida                       Washington
10)   Arkansas                23)   Clemson
      Penn State                    Florida State
12)   Notre Dame                    Maryland
      Pepperdine                    Santa Clara

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