Providence College Athletics

Friars Ranked 5th In Sears Directors' Cup Standings

Friars Ranked 5th In Sears Directors' Cup Standings

Men's and women's cross country NCAA Finishes get PC off to a strong start.

Dec. 12, 2000

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Providence College finished the fall sports season ranked fifth in the Sears Directors' Cup standings with 139 points based on the Friars' fall sports finishes nationally in men's and women's cross country. The Sears Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors (NACDA) and USA Today. It is administered by NACDA and sponsored by Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Providence is fifth overall, one spot ahead of Georgetown (134.5 points) and one point behind fourth-place North Carolina (140 points). Colorado leads the standings with 190 points with Stanford (175 points) and Arkansas (147 points) rounding out the top-three spots.

Points are awarded based on school's finishes in up to 20 sports - 10 for men and 10 for women. Each national champion receives 100 points with remaining points determined by a teams finish in the championship event.

Providence received its 139 points based on the men's and women's cross country teams finishes at the NCAA Championships in November. The PC men's cross country team finished third and received 80 points. The women's team finished ninth and received 59 points.

The Friars are the highest ranked of the five BIG EAST schools ranked in the Directors' Cup Standings. In addition to Georgetown being ranked sixth (134.5 points), Villanova is 11th (100 points), Boston College is 16th (75 points) and Notre Dame is 24th (59 points).

There will be 20 sports counted in the standings - the top-10 scoring sports for men and the top-10 scoring sports for women. Sports which may count in the standings include:

Men - baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track & field (indoor/outdoor), volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

Women - basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field (indoor/outdoor), volleyball and water polo.

There are four Sears Directors' Cup Awards that go to the best all-around athletic program in each of the NCAA's Divisions I, II, II and the NAIA.

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