Providence College Athletics

Friars Tied For 14th In Sears Directors' Cup Standings

Friars Tied For 14th In Sears Directors' Cup Standings

Men's And Women's Cross Country Finishes Get PC Off To Strong Start

December 14, 1998

Providence, R.I. - Providence College finished the fall sports season tied for 14th in the Sears Directors' Cup standings with 40 points based on the Friars' fall sports finishes nationally in men's and women's cross country. The Sears Directors' Cup is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors (NACDA) and sponsored by Sears, Roebuck and Company.

Providence is tied for 14th with Arizona, North Carolina State, Northern Arizona and William and Mary. Stanford leads in the standings with 140 points and is followed by Arkansas, Old Dominion and Villanova to round 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 40 points based on the men's and women's cross country teams finishes at the NCAA Championships in November. The women's team finished 14th and received 20 points. The men's team finished 10th and also received 20 points. Twenty points were awarded to all teams that finished between ninth and 16th at the cross country championships.

The Friars are one of five BIG EAST teams to be ranked among the top 22 teams in the Sears Directors' Cup standings after the fall schedule. Villanova is tied for third, Georgetown is ninth, Connecticut is tied for tenth and Boston College is tied for 22nd.

There will be 20 sports counted in the standings - the top ten scoring sports for men and the top ten 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 and Field (Indoor and outdoor), Volleyball, Water Polo and Wrestling. Women - Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field (Indoor and outdoor) and Volleyball.

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, III and the NAIA. It is the first-ever cross-sectional all-sports national recognition award for both men and women.

The next standings will be released following the completion of the winter sports championships in March.