16 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, July 5, 2005
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Leaders and
fourth-best
Propelled by its first national championship in
softball, Michigan finished fourth in the NACDA
Directors' Cup, its third-best finish in history.
Text by James V. Dowd Page design by Stephanie Wright
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At the end of each academic year, the
United States Sports Academy awards the
Directors' Cup in conjunction with the
National Association of Collegiate Direc-
tors of Athletics and USA Today to the
best overall collegiate athletic program in
the country. This distinction is based on
standings determined by the finishes of
a school's top 10 men's sports and top 10
women's sports.
After sitting in second place for most of
the year, Michigan finished fourth in the
final standings, riding its softball team's
,sational championship and top-10 national
finishes in 11 sports. Wolverine teams also
compiled eight conference championships
throughout the year.
The fourth-place finish was the Wol-
verines' third-best performance in the 12
years that the Directors' Cup has been in
existence. Michigan was the runner-up in
last year's standings and finished third in
1999-2000.
The winner of this year's Directors' Cup
was Stanford, clinching its 11th straight
victory with 1238.75 points, including a
championship in women's tennis and a sec-
ond-place finish in women's water polo.
The other two schools ahead of Michi-
gan were Texas, which clinched second
place with its victory in the College World
Series, with 1074 points and UCLA, cham-
pions of men's tennis and women's water
polo, with 1067 points. Michigan finished
with a score of 1064.25. Duke came in
fifth with 1021.25 points.
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Members of the Michigan softball team celebrate after the Wolverines won their first national championship.
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Michigan celebrates its 3-2 win over Iowa for the Big Ten championship (FILE PHOTO). Above: All-
s in the Wolverines' match against Ohio State in February (FILE PHOTO).