As of January 9, 1997

Cleveland, Ohio -- The University of Nebraska has seized the lead as the fall season came to a close in the race for the Division I Sears Directors' Cup, presented annually by the nation's athletic directors.

The Cornhuskers placed in the top 10 in four sports in its quest for the Sears Directors' Cup, administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and sponsored by Sears. Nebraska placed third in women's volleyball, fifth in women's soccer; sixth in I-A football and seventh in men's cross country; and added a 20th place in women's cross country to tally 282.0 points. Following in second place is Penn State with 277.5 points. Rounding out the top five are Notre Dame, third with 256.0 points; North Carolina, fourth with 233.0 points; and Stanford, fifth with 232.5 points.

These are the final fall standings and include the sports of women's and men's cross country, field hockey, I-A and I-AA football, women's and men's soccer and men's water polo. Winning these championships were Stanford in women's and men's cross country and women's volleyball; North Carolina in field hockey and women's soccer; Florida in I-A football; Marshall (W.V.) in I-AA football; St. John's in men's soccer; and UCLA in men's water polo.

There are four Sears Directors' Cup Awards, one 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-ever cross-sectional all-sports national recognition award for both men and women.

To determine the champion, points are awarded based on each institution's finish in 22 sports--nine core sports for men, nine core sports for women and two wild card sports each for men and women. The core sports include, for men--baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis and track and field; and for women--basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field and volleyball.

The winner of the award will receive a trophy designed by Waterford Crystal, which will tour the country, appearing at major men's and women's events throughout the year.

A complete listing of the final fall standings follows. Final fall standings are subject to independent audit.