Cal-Davis Leads at the End of the Fall Season in the Race for the Division II Sears Directors' Cup

As of December 26, 1996

Cleveland, Ohio --The University of California-Davis holds a commanding lead at the end of the fall season in the race for the 1996-97 Division II Sears Directors' Cup, presented annually by the nation's athletic directors.

Last year's winner with 610.0 points, Cal-Davis added a third-place finish in football, to go along with a third in men's water polo, ninth in women's cross country and women's soccer, and 17th in women's volleyball in its quest for its second Sears Directors' Cup, administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and sponsored by Sears. The Aggies now have 276.5 points and have a 100-point margin over the second place Bloomsburg (Pa.) with 175.0 points. Rounding out the top five are Humboldt State (Cal.), third with 162.5 points; Edinboro (Pa.), fourth with 161.5 points; and Lewis, (Ill.), fifth with 125.0 points.

These are the final fall standings and include the sports of women's and men's cross country, field hockey, football, women's and men's soccer, women's volleyball and men's water polo. Winning these championships were Adams State (Col.) in women's cross country; South Dakota State in men's cross country; Bloomsburg in field hockey; Northern Colorado in football; Franklin Pierce in women's soccer; Grand Canyon (Ariz.) in men's soccer; Nebraska-Omaha in women's volleyball; and UCLA in men's water polo, a championship which encompasses all three divisions.

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 16 sports--six core sports for men, six 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 and tennis; and for women--basketball, cross country, softball, tennis, outdoor 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 sports standings follows. Final fall standings are subject to independent audit. Official standings will be published upon the completion of the fall season.

Go to Standings