June 27, 2007

USC finished fifth among Division I schools in the U.S. Sports Academy Director's Cup 2006-07 standings, its highest finish ever in the national all-sports awards program that began in 1993-94.

"We are very pleased that the 2006-07 season marked our highest finish ever in the Director's Cup," said USC athletic director Mike Garrett. "It is a reflection of the across-the-board competitiveness, depth and success of our programs. I honestly believe we could win a national championship in any of our 19 sports, from women's rowing to football.

"I also believe that this high finish is a foretelling of what the future holds for Trojan athletics."

In each of the 14 years of the Director's Cup, USC has placed in the Top 20, including 10 finishes in the Top 10. Troy's previous best finish was sixth in 1994-95.

The Director's Cup is a measuring stick of an athletic program's broad base and overall success. Director's Cup points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 20 sports--10 women's and 10 men's.

This past athletic season, USC had Top 10 national finishes in 11 of its 19 sports, including second in men's water polo, third in women's water polo, fourth in football and women's golf and fifth in men's track, women's rowing and men's tennis.

After North Carolina won the inaugural Director's Cup in 1993-94, Stanford has captured the past 13 trophies, including this season's. The Pac-10 placed 5 teams in the Top 10 of this year's standings. UCLA (1,232 points) was second behind the Cardinal (1,429), California (1,030) was ninth and Arizona State was 10th (1,005). The other schools in front of the Trojans (1,103.5) were the Tar Heels (1,161.33) in third and Michigan (1,135.25) in fourth.

The Directors' Cup is the first-ever cross-sectional all-sports national recognition award for both men and women. It was developed in 1993-94 by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today as the all-sports award for Division I. The program was then expanded in 1995-96 to include Divisions II and III and the NAIA. The United States Sports Academy is the program's sponsor.

Prior to the debut of the combined men's/women's Director's Cup, USC won the National Collegiate All-Sports Championship--an annual ranking by USA Today (and previously by The Knoxville Journal) of the country's top men's athletic programs--6 times (1971-72-74-75-77-80) since its inception in 1971.

2006-07 U.S. Sports Academy Director's Cup Standings

Rank, institution, Total

1. Stanford 1429.00

2. UCLA 1232.00

3. North Carolina 1161.33

4. Michigan 1135.25

5. Southern California 1103.50

6. Tennessee 1042.25

7. Florida 1042.25

8. Texas 1037.25

9. California 1030.00

10. Arizona State 1005.00

11. Duke 988.25

12. Georgia 971.00

13. Virginia 945.00

14. Ohio State 927.50

15. Florida State 924.25

16. Wisconsin 913.25

17. LSU 888.00

18. Texas A&M 881.00

19. Auburn 866.25

20. Minnesota 862.75

21. Penn State 848.83

22. Notre Dame 789.50

23. Wake Forest 708.50

24. Arizona 703.33

25. Oklahoma 702.75