Tampa Earns Another Quality Directors’ Cup Showing
CLEVELAND - The University of Tampa came in at No. 15 in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, marking the top finish for the Spartans since coming in at the same spot in 2009.
Grand Canyon (Ariz.) edged Grand Valley State (Mich.) by a close score of 954.75-939.25. This is the Lopes second straight Learfield Sports Directors' Cup title. Grand Canyon will be honored at the 2013 NACDA Convention during the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup luncheon sponsored by United States Olympic Committee, on Friday, June 14.
The Spartans finished with a total of 511 total points, 253 from the fall, 108 from the winter and 150 in the spring. UT earned recognition from all five fall teams as each competed in their respective NCAA tournaments. In the winter, Tampa benefited from top-15 finishes by both the men's and women's swimming teams.
The national champion baseball team hauled in 100 points for UT. The softball team also earned 50 points following a No. 17 finish.
In women's swimming, Tampa was No. 13 and earned 63 total points as the men were No. 15 with 45 points.
The national runner-up UT volleyball team was the big winner for the Spartans in the fall, finishing second to register 90 points. Women's soccer had 64 points for a ninth-place finish as the men recorded 50 points with a 17th-place showing. Women's cross country also earned 49 points for its 25th-place finish.
Tampa ranks third among Sunshine State Conference institutions, with Nova southeastern (9) and Barry (13) also in the top-15. Florida Southern (22), Lynn (23), Rollins (25), Saint Leo (98), Florida Tech (145) and Eckerd (205) were also among the listed institutions.
The fall NCAA championships saw the following institutions capturing titles: women's soccer - West Florida; men's soccer - Lynn (FL); women's cross country - Grand Valley State (MI); men's cross country - Adams State (CO); women's field hockey - West Chester (PA); football - Valdosta State (GA); and women's volleyball - Concordia St. Paul.
At the conclusion of the winter NCAA championships, the following institutions capturing titles: wrestling -Nebraska Kearney; women's swimming - Drury (Mo.); men's swimming - Drury (Mo.); women's indoor track and field - Academy of Art (Calif.); men's indoor track and field - Saint Augustine's (N.C.); women's basketball - Ashland (Ohio); men's basketball - Drury (Mo.).
The following institutions capturing spring national titles: men's outdoor track & field - Saint Augustine's (NC); women's outdoor track & field - Academy of Art (CA); baseball - Tampa (FL); women's rowing - Nova Southeastern (FL); men's lacrosse - Le Moyne (NY); men's golf - Barry (FL); softball - Central Oklahoma.
The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 14 sports -- seven women's and seven men's.
Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's website at www.directorscup.org. In addition, please visit www.thedirectorscup.com, like on Facebook at facebook.com/lsdirectorscup or follow on Twitter @lsdirectorscup.