June 26, 2006
Northwest Finishes 2005-06 in 19th Place in the Directors' Cup Standings
NEW ORLEANS -- Thanks to a runners-up national football final appearance and a Sweet 16 men's basketball showing, Northwest Missouri State finished the 2005-06 season ranked 19th in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup Division II Final Standings, presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), United States Sports Academy (USSA) and USA Today to the best overall collegiate athletics programs in the country. The presentation occurred recently (June 22) at NACDA's 41st Annual Convention and the four winning institutions -- one in each of the NCAA divisions (I, II, and III), and the NAIA -- were awarded with their U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cups.
Northwest totaled 359 points, third highest amount of any Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) program. Central Missouri State took seventh (483.75 point) while Emporia State was 12th (413.5). Two-time defending champion Grand Valley State University (Mich.) won its third consecutive "Cup" with a NCAA record 974.75 points.
Leading the charge were the Northwest football and men's basketball programs. Football advanced to the playoffs for the eighth time in 10 years while the hardwood Bearcats made it to the postseason for the seventh time in 10 years. The success of those particular sports in the last decade is the best in all of Division II -- University of California at Davis had the next best successful football and men's basketball programs (football - 7 in last 10 years; men's basketball - 5 in last 10 years).
Other Bearcat teams to finish in postseason rankings were women's tennis (9th), men's tennis (9th), men's indoor track and field (21st), men's outdoor track and field (32nd) and softball (33rd), who made its first postseason appearance since 1984.
For a complete listing of the Directors' Cup finalists, visit http://nacda.cstv.com/sports/directorscup/spec-rel/061906aal.html.
Developed as a joint effort between USA Today and NACDA, the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup program is the only all-sports competition that recognizes the institution in each of the four categories with the best overall athletics program.
2005-06 Northwest Sports Standings
- Football - 2nd
- Women's Tennis - 9th
- Men's Tennis - 9th
- Men's Basketball - Sweet 16 appearance
- Men's Indoor Track and Field - 21st
- Men's Outdoor Track and Field - 32nd
- Softball - 33rd
 |
|
 |