The
Gators also are in a strong position to win the men's Capital One Cup
for the second consecutive year. If Arkansas fails to win the College
World Series, UF clinches a first-place finish in the second year of the
Capital One Cup.
It all adds up to yet another banner year for one of the nation's elite overall athletic programs.
“This
was quite a season for the Gator program,” UF athletic director Jeremy
Foley said. “Certainly, Florida fans can celebrate the NCAA titles by
women's tennis and both the men's indoor and outdoor track & field
programs.
“Placing
second in the Directors' Cup shows that many Gator teams performed well
in this season's national championship competition. Our
student-athletes and coaches strive for success and we take great pride
in watching them compete at the highest level.”
Stanford
has clinched its 18th consecutive Directors' Cup, compiling a total of
1,448.25 points. The Gators finished second with 1,314.00 points. UCLA
holds the third spot, while Florida State is in fifth place (with the
CWS still to go).
The
Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National
Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today. Points
are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 20 sports — 10
women's and 10 men's.
Florida
is the only program to finish among the nation's top 10 in each of the
last 29 national all-sports standings. The Gator program also was second
in 2009-10 and tied for second in 1997-98.
In
2011-12, the Gators won three national championships (men's indoor and
outdoor track and field and women's tennis) and four conference titles,
three in the SEC.
Florida's
12 top-10 national team finishes in 2011-12 matches the third-highest
in school history. At least 10 Gator teams have turned in top-10
finishes in each of the last 11 seasons. The program's record of 14
top-10 finishes came in 2009-10.
Along
with three national titles this academic year, the Gators finished
second in gymnastics, tied for third in lacrosse and tied for fifth in
men's basketball and volleyball.
Florida
also is in a position to win the men's Capital One Cup, depending on
what happens in Omaha this weekend (and in the final national baseball
poll). The Gators automatically clinch the Cup if Arkansas does not win
the baseball title. Even if the Razorbacks do, UF could still take the
Cup if the baseball team finishes in the top seven or eight in the final
poll.
UF is in ninth-place in the women's standings. Stanford has clinched the women's Capital One Cup.
