Tide Teams Rank 17th in Final Directors’ Cup Standings; Highest Finish since 1994-95
University of Alabama athletics teams combined to rank among the top 6 percent of all collegiate athletics programs nationally for the 2013-14 academic year, according to the two all-sports rankings for college athletics – the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup and the Capital One Cup. Alabama posted its highest finish in the Directors’ Cup in 19 years and earning its third consecutive top-20 finish in the women’s standings of the Capital One Cup.
The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings, begun in the 1993-94 academic year, encompass the combined men's and women's programs. Alabama finished the 2013-14 academic year ranked 17th out of 297 schools in the all-sports rankings. In the Directors' Cup, 20 total teams (10 men and 10 women) can be scored for the final standings. Alabama has 21 teams (9 men and 12 women) in 17 sports programs. Stanford, this year’s winner and the winner of the last 20 Directors' Cups, has 37 total varsity teams.
"I am very proud of the competitive success of our athletics teams over the 2013-14 academic year," said Bill Battle, University of Alabama Director of Athletics. "We have had one of our finest years across the spectrum of our sports this year, in addition to enjoying outstanding successes in academics. This year, nine of our teams finished in the national top 20 with 7 of those teams placing in the top 10. Fourteen of our teams earned postseason berths. It is very gratifying to see our student-athletes and coaches excelling in all facets - in competition, in the classroom, and in the community."
This year’s No. 17 finish, Alabama's highest overall standing in the Directors' Cup since finishing 15th in the 1994-95 academic year, ranks as the Tide's third-best finish ever. Alabama's best Directors’ Cup finish to date is 15th, achieved in the first two years of the standings (1993-94 and 1994-95). Last year (2012-13), the Crimson Tide was 26th in the standings.
Alabama scored 499.25 points in the spring, 303.75 points in the winter standings, and 123.5 points in the fall. The Crimson Tide was the fifth-ranked SEC squad behind Florida (2nd), Texas A&M (10th), Kentucky (11th) and Georgia (16th). Six SEC programs were ranked in the top 25 and all 14 schools were in the Top 54 overall.
Since 2009, Alabama athletics teams have won nine NCAA championships in five sports (3 in football, 2 in gymnastics, 2 in men's golf, 1 in women's golf, 1 in softball).
On the SEC level, Alabama tied its all-time single-year best by winning SEC team titles in 4 sports (men's golf, gymnastics, softball and women's tennis) matching the standard originally set in 2009-10. Since 2009, Alabama teams have won a combined 16 SEC team championships in 7 sports (4 in softball, 3 in men's golf, 3 in gymnastics, 2 in football, 2 in women's golf, 1 in cross country, 1 in women's tennis).
Alabama finished tied for 14th in the women’s Capital One Cup standings, the Tide's third top-20 finish in the four-year history of the Cup. Alabama's top-10 national finishes in softball (second), gymnastics (fourth), women's tennis (sixth) and women's golf (ninth) keyed the Tide's showing. The Crimson Tide was one of four Southeastern Conference women’s programs to finish in the top 20 this year, along with Florida, Texas A&M and Georgia.
Two years ago, the Tide's women's teams posted what remains their highest finish in the Capital One Cup standings, taking third place following the 2011-12 season – led by NCAA team titles in gymnastics, women's golf and softball. Points toward the Capital One Cup are based on final standings of NCAA Championships and final official coaches’ polls. The Capital One Cup counts only top-10 national finishes and uses a tiered points system. That tiered system awards greater value to "marquee sports" (football, basketball, etc.) and lesser value to others.
2013-14 Final Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings
(June 27, 2014)
Top 25 SEC Schools
School Points School Points
1. Stanford........................ 1482.00 2. Florida....................... 1216.50
2. Florida.......................... 1216.50 10. Texas A&M............... 1022.00
3. Notre Dame................. 1128.25 11. Kentucky................... 1016.25
4. Virginia......................... 1118.50 16. Georgia...................... 938.75
5. Penn St.......................... 1113.00 17. Alabama.................. 926.50
6. Texas............................. 1093.00 24. LSU............................. 833.75
7. UCLA.............................. 1078.50 28. Arkansas................... 720.00
8. Southern California... 1063.75 34. Auburn...................... 615.25
9. Duke.............................. 1051.00 35. South Carolina........ 591.50
10. Texas A&M.................. 1022.00 40. Tennessee................ 541.75
11. Kentucky...................... 1016.25 45. Vanderbilt................ 500.75
12. Florida State................ 994.25 46. Missouri.................... 492.20
13. Michigan....................... 983.25 52. Mississippi State.... 426.00
14. North Carolina............ 976.00 54. Mississippi............... 402.50
15. Oregon.......................... 943.00
16. Georgia......................... 938.75
17. Alabama...................... 926.50
18. Wisconsin.................... 912.25
19. Oklahoma..................... 902.75
20. California...................... 878.75
21. Minnesota.................... 875.25
22. Oklahoma State.......... 867.00
23. Nebraska...................... 845.50
24. LSU................................. 833.75
25. Ohio State.................... 824.00
Alabama In Final Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings
Year Place
1993-94............. 15th
1994-95............. 15th
1995-96............. 38th
1996-97............. 18th
1997-98............. 41st
1998-99............. tie-39th
1999-2000........ 28th
2000-01............. 46th
2001-02............. 32nd
2002-03............. 29th
2003-04............. 41st
2004-05............. 38th
2005-06............. 21st
2006-07............. 43rd
2007-08............. 25th
2008-09............. 30th
2009-10............. 23rd
2010-11............. 25th
2011-12............. 23rd
2012-13............. 26th
2013-14............. 17th
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