FERRIS REGISTERS HIGHEST PLACING EVER IN SCHOOL HISTORY

Bulldogs Place 21st in 2004-05 NACDA Director's Cup Standings

*2004-05 Sports Academy Directors' Cup Division II Final Standings* PDF

The Ferris State University Athletics Department has recorded its highest finish ever in school history by placing 21st overall with 387.5 total points in the 2004-05 U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup Division II final standings.

The 2004-05 Sports Academy Directors' Cup winners were announced at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics' (NACDA) 40th Anniversary Convention in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Grand Valley State University captured its second consecutive Sports Academy Directors' Cup for NCAA Division II with 801.0 points while the University of Nebraska-Omaha totaled 607.0 points to place second and the California State University Chico garnered third place with a 588.5 points total.

The Bulldogs, who placed second in the 2004-05 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Presidents' Trophy Final Standings with 119.5 points, were among five GLIAC-member schools to rank among the top 30. Besides Ferris and Grand Valley State, Northwood claimed 15th place (425.5 pts.), Wayne State was 25th (367.25 pts.), and Ashland posted a 30th-place finish (342.5 pts.).

Ferris State's points were generated by the following athletics teams: women's volleyball (33rd place-25 points), men's basketball (ninth place-64 points), women's indoor track & field (39th place-23 points), women's golf (fourth place-80 points), men's golf (35th place-35 points), softball (33rd place-25 points), women's tennis (ninth place-64 points), men's tennis (ninth place-64 points), and women's outdoor track & field (42nd place-30.5 points).

Prior to this academic year, the previous highest finish for Ferris State was a tie for 34th place in the 1997-98 athletics season.

Developed as a joint effort between USA TODAY and NACDA, the Sports Academy Directors' Cup program is the only all-sports competition that recognizes the institution in each of the four categories (NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA) with the best overall athletics program.

"This a tremendous accomplishment for our entire athletics staff to finish among the nation's top 25 programs," said FSU Athletics Director Tom Kirinovic. "Combining this with our academic success should make all Ferris State supporters proud of the balance that we provide both academically and athletically.

"I congratulate our athletics department staff in finding a way to maximize the resources we have available in recruiting top-notch student-athletes to make these honors possible," Kirinovic added.

The 2004-05 winners in the other three divisions were Stanford University in Division I, Williams College (Mass.) in Division III and Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) in NAIA.

Ferris State's finishes in the Directors' Cup (last 10 years)

Year - Place - Points
1995-96 -- 68thT 98.0
1996-97 -- 64thT 58.5
1997-98 -- 34thT 140.0
1998-99 -- 45thT 110.0
1999-00 -- 53rd 180.0
2000-01 -- 37th 265.5
2001-02 -- 36thT 259.5
2002-03 -- 37th 317.5
2003-04 -- 45th 285.0
2004-05 -- 21st 387.5