BLUE TIGERS SLIP IN DIRECTORS’ CUP
The announcement of the United States Sports Academy Directors’ Cup brought a close to Blue Tiger athletics for 2005-06. Lincoln University ended in a tie with Saint Augustine’s College (Raleigh, N.C.) at No. 81 with 185 points in year number 11 of the NCAA Division II version of the United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup.
The Directors' Cup is presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), United States Sports Academy and USA Today to the best overall collegiate athletics programs in the country.
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.
The points generated by the Blue Tigers came from the 2006 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Champion women’s team (100 points) and the third place NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field men’s team (85 points).
After attaining a previous high of No. 53 (270 points) in 2004-05, the Blue Tigers fell in the standings for the first time since going from No. 132 (30 points) in 1997-98 to No. 181 (48.5 points) in 2000-01.
Lincoln University was the third highest ranked Heartland Conference school in the Director’s Cup standings; St. Edward’s (No. 48, 275.5 points), Incarnate Word (62, 228), Lincoln University (t-81, 185) and St. Mary’s (90, 170.5).
North Carolina Central University (Durham, N.C.) led the three (Lincoln University and St. Augustine’s) Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the Directors’ Cup standings, garnering the No. 42 position with 294 points.
The Blue Tigers were one of seven Missouri schools to be included in the Directors’ Cup rankings; Central Missouri (No. 7, 483.75 points), Drury (17, 388.5), Northwest Missouri (19, 359), Truman (26, 344), Rockhurst (76, 189), Missouri Southern (80, 186.5) and Lincoln University (t-81, 185).
St. Augustine’s is the lone Historically Black College and University to appear in each of the 11 polls. Lincoln University has appeared in nine (9) of the 11 Directors’ Cup rankings. The Blue Tigers were not in the standings in 1998-99 or 1999-00.
For the third consecutive year the Lakers of Grand Valley State University (Allendale, Mich.) won the Directors’ Cup with 974.75 points, 382.25 points more than runner-up Abilene Christian University (Abilene, Texas).
Lincoln University is the only Historically Black College and University in Missouri, who holds membership and participates in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Lincoln University is a member of the Texas based Heartland Conference.
