Montana takes early lead in Presidents Cup race
1/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
Led by its conference-champion football team, the University of Montana is in first place through the fall season in the Sterling Savings Big Sky Conference Presidents Cup race. The Presidents Cup is an annual award that recognizes a combination of academic and athletic achievement.
The Grizzly football team collected 24 points for its conference championship, while the UM volleyball team (fourth place) earned 15 points, the women's cross country (second) and soccer (tied for second) teams each had 10 points and the men's cross country team (fourth) collected six points for a total of 65 points.
The five fall sports averaged 13.0 points per sport.
Sacramento State is second with an average of 10.8 points per sport. The Hornets are followed by Weber State (10.0), Portland State (9.7), Montana State (9.125), Northern Arizona (8.4), Idaho State (7.6), Eastern Washington (7.0) and Northern Colorado (4.2).
"This is fantastic news and a true testament to the values of our student-athletes and coaches as they balance classroom work with successful efforts on the playing fields and courts," UM athletic director Jim O'Day said Wednesday. "It demonstrates a commitment to excellence by the University of Montana and everyone at UM Athletics. It is a tremendous accomplishment for the first half of the academic year, and we're extremely proud of what's taken plus thus far. Hopefully we can continue this success as we head into the second half of the year."
This is the fifth year the Sterling Savings Presidents Cup will be awarded. Weber State won the first two Cups (2002-03 and 2003-04), while Montana State (2004-05) and Northern Arizona (2005-06) have won the last two.
Academic criteria, such as team GPA, graduation rates and all-conference performers with GPAs over 3.00, are also factored into the standings.
The Grizzly football team collected 24 points for its conference championship, while the UM volleyball team (fourth place) earned 15 points, the women's cross country (second) and soccer (tied for second) teams each had 10 points and the men's cross country team (fourth) collected six points for a total of 65 points.
The five fall sports averaged 13.0 points per sport.
Sacramento State is second with an average of 10.8 points per sport. The Hornets are followed by Weber State (10.0), Portland State (9.7), Montana State (9.125), Northern Arizona (8.4), Idaho State (7.6), Eastern Washington (7.0) and Northern Colorado (4.2).
"This is fantastic news and a true testament to the values of our student-athletes and coaches as they balance classroom work with successful efforts on the playing fields and courts," UM athletic director Jim O'Day said Wednesday. "It demonstrates a commitment to excellence by the University of Montana and everyone at UM Athletics. It is a tremendous accomplishment for the first half of the academic year, and we're extremely proud of what's taken plus thus far. Hopefully we can continue this success as we head into the second half of the year."
This is the fifth year the Sterling Savings Presidents Cup will be awarded. Weber State won the first two Cups (2002-03 and 2003-04), while Montana State (2004-05) and Northern Arizona (2005-06) have won the last two.
Academic criteria, such as team GPA, graduation rates and all-conference performers with GPAs over 3.00, are also factored into the standings.
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