2001-02 University of Florida Athletics Year in Review

Florida Third In National All-Sports Competition

Complete review (2.98 MB)

The University of Florida athletic program used 12 top-10 national team finishes to claim the third-place plaque in the 2001-02 Sears Directors' Cup national all-sports competition, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced today. Florida also finished third in the Sears Directors' Cup standings in 1995-96. The program's highest finish of second came in the 1997-98 season.

Florida has ranked among the nation's 10 best collegiate athletic programs for 19 consecutive years. Florida and UCLA are the only schools to finish in the top 10 in national all-sports rankings every year since 1983-84.

The Sears Directors' Cup, presented annually by the nation's athletics directors, recognizes the schools with the best overall sports performances in an academic year.

Points awarded for an institution's finish in up to 20 sports determine the all-sports champion. This is the first year that the Sears Directors' Cup scoring structure awarded points for both indoor and outdoor track & field. In previous years, a program was awarded track points based on the best finish in indoor or outdoor competition. Fielding 20 athletic teams, Florida finished third with 1,078 points. Stanford claimed the title with its current total of 1,429. The SU baseball team is still alive at the NCAA College World Series and will add points to its current total at the tournament's conclusion.

A program-record total of 12 Gator athletic teams finished in the top 10 of their respective sports in 2001-02, matching the record set in the 1992-93 season when 12 teams also posted top-10 finishes. Florida's top-10 teams in 2001-02 NCAA competition include: Women's Tennis (2nd); Football (3rd in both AP & USA Today/ESPN), Women's Indoor Track & Field (3rd), Soccer (T3rd), Men's Swimming & Diving (4th), Men's Outdoor Track & Field (T4th), Volleyball (T5th), Women's Outdoor Track & Field (6th), Women's Golf (T6th), Women's Swimming & Diving (7th), Men's Tennis (T9th) and Gymnastics (10th).

"To finish third in the national all-sports rankings is great news," Florida Athletics Director Jeremy Foley said. "It is proof of the effort and drive shown by our coaches and student-athletes. They strive for success on the playing field and this finish indicates that the Gators enjoyed a prosperous year. The efforts of the coaches and athletes, along with the efforts of a very dedicated staff, continues to move us closer to our goal of establishing Florida as the nation's elite athletic program."

Florida also captured four Southeastern Conference Championships in 2001-02, raising its total to 54 since the 1992-93 academic year, the top total among league schools over the past 10 seasons. UF won SEC crowns in soccer, women's swimming & diving, women's indoor track & field and volleyball. The Florida women's tennis team also collected the SEC Tournament title in 2002.

Three Gators won NCAA Individual Championships and 72 UF student-athletes earned 156 All-America honors. Candice Scott captured the women's NCAA Indoor weight throw crown, Rickey Harris won the 400-meter hurdles title, while Adam Sioui claimed the 200-yard freestyle championship.

For an unprecedented sixth time, the University of Florida completed a sweep of all three Southeastern Conference All-Sports titles, capturing the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group SEC All-Sports title as well as finishing first in this year's men's and women's all-sports competition. Prior to 1992, no school in SEC history had ever won both the men's and women's all-sports titles in the same academic year. Florida became the first to win all three in 1992 and has repeated the feat in 1993, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002.

Florida was also successful away from the athletic arena in 2001-02, earning a league record 149 Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll accolades. UF has had 1,428 Academic All-SEC honorees since 1980, tops in the league. Five UF student-athletes also earned spots on Verizon Academic All-America teams in 2001-02, giving the Gators 46 Academic All-Americans since 1992, the fourth highest total among Division I schools during that span. Two UF student-athletes - Andi Sellers (soccer) and Matt Bonner (men's basketball) were named the Verizon Academic All-Americans of the Year for their sports.

In addition, in an era when the NCAA estimates 70 percent of Division I schools are losing money on intercollegiate athletics, the Gator athletic program continued to have an impact in regard to University academic programs. Since 1990, the University Athletic Association has contributed more than $25.2 million to the University to fund academic endeavors.

Florida's athletic program also serves as a focal point for the surrounding community and beyond, as 9.2 million fans have filed through the gates to attend UF sporting events over the past nine years. More than 863,539 fans attended 155 home events in Gainesville in 2001-02 and four UF athletic teams ranked in the top-10 nationally in attendance.

University of Florida student-athletes have donated many hours to the Gainesville and surrounding communities. The "Goodwill Gators" program was recognized by the National Consortium of Academics and Sports and received the 1998 Outreach and Service Award.

2001-02 Southeastern Conference All-Sports Rankings

For an unprecedented sixth time, the University of Florida completed a sweep of all three Southeastern Conference All-Sports titles, capturing the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group SEC All-Sports title as well as finishing first in this year's men's and women's all-sports competition. Prior to 1992, no school in SEC history had ever won both the men's and women's all-sports titles in the same academic year. Florida became the first to win all three in 1992 and has repeated the feat in 1993, 1996, 1998 and 2000.

Florida won four SEC Championships in 2001-02 to raise its total to 54 since the 1992-93 academic year, the most by any conference school during the 10-year time span. The Gators won SEC crowns in soccer, women's swimming & diving, women's indoor track & field and volleyball.

Overall, Florida won its 11th consecutive Southeastern Conference All-Sports Trophy. The Florida women have won seven of the last eight titles and finished in the top two in 18 of the 19 years of the competition, while the UF men's program has placed in the top three in each of the last 12 years. The New York Times Regional Newspaper Group took over coordination of the SEC All-Sports rankings in 1994-95. Prior to that, the SEC tabulated the SEC All-Sports totals.