Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Wins 11th Patriot League Presidents' Cup
5/11/2004 8:00:00 AM | General
May 11, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - For the 11th time in the 14-year history of the Patriot League, and for the seventh straight year, Bucknell University has claimed the league's Presidents' Cup, indicative of overall excellence across the league's 22 sports. Showing remarkable consistency that has become one of the trademarks of the Bison program, Bucknell finished in the top half of the standings in 17 of 22 championship sports, including three championships, in 2003-04.
Bucknell's overall total of 115 points is a new school record and the third-highest in league history. The Bison outdistanced runner-up Army by 11.5 points, making it the largest margin of victory since 1994-95. The Black Knights finished with 103.5 points, followed by American (100), Lehigh (98), Navy (94.25), Colgate (83.5), Lafayette (64.75) and Holy Cross (43.25).
The Patriot League also awards men's and women's trophies, and Bucknell staked claim to those as well. Actually, the Bison men finished in a dead heat with Navy for the men's title with 55.5 points, just 0.75 ahead of third-place Army. It is Bucknell's second-straight men's crown and fifth all-time.
In the women's Presidents' Cup race, Bucknell won for the seventh year in a row and 10th time overall. The Bison women accrued 59.5 points, 1.25 better than American.
Army is the only other Patriot League institution to win a Presidents' Cup, those coming in 1994, 1995 and 1997. Bucknell has won every all-sports title since 1998, none by a wider margin than this year's.
In 2003-04, Bucknell captured league championships in women's swimming and diving, women's indoor track and field, and women's outdoor track and field. The Bison men's soccer team won the regular season title before falling in the tournament semifinals. Volleyball and men's swimming and diving provided second-place points, while football, men's indoor track and field and men's outdoor track and field all finished in third place.
Presidents' Cup points are awarded based on a team's performance in the regular-season and postseason PL standings. In cross country, football, golf, swimming & diving and track & field, the points are awarded based on the final team standings. In team sports with post-season tournaments, such as basketball, field hockey, soccer, lacrosse and volleyball, points are awarded based on the average of the league championship tournament and regular-season standings.
Bucknell currently sponsors 26 intercollegiate sports, 14 for women and 12 for men, at the Division I level (1-AA in football). It is a charter member of the Patriot League and last year led the nation in graduation rate of its student-athletes with a perfect 100 percent showing. Bucknell ranks third in Division I in producing Academic All-Americans, with 107 since 1970.
2003-04 Presidents' Cup, Final StandingsOverall Standings 1. Bucknell (22) 115.0 2. Army (19) 103.5 3. American (18) 100.0 4. Lehigh (22) 98.0 5. Navy (17) 94.25 6. Colgate (21) 83.5 7. Lafayette (22) 64.75 8. Holy Cross (20) 43.25
Men's Standings 1. Bucknell (11) 55.5 1. Navy (10) 55.5 3. Army (10) 54.75 4. Lehigh (11) 52.75 5. American (8) 41.75 6. Colgate (10) 36.75 6. Lafayette (11) 36.75 8. Holy Cross (10) 21.5
Women's Standings 1. Bucknell (11) 59.5 2. American (10) 58.25 3. Army (9) 48.75 4. Colgate (11) 46.75 5. Lehigh (11) 45.25 6. Navy (7) 38.75 7. Lafayette (11) 28.0 8. Holy Cross (10) 21.75
