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SACRAMENTO STATE RANKED BY SI.COM AS THE 36TH BEST ATHLETICS PROGRAM IN THE NATION
7/16/2008
 SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- After a successful 2007-08 campaign in which Sacramento State won eight conference championships and was a landslide winner of the Big Sky Conference Women’s All-Sports Trophy, the University was selected as the 36th-best Div. I athletics program in the nation by Sports Illustrated’s website (SI.com).
Of the 330 Div. I athletics programs, SI.com ranked the top 51, and Sacramento State’s 19 points in the rankings were good enough for a tie for 36th place with Minnesota. In fact, Sacramento State’s success during the past year ranked ahead of the likes of Ohio State, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Syracuse and Oklahoma among others.
"This is a great compliment to our entire coaching staff and a collective group of student-athletes who are committed to excellence," said Director of Athletics Terry Wanless. "It also reflects our commitment to a broad-based athletic program.
"We are fortunate to have coaches and staff who care about the total student-athlete experience and this recognition reflects their passion and abilities. I couldn't be prouder of this recognition on behalf of our University and athletics program."
The rankings were based on a three-pronged formula that put emphasis on national titles, top 30 finishes and conference championships during the 2007-08 academic year. Of the 51 teams ranked by SI.com, 47 were part of the Football Bowl Subdivision, leaving only Princeton (T-13th), Denver (T-23rd), Sacramento State (T-36th) and Long Beach State (38th) as the four schools not part of the FBS in the rankings. Sports Illustrated’s formula for the rankings and the actual rankings can be found by clicking on the link above the story.
The top 10 athletics programs in the nation, according to SI.com, were Arizona State, Stanford, UCLA, North Carolina, Georgia, Penn State, Florida, USC, LSU and Tennessee, respectively.
Of Sacramento State’s 20 intercollegiate athletics programs, the Hornets accounted for eight conference championships this past academic year (a 40 percent success rate), marking the second straight year the athletics department has accomplished the feat.
The school’s volleyball, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s indoor track, men’s and women’s tennis, softball and women’s outdoor track teams each won a conference championship in 2007-08. The volleyball, women’s tennis, softball, gymnastics and women’s soccer squads each qualified for the NCAA Tournament while the men’s indoor and outdoor track teams and women’s tennis squad had individuals reach the NCAA Championships.
Of the eight women’s sports offered in the Big Sky Conference, Sacramento State won five titles. No other Big Sky team won more than one conference championship.
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