Another rule is that NACDA only counts the top 9 men’s and 9 women’s teams. So if you have, say, 10 nationally ranked women’s teams, they drop the lowest ones from the count. I believe this rule has actually bitten Williams in the past, and it came close this year with 9 ranked women’s teams.

I think NACDA allows ski teams, which are ranked on the basis of overall men’s and women’s performance, to swing either way. So this year, skiing was counted as the 7th men’s team.

I’ll moo to that.

Fall: Men’s cross country is a legit title contender, women’s cross country will also be strong as always. Women’s soccer should still be very strong and a likely NCAA participant at a minimum, and could make another deep run. Men’s soccer has a shot at getting back in the NCAA’s although Midd and Amherst seem to have both overtaken Williams in men’s soccer. Women’s volleyball will be even better though probably will never finish any higher than fifth because regions outside New England are much stronger.

Winter: I expect Williams to earn a lot more points in the winter. Wrestling and women’s swimming should both be very strong again, and wrestling could even improve. Men’s swimming might earn some additional points. Men’s hoops should be MUCH improved with a very good shot of making the NCAA’s. Even women’s hoops, which had a very down year, should be much improved with an outside shot of making the tourney. Both indoors track teams could easily earn more points. Men’s hockey should have its best team in years, and has a shot of making the NCAA’s for (I think) the first time in the Director’s Cup era (or at least the first for awhile). The new women’s hockey coach also bears watching although probably too soon to turn that team around. Skiing always scores about the same level.

Spring: women’s crew and tennis can’t do any better, but in light of recent history, neither should do much worse. Men’s tennis should be improved and has a shot of finishing even higher. Baseball returns tons of offensive talent (and from what I’ve read has some great recruits coming in), and could squeeze into the NCAA’s although Trinity is still a formidable obstacle. Men’s and/or women’s golf could easily return to the tourney after this year’s hiatrus, as both teams are regular presences there. Women’s lacrosse could return to the tourney, and men’s lacrosse could squeeze in as well as they made it last year and have a lot of talent returning. Outdoor track and field probably can’t do much better unless some amazing frosh are coming in.

In sum, Williams will be the favorite yet again. Probably will have a hard time doing better in the spring, but could easily outperform this year’s fall and winter results. Many Amherst teams had unprecedented spectacular years and Amherst will have a hard time topping this performance. Midd is probably the toughest competition yet again because of its strength across so many sports, like Williams.

There are no sure things in athletics so it is often good advice to “not count your chickens before they hatch” or in the case of NCAA Division III sports one should at least “wait ’till the cows come home.”

One has to wonder if the good folks working in the sports department at USA Today on the night of May 21st wished they had waited a little longer before suggesting Williams archrival Amherst the expected winners of the 2008-09 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup.

At the bottom of the left hand column of the May 22nd edition of USA Today was a headline sure to capture the attention of all Eph fans, “Even in defeat, Amherst may still win,” that referred to the 2008-09 Directors’ Cup race.

“Amherst (Mass.) missed a chance at national titles in men’s and women’s tennis Thursday but enhanced its chances of dethroning Williams (Mass.) and claiming the title of the best all-around athletic program in Division III for 2008- 2009. Williams has won the Learfield Sports Director’s Cup the last 10 years. The Lord Jeffs lost to Williams 5-2 in the women’s final, and the men lost to UC-Santa Cruz 5-0. But the points they picked up added to the lead Amherst already had on Williams, which was third in the Cup standings entering Thursday.”

Cows are generally regarded as placid and social animals, but the purple cows of Williams are all of that and more – they compete and often they win, moo.

Perhaps add this to the post above, for those who don’t read the comments?

Could someone knowledgeable give us some details on what rle changes there have been, if any, this year and what rule changes to expect in the future. I seem to recall that a finish of 48th did not use to score you any points.

Could someone speculate on next year, in particular what teams should do well (losing few seniors)?

How about commentary on the performances of other colleges? I don’t follow this topic closely enough to have an informed opinion.