BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford University's athletic teams turned in the second-highest finish in the Southern Conference and the third-best mark in the state of Alabama in the 2017-18 Learfield Director's Cup standings, released June 29^th. 
 
The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today.  Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in NCAA Championships. To review the updated scoring changes for the 2017-18 year, please click here.
 
Samford placed 140^th among all NCAA Division I institutions with 122.50 points. The finish placed second in the SoCon, behind only Furman at 73^rd with 307.50 points. The Bulldogs are third among Alabama schools, behind SEC powers Alabama (14^th, 913.0 pts.) and Auburn (18^th, 856.25 pts.).
 
During the 2017-18 academic year, Samford competed in NCAA Championships in football, men's and women's cross-country, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's outdoor track and field and baseball.
 
Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's website at www.directorscup.org.
 
SOCON TEAMS IN LEARFIELD STANDINGS
73. Furman: 307.50
140. SAMFORD: 122.50
173: UNCG: 91.00
189: Mercer: 75.00
201: Wofford: 70.00
217: ETSU: 50.00
257: Chattanooga: 25.50
 
STATE OF ALABAMA TEAMS IN LEARFIELD STANDINGS
14. Alabama: 913.0
18. Auburn: 856.25
140. SAMFORD: 122.50
148: Jacksonville State: 108.00
152: Alabama State: 100.00
183: Troy: 82.50
189: South Alabama: 75.00
258: UAB: 25.00