Liberty University Wins 2009-10 Sasser Cup Trophy
HIGH POINT, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) - Liberty University has been awarded the Big South Conference's George F. "Buddy" Sasser Cup Trophy for the 2009-10 athletic season, its third consecutive title and eighth overall. The Cup was presented to Liberty Thursday evening at the League's annual Spring Meetings Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner, which was held at High Point Country Club in High Point, N.C.
In 2009-10, Liberty averaged 11.75 Sasser Cup points in 17 championship sports and accumulated a total of 199.75 points based on its finish in Conference championships, winning by 0.47 over second-place Coastal Carolina University. The Flames won eight Big South championships in 2009-10, including the first-ever sweep of the League's six running championships - men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor track & field, and men's and women's outdoor track & field. Liberty also won the women's basketball title, was co-champions in football, and was the regular-season champion in women's soccer and volleyball.
Coastal Carolina finished second to Liberty again this season with an 11.28 average in 17 sports and totaled 191.75 points, just 8.00 overall points behind the Flames. For the second time in three years, Winthrop was third in the Sasser Cup standings (9.26 average), and was followed by High Point (8.36) and Radford (8.03).
The Flames earned the Women's All-Sports Trophy for the second time in three seasons with their average of 12.44 (99.5 points overall in eight sports), ahead of Coastal Carolina's 10.56 average (95 points overall in nine sports). Liberty won a combined six regular-season and tournament titles in women's competition to win its second overall Women's All-Sports Trophy. Winthrop was third in the Women's All-Sports race with its 9.28 average (83.50 total points in nine sports).
Coastal Carolina captures its second Men's All-Sports Trophy and first since 2005-06. The Chanticleers finished with an average of 12.09 points and 96.75 overall points in eight men's sports in 2009-10, winning a combined five regular-season and tournament titles (men's soccer, men's basketball, men's golf and baseball) in men's competition this season. Coastal Carolina edged Liberty, which was second with an average of 11.14 (100.25 points in nine sports). Winthrop was third in the Men's All-Sports race with its 9.25 average (74 total points in eight sports).
The Sasser Cup Trophy, named for former Big South Commissioner Buddy Sasser, is awarded to the Big South member institution with the most successful year athletically based on an average points system. Points are awarded based on both regular-season and tournament finish in each of the League's 18 championships, based on the number of teams participating in the regular-season and tournament, respectively. There is a weighted factor of 1.5 for those sports that only participate in regular-season play (football) or a tournament (cross country, track, golf), but not both. Teams tied in regular-season or tournament play split the points earned.
The complete listing of the 2009-10 Sasser Cup and All-Sports standings, as well as the annual Sasser Cup champions, appear below
2009-10 Sasser Cup Standings
11.75 - Liberty
11.28 - Coastal Carolina
9.26 - Winthrop
8.36 - High Point
8.03 - Radford
7.98 - Charleston Southern
7.02 - VMI
5.57 - Gardner-Webb
5.36 - UNC Asheville
2.30 - Presbyterian College
2009-10 Women's All-Sports Award
12.44 - Liberty
11.56 - Coastal Carolina
9.28 - Winthrop
9.11 - Charleston Southern
7.89 - Radford
7.82 - High Point
7.44 - VMI
6.56 - Gardner-Webb
5.36 - UNC Asheville
2.30 - Presbyterian College
2009-10 Men's All-Sports Award
12.09 - Coastal Carolina
11.14 - Liberty
9.25 - Winthrop
8.89 - High Point
8.19 - Radford
6.79 - VMI
6.54 - Charleston Southern
5.36 - UNC Asheville
4.58 - Gardner-Webb
2.30 - Presbyterian College
Annual Sasser Cup Champions
1985-86 - Winthrop
1986-87 - Winthrop
1987-88 - Coastal Carolina
1988-89 - Coastal Carolina
1989-90 - Coastal Carolina
1990-91 - Coastal Carolina
1991-92 - Campbell
1992-93 - Campbell
1993-94 - Campbell
1994-95 - UNC Greensboro
1995-96 - UNC Greensboro
1996-97 - UNC Greensboro
1997-98 - Liberty
1998-99 - Liberty
1999-00 - Liberty
2000-01 - Coastal Carolina
2001-02 - Liberty
2002-03 - Liberty
2003-04 - Coastal Carolina
2004-05 - Coastal Carolina
2005-06 - Coastal Carolina
2006-07 - Coastal Carolina
2007-08 - Liberty
2008-09 - Liberty
2009-10 - Liberty