Liberty University Wins 2010-11 Sasser Cup Trophy
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) - Liberty University has been awarded the Big South Conference's George F. "Buddy" Sasser Cup Trophy for the 2010-11 athletic season, its fourth consecutive title and ninth 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 the Westin Resort Hotel on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Liberty is the second member institution to win four consecutive Sasser Cups, and its nine overall championships ties the Big South record.
In 2010-11, Liberty averaged 12.15 Sasser Cup points in 17 championship sports and accumulated a total of 206.50 points based on its finish in Conference championships. The Flames won 11 Big South championships in 2010-11, including its first-ever championship in men's golf. Liberty won the regular-season title in volleyball and women's basketball, shared the regular-season crown in football and women's tennis, and claimed the Conference championship in men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field, men's golf and softball.
Coastal Carolina finished second to Liberty again this season with a 10.69 average in 17 sports and totaled 181.75 points. For the second time in three years, High Point was third in the Sasser Cup standings (8.98 average), and was followed by Winthrop (7.66) and VMI (7.48).
The Flames earned the Women's All-Sports Trophy for the second consecutive year and third time in four seasons with their average of 13.25 (106 points overall in eight sports), ahead of High Point's 10.29 average (72 points overall in seven sports). Liberty won a combined six regular-season and tournament titles in women's competition to win its third overall Women's All-Sports Trophy. Coastal Carolina was third in the Women's All-Sports race with its 10.17 average (91.50 total points in nine sports).
Coastal Carolina captures its second consecutive Men's All-Sports Trophy and third overall. The Chanticleers finished with an average of 11.28 points and 90.25 overall points in eight men's sports in 2010-11, winning a combined five regular-season and tournament titles (men's soccer, men's basketball, football and baseball) in men's competition this season. Coastal Carolina edged Liberty by just 0.11, as the Flames were second with an average of 11.17 (100.50 points in nine sports). VMI was third in the Men's All-Sports race with its 8.61 average (60.25 total points in seven 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 2010-11 Sasser Cup and All-Sports standings appear on the following page, as well as the annual Sasser Cup champions.
2010-11 Sasser Cup Standings
12.15 - Liberty
10.69 - Coastal Carolina
8.98 - High Point
7.66 - Winthrop
7.48 - VMI
7.46 - Gardner-Webb
7.17 - Charleston Southern
7.07 - Radford
5.57 - UNC Asheville
2.83 - Presbyterian College
2010-11 Women's All-Sports Award
13.25 - Liberty
10.29 - High Point
10.17 - Coastal Carolina
8.50 - Gardner-Webb
7.58 - Winthrop
7.39 - Charleston Southern
6.69 - Radford
5.71 - UNC Asheville
5.50 - VMI
3.20 - Presbyterian College
2010-11 Men's All-Sports Award
11.28 - Coastal Carolina
11.17 - Liberty
8.61 - VMI
7.75 - Winthrop
7.68 - High Point
7.50 - Radford
6.89 - Charleston Southern
6.42 - Gardner-Webb
5.43 - UNC Asheville
2.45 - 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
2010-11 - Liberty