Liberty Wins 2016-17 Sasser Cup and All-Sports Trophies
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 2016-17 athletic season, marking the school’s second consecutive Sasser Cup and 13th overall -- the most in league history. 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 Marriott Resort on Hilton Head Island, S.C.
FINAL STANDINGS CHART
In 2016-17, Liberty averaged 8.63 Sasser Cup points in 18 championship sports and accumulated a total of 155.25 points based on its finish in conference championships. The Flames won nine Big South championships in 2016-17 -- three regular-season titles and six tournament crowns. Liberty won the regular-season title in softball and shared the championship in women’s tennis and football, while claiming the conference tournament championship in women’s cross country, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, and men’s and women’s outdoor track & field.
Campbell finished second to Liberty this season with a 7.81 average in 18 sports and totaled 140.5 points – the Camels’ highest finish since re-joining the Big South Conference six seasons ago. High Point was third in the standings (7.73 average), and was followed by Winthrop (6.08) and Radford (5.88). The Panthers notched their 12th consecutive top four standing, the Eagles recorded a top five finish for the third time in four years, and the Highlanders were among the top five for the second time in three seasons.
The Lady Flames claimed the Women’s All-Sports Trophy for the seventh time in eight years and Big South-record eighth time overall with its average of 9.14 (82.25 points earned in nine sports), ahead of High Point’s 8.78 average (70.25 points earned in eight sports). Liberty won two regular-season and four tournament titles in women’s competition to capture the Women’s All-Sports Trophy. Campbell was third in the Women’s All-Sports race with its 7.98 average (79.75 points earned in 10 sports).
The Flames also won the Men’s All-Sports Trophy for the second straight season. Liberty’s record-breaking seventh Men’s All-Sports Trophy was based on its 8.11 average (73 points earned in nine sports) as the Flames won one regular-season and two tournament championships in men’s competition this past year. Campbell was second with an average of 7.59 (60.75 in eight sports), followed by Radford at 7.08 (42.5 points earned in six sports).
The Sasser Cup Trophy is named for former Big South Commissioner Buddy Sasser and is awarded to the Big South member institution with the most successful year athletically, based on an average points system. Points are awarded for both regular-season and tournament finishes in each of the League’s 19 championships, and the average of the combined total is used to determine the overall point allocation in the respective sport. One bonus point is added to the average total for each Conference Champion/AQ representative, as well as any teams that receive at-large NCAA Championships berths. Teams tied in regular-season or tournament play split the points earned. Each member’s overall point totals are then divided by the number of sports sponsored by that school to determine the average.
The complete listing of the 2016-17 Sasser Cup and All-Sports standings appear below, as well as the annual Sasser Cup champions.
2016-17 Sasser Cup Standings
1. - Liberty - 8.63
2. - Campbell - 7.81
3. - High Point - 7.73
4. - Winthrop - 6.08
5. - Radford - 5.88
6. - Charleston Southern - 5.64
7. - Gardner-Webb - 5.34
8. - UNC Asheville - 5.20
9. - Presbyterian College - 4.63
10. - Longwood - 4.25
2016-17 Women’s All-Sports Award
1. - Liberty - 9.14
2. - High Point - 8.78
3. - Campbell - 7.98
4. - Charleston Southern - 5.81
5. - Winthrop - 5.73
6. - Radford - 5.15
7. - UNC Asheville - 4.94
8. - Gardner-Webb - 4.75
9. - Longwood - 4.57
10. - Presbyterian College - 4.00
2016-17 Men’s All-Sports Award
1. - Liberty - 8.11
2. - Campbell - 7.59
3. - Radford - 7.08
4. - High Point - 6.54
5. - Winthrop - 6.53
6. - Gardner-Webb - 6.00
7. - UNC Asheville - 5.50
8. - Charleston Southern - 5.43
9. - Presbyterian College - 5.36
10. - Longwood - 3.88
Annual Sasser Cup Champions
2016-17 - Liberty
2015-16 - Liberty
2014-15 - Coastal Carolina
2013-14 - Coastal Carolina
2012-13 - Liberty
2011-12 - Liberty
2010-11 - Liberty
2009-10 - Liberty
2008-09 - Liberty
2007-08 - Liberty
2006-07 - Coastal Carolina
2005-06 - Coastal Carolina
2004-05 - Coastal Carolina
2003-04 - Coastal Carolina
2002-03 - Liberty
2001-02 - Liberty
2000-01 - Coastal Carolina
1999-00 - Liberty
1998-99. - Liberty
1997-98 - Liberty
1996-97 - UNC Greensboro
1995-96 - UNC Greensboro
1994-95 - UNC Greensboro
1993-94 - Campbell
1992-93 - Campbell
1991-92 - Campbell
1990-91 - Coastal Carolina
1989-90 - Coastal Carolina
1988-89 - Coastal Carolina
1987-88 - Coastal Carolina
1986-87 - Winthrop
1985-86 - Winthrop