The Gators have dominated the headlines in numerous sports over the past few years, yet are only ranked #5 in the NACDA Director’s Cup. The Stanford Cardinal picked up their 15th straight title as the overall best sports school in the nation based on every intercollegiate sport. Michigan was second followed by Southern California and North Carolina. The standings weight every sport equally and include obscure sports like water polo, rowing, and fencing.

Stanford scored big in men’s water polo, men’s gymnastics, women’s rowing, and cross country among others. They consistently win the cup because of their strong overall program, despite struggling recently in football, basketball, and baseball. Schools like Michigan were able to pick up points in sports like ice hockey that SEC schools wouldn’t even dream of having. We have to keep in mind that this award is the for the best overall sports school in the nation, not just the most successful in the big three.

Yet as a Florida fan, one has to pause and think; are there really four other schools better than us in sports? The answer based on all possible sports is a no, but I think that the question isn’t that simple. Florida doesn’t have men’s soccer, lacrosse, rowing, ice hockey, gymnastics, water polo, or wrestling. These sports boost schools like Southern Cal and Stanford way up in the standings. If the rating were adjusted to only give points for the sports that Florida has then we would be very close if not ahead of Stanford. We finished in the top 16 in baseball, top 25 in women’s basketball, national champions in football, second in softball, second in men’s track, sixth in women’s track, top 16 in women’s cross country, fourth in women’s gymnastics, tenth in volleyball, tenth in golf, and tenth in women’s soccer. That is a pretty unbelievable year in spite of the men's basketball team having a down year.  

When your average sports fan thinks of who has consistently been the best sports school over the past three years I am pretty sure it wouldn’t be Stanford. While Stanford is very good in many sports, their big three (football, basketball, baseball) just haven’t been impressive. Meanwhile Florida, LSU, Texas, and Oklahoma have dominated the scene in those three. Florida has won two championships in football, two in basketball and made it to the super regional this year in baseball.

Oklahoma lost in the football national championship this year and went to a BCS bowl last year, made the sweet sixteen in basketball two straight years (losing to eventual champion UNC this year), and hosted a baseball regional as a number one seed this year.

LSU won the 2007 national football title, made the final four in 2006 and won the SEC last year. In baseball they made the college world series last year and are currently playing for the national title against Texas.

Texas trounced Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl this past year and won the national championship in 2005. In basketball, they have made the elite eight in two of the past four seasons. In baseball, they're playing LSU for the national title currently and won the national title in 2005. I would mention Ohio State as well, but their embarrassment against real football opponents (UF, LSU, & USC) proves they can’t stand up against the best. They also haven’t done anything in baseball lately.

Credit should be given to Stanford, USC, Michigan, and UNC for having great athletic programs. That being said. the point here is that based on the sports that the Gators have they would be considered the best overall sports school in nation. Texas, LSU, and Oklahoma should also deserve a look in this format as well and Stanford’s lack of success in the moneymaking sports makes this achievement a little less important.

Ben Retitto is a columnist for GatorTailgating.com.