Two-hundred thousand dollars will not be what’s in LSU’s wallet after the school recently finished fourth in the Capital One Cup competition for the nation’s top athletic program. LSU finished fourth in both the men’s and women’s competitions, the second-highest combined finishes out of any school in the nation, trailing only UCLA. “Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaches in all sports who work so hard every day to be the best at what they do,” Director of Athletics Joe Alleva said a news release. “Their passion and relentless work ethic are evident by the results in these standings. And a sincere thanks go to LSU fans, the best fans in America, who help provide the resources for our student-athletes to be successful in competition as well as in the classroom.” The Capital One Cup is awarded annually to the best men’s and women’s Division I college athletics programs in the country. This year, the University of Florida men’s program and the Stanford women took the crowns this year. Points toward the cup are earned and tracked throughout the year, based on final standings of NCAA Championships and final official coaches’ polls. One winning men’s and one winning women’s program is crowned after the completion of the final NCAA spring championships and awarded $200,000 for a general scholarship fund. The track and field program alone scored a combined 112 out of the 170 points LSU tallied both competitions in all sports, after LSU coach Dennis Shaver led the Tigers and Lady Tigers to top five spots in both indoor and outdoor national championships. Willi Stafford has been with the LSU athletic department since 2003 and was the sports information director for the track program this season. “I know I didn’t have a direct role in the national title,” Stafford said. “But I get a special feeling from seeing the athletes I spend so much time covering and follow all year long contribute to such success.” The women’s outdoor track and field program contributed the most of any LSU team in the 2011-2012 school year, accruing 60 points for their national title win. The football and men’s outdoor track and field teams tied as the second-highest point gatherers, after both teams finished second in their respective sports. LSU coach Les Miles led the Tiger football team to perfect 13-0 record before losing to SEC rival Alabama in the national championship. If LSU had won that game, the Tigers would have finished within two points of taking the crown and the $200,000 prize. The two men’s programs earned 62 percent of the points earned in the competition, propelling the Tigers to an 18-rank increase from last season. “In my dealings with the coaches throughout the year,” Stafford said, “they all ask about the other teams and pull for one another. They want to see one another do well.”
 
____ Contact Mike Gegenheimer at [email protected]