SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The National Collegiate Athletic Association released its 2011 Public Recognition Awards for schools ranking in the top 10 percent of all Division I teams in their respective sport today (May 17). A total of forty-three Southern Conference programs from nine league members garnered the award, marking the fourth consecutive year the conference has seen an increase in the number of programs earning the academic distinction.
Teams honored by the NCAA earned multiple Academic Progress Report (APR) scores in the top 10 percent for the past four years. The most recent APR scores are multi-year rates based on the scores from the 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic years. The public recognition awards are part of the overall Division I academic reform effort.
"We're proud of the efforts of our student-athletes in the classrooms and labs as well as on the fields and courts," said Southern Conference Commissioner John Iamarino. "Our goal as an athletic conference is always to provide quality competition while supporting the missions of our institutions."
Thirteen men's programs in the SoCon earned the Public Recognition Award, while 30 women's programs earned national honors. Davidson College led all conference schools with 13 teams earning the award. Six SoCon schools had multiple programs earn the award, while five members had at least one men's and one women's program earn recognition from the NCAA.
NCAA Public Recognition Award by Sport:
Men's Sports
Basketball - Davidson, Elon, Samford
Cross Country - Davidson, UNCG, Wofford
Football - Davidson
Golf - Davidson, Samford
Indoor Track - Davidson, UNCG
Outdoor Track - Davidson
Tennis - Davidson
Women's Sports
Basketball - Davidson, Samford, UNCG, Wofford
Cross Country - The Citadel, Davidson, Elon, Furman, Samford, Wofford
Field Hockey - Appalachian State, Davidson
Golf - Elon, Samford
Indoor Track - Elon, Furman, UNCG, Samford, Wofford
Outdoor Track - Elon, Furman, UNCG, Samford, Wofford
Soccer - Davidson
Swimming - Davidson
Tennis -College of Charleston
Volleyball - Davidson, Elon, Furman