Stanford University is Top School for Academically Minded Athletes
Most Recognized, Comprehensive College Rankings & Resource for High School Athletes Awards Highest Honor to Stanford University for 2nd Straight Year Survey Lists Overall Elite 50 & Individual Team Rankings for 21 Varsity Sports
STACK Media, the leading producer and distributor of sports performance, instruction and lifestyle content for high school athletes, announced the findings from its third annual “STACK Elite 50 College Rankings” – which is the most recognized, comprehensive college rankings and resource of its kind and a powerful research tool for any high school athlete looking to compete and study at the next level. For the second straight year, Stanford University came out on top by finishing number one in seven of the 21 sport-specific rankings. Aside from the overall Elite 50 standings, which highlights the best schools in terms of a strong overall athletic presence, individual team rankings for 21 varsity sports are also listed. The full rankings can be found in STACK Media’s Holiday print edition, which is out today.
In addition to rankings and stories about top ranked schools in the Holiday edition of STACK Magazine, STACK Media has also compiled exclusive interviews with Elite 50 colleges’ coaches, athletes and academic advisors on the dedicated section of the Web site – http://elite50.stack.com/.
“Serious high school athletes want to elevate their game to the next level with credible information on training and performance, but reliable sources on their best options for schools with top academic and athletic programs are extremely limited for them to turn to,” said Nick Palazzo, Co-founder and Co-CEO of STACK Media. “The college recruiting and selection process is demanding, time consuming and stressful, and we aim to make it easier for students in researching and calculating the top colleges out there with the STACK Elite 50 College Rankings. Whatever your sport of choice may be, we’ve listed the right college for you.”
*Stanford University claims top spot
Stanford University was the first ever repeat winner by coming out number one in eight sports and fielding 17 top-15 squads, along with being ranked by U.S. News as America’s fourth best academic college/university. Florida nailed down the number two overall ranking with only one top-ranked sport (softball), but had 15 top-15 squads and was ranked 47 by U.S. News. The school jumped from last year’s number five listing.
The North Carolina Tar Heels, who were number one in ‘07 and number three in ‘08, claim their third consecutive top-five overall finish. UNC dominates the baseball diamond with an Elite 50 “Triple Crown” – three years running as the top baseball program. This was combined with a well-respected U.S. News spot at 28 and 11 top-15 teams. The Texas Longhorns came in at number four, but dropped from number two overall last year. And rounding out the top five is the University of South Carolina thanks to a sneaky four-sport attack, led by the football squad’s three-peat. Women’s golf, men’s tennis and men’s T&F also ranked number one.
“It was another competitive year for the top spot, with many worthy contenders,” Palazzo added. “We congratulate Stanford University for yet another number one ranking. The men and women of Palo Alto can be very proud for upholding the title of best college for academically minded athletes. And any high school athlete looking to play at the collegiate level has 50 fantastic schools from our Elite 50 list that they should have on their radar screen, as they are all top-notch schools in terms of both academics and sports.”
*College rankings by sport
Below are the top five college rankings in each of the sports that were included in the Elite 50 rankings:
Football
1. USC
2. Florida
3. Ohio State
4. Texas
5. Georgia
Men’s Basketball
1. UNC
2. UCLA
3. Kansas
4. Duke
5. Memphis
Women’s Basketball
1. Stanford
2. UConn
3. UNC
4. Duke
5. Maryland
Baseball
1. UNC
2. Rice
3. Virginia
4. ASU
5. Florida State
Men’s Soccer
1. Wake Forest
2. Maryland
3. Notre Dame
4. Northwestern
5. Indiana
Women’s Soccer
1. UNC
2. Notre Dame
3. UCLA
4. Stanford
5. USC
Men’s Swimming
1. Stanford
2. Michigan
3. Cal
4. Florida
5. Texas
Women’s Swimming
1. Stanford
2. Cal
3. Florida
4. Georgia
5. Texas
Hockey
1. Michigan
2. Notre Dame
3. Boston University
4. Miami (OH)
5. Boston College
Men’s Track
1. USC
2. Texas
3. Stanford
4. Florida
5. Texas A&M
Women’s Track
1. Michigan
2. Stanford
3. USC
4. Texas A&M
5. Florida
Wrestling
1. Michigan
2. Ohio State
3. Northwestern
4. Penn State
5. Cornell
Lacrosse
1. Duke
2. Virginia
3. Notre Dame
4. Cornell
5. UNC
Volleyball
1. Stanford
2. Penn State
3. Florida
4. Nebraska
5. Washington
Softball
1. Florida
2. Michigan
3. Alabama
4. Stanford
5. Arizona State University
In order to determine the sport-specific rankings, STACK Media uses five main indicators of excellence. One source is the 2010 U.S. News & World Report on America’s best colleges, which each year ranks the nation’s top colleges and universities, strictly in terms of academic prowess. Also considered is the Academic Progress Rate (APR) system that measures how well a collegiate athletic team’s members progress toward graduation during their playing careers. A third indicator is the end-of-the-season national rankings and polls from various national outlets that sum up the entire season’s results. A team’s win-loss record is also considered, where the number of games over .500 for each team is calculated over the past three seasons, and then awarded points based on that total. Finally, there’s the ‘STACK Factor,’ or the strength of the overall athletic community in terms of the level of athletic support and ability throughout all 21 varsity sports covered.
Source: STACK Media
10 countries in 10 days world tour celebrates NHLPA Goals & Dreams 10th anniversary
NHLPA Goals & Dreams to donate more than $125,000 worth of hockey equipment …CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada to produce one-hour TV show on world tour
The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced today that the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund will celebrate its 10th anniversary this November by embarking on a “10 countries in 10 days” world tour, donating $125,000 worth of hockey equipment to grassroots hockey programs along the way.
NHLPA Goals & Dreams Ambassadors are embarking on an ambitious, yet extremely meaningful journey to visit “10 countries in 10 days”, beginning in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden on November 13th and making stops in Finland, Russia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia, Germany, the United States, and concluding in Toronto, Canada on November 22nd.
“This initiative is all about giving back, which is why we are continuing to donate even more equipment to kids who need our help during this one-of-a-kind tour,” said NHLPA Goals & Dreams Ambassador and former NHL player Rob Zamuner. “NHLPA members are very proud of the NHLPA Goals & Dreams program, now in its 10th year. We are looking forward to spreading the word so more children can pick up a stick and play the great game of hockey.”
Zamuner, along with fellow NHLPA Goals & Dreams Ambassador and former NHL player P.J. Stock, will join NHLPA Goals & Dreams Chairman, Devin Smith and Program Manager, Matt Langen for the full “10 countries in 10 days” world tour.
During the world tour, NHLPA Goals & Dreams will donate 25 sets of brand-new hockey equipment to a local grassroots hockey program in each country that is visited, for a total of 250 complete sets, worth approximately $125,000. In most locations, a retired NHL player from each of the 10 destination countries will also participate in the festivities taking place in his native country, including: Pavel Bure, Arturs Irbe, Jyrki Lumme, Jaroslav Modry, Markus Naslund, Martin Rucinsky, Martin Straka, Esa Tikkanen and more.
“I’m thrilled that NHLPA Goals & Dreams is kicking off the world tour in Ornskoldsvik,” says former NHL All-Star Markus Naslund, who has been actively involved in NHLPA Goals & Dreams for several years and will also be joining the tour for stops in Helsinki and Moscow, in addition to the first stop in his hometown in Sweden. “This tour is a great example of how NHLPA Goals & Dreams helps develop grassroots hockey programs in my home country of Sweden, and all around the world.”
“It’s an honour to represent CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and NHLPA Goals & Dreams on this world tour,” said P.J. Stock, studio analyst, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. “This program is truly impressive, and our unique broadcast will showcase the generosity that NHL players have exhibited for the past decade.”
CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada is sending a film crew to document the entire trip and produce a one-hour television special, to be aired in December, which will capture the key elements and spirit of the tour.
“CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada supports the greatest athletes in the world and their efforts to give back to the game,” said Sherali Najak, executive producer, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. “It’s important that people know how much these players care about community and work to grow the sport. We are looking forward to capturing this amazing race of 10 countries in 10 days.”
After travelling a total distance of 19,603 kilometers, the tour will conclude with a celebration at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Sunday, November 22nd, the site where NHLPA Goals & Dreams was first launched 10 years ago. NHL Alumni, players from the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders, and children who are receiving equipment from their hockey heroes will attend the wrap-up event.
NHLPA GOALS & DREAMS “10 COUNTRIES IN 10 DAYS” WORLD TOUR:
———————————————————
Day// Date// Location// NHL Player(s)
— —- ——– ————-
1 Fri// Nov. 13th// Ornskoldsvik, Sweden// Zamuner, Stock, Naslund
2 Sat// Nov. 14th // Helsinki, Finland// Zamuner, Stock, Lumme, Naslund
3 Sun// Nov. 15th// Moscow, Russia// Zamuner, Stock, Bure, Naslund
4 Mon// Nov. 16th// Riga, Latvia// Zamuner, Stock, Irbe
5 Tues// Nov. 17th// Prague, Czech Republic// Zamuner, Stock, Modry, Rucinsky, Straka
6 Wed// Nov. 18th// Trnava, Slovakia// Zamuner, Stock, TBD
7 Thur// Nov. 19th// Sarajevo, Bosnia// Zamuner, Stock, TBD
8 Fri// Nov. 20th// Frankfurt, Germany// Zamuner, Stock, TBD
9 Sat// Nov. 21st// New York, USA// Zamuner, TBD
10 Sun// Nov. 22nd// Toronto, Canada// Zamuner, Stock,Islanders, Leafs
NHLPA Goals & Dreams:
In 1999, the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) launched the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. Over the past 10 years, more than 350 former and current NHLPA members have been personally involved in helping facilitate NHLPA Goals & Dreams donations in either their hometown or their NHL playing cities. The players’ program has donated full sets of hockey equipment to more than 13,000 economically disadvantaged children and assisted with upgrades and the building of hundreds of arenas, in 21 countries world-wide. Most donated hockey equipment is re-used by the recipients, which has furthered the cause and provided more than 40,000 children with the opportunity to play the great sport of hockey. The NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund is funded solely by the members of the NHLPA and is the largest grassroots hockey program in the world.
Source: National Hockey League Players’ Association
SIRIUS XM Radio announces extensive broadcast coverage of 2009-10 NHL Season
Live play-by-play of NHL games will be available to XM subscribers and SIRIUS subscribers with the “Best of XM” NHL Home Ice channel offers hockey talk and analysis 365 days a year
SIRIUS XM Radio will offer listeners around the country comprehensive coverage of the 2009-10 NHL season with an extensive schedule of live play-by-play of NHL games and daily hockey talk on the NHL Home Ice channel.
Starting with tonight’s Opening Night games and through the Stanley Cup Final, XM listeners will have access to live play-by-play of every regular season and playoff game on XM channels 204-209. SIRIUS subscribers with the “Best of XM” programming package will get most regular season games and every NHL postseason game on SIRIUS channels 208-220.
In addition to live games, SIRIUS XM offers the 24/7 hockey talk radio channel, NHL Home Ice, on XM channel 204 and SIRIUS channel 208 with the “Best of XM.” NHL Home Ice features live play-by-play, plus hockey talk, news and analysis every day of the year.
NHL Home Ice features the weekly live show, NHL Hour, hosted by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and a rotation of League executives, including Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and Senior Executive VP of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell. The hour-long show, co-hosted by former NHL player Bill Clement, debuts today and airs every Thursday (4:00 pm ET). NHL Hour provides listeners with the latest news and events from the highest levels of the NHL and encourages fans to submit questions by calling 1-877-NHL-ON-XM or emailing HOMEICE@xmradio.ca.
NHL fans can also tune in to SIRIUS channel 122 for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Radio (weekdays, 4:00 – 7:00 pm ET), hosted by Jeff Marek, Kelly Hrudey, Cassie Campbell Pascall, Craig Simpson and Scott Morrison.
On SIRUS XM Sports Nation, SIRIUS channel 122 and XM channel 143, former New York Rangers forward Ron Duguay and former New Jersey Devils defenseman Ken Daneyko host their weekly show, Ice Breakers (Thursdays, 7:00 – 9:00 pm ET), a lifestyle-themed show that features the duo’s thoughts on the NHL, lifestyle, entertainment and more.
Source: SIRIUS XM Radio