UF takes All-Sports Trophy again

Florida's women once again rule the Southeastern Conference. As a result, so does the Gators' entire athletic department.

Backed by a first-place finish from Florida's women's athletic teams, the Gators have won the 2007-08 SEC All-Sports Trophy with 159.50 points. It is the second straight year and 16th time in 17 years the Gators have captured the trophy, which is presented by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group.

"It's a great source of pride," athletics director Jeremy Foley said. "It's a great league with great athletes, great coaches. Obviously when you can finish on top with an award like this it's a reflection of a great job by coaches and our athletes."

Georgia, which broke Florida's streak of 14-straight SEC All-Sports titles in 2005-06, finished second overall with 140 points while Tennessee was third at 128.50. LSU (136.50) and Auburn (106.50) rounded out the top five.

Florida won the overall SEC women's title in a landslide, finishing with 96 points. Second-place Georgia had 82.50 points.

The Florida women posted five SEC titles (volleyball, soccer, tennis, softball and golf) while its Swimming and Diving program added a runner-up finish.

The Gator men didn't fair too poorly themselves. Florida finished second in the men's standings with 63.50 points, one point behind first-place Tennessee.

"Give Tennessee credit," Foley said. "But our men had a great year too, finishing second."

Interestingly, Florida's defending national champion football and men's basketball teams were the two lowest-placing Gators men's teams this season. They finished tied for fourth and six, respectively, in the 12-team league.

The Gator men's swimming and diving team was the highest men's finisher with a second-place finish, while the UF baseball team finished third in coach Kevin O'Sullivan's inaugural season.

"We're proud of the men, proud of the women," Foley said. "But most of all, we're proud of the entire athletic department for bringing this award home."

Alabama was sixth while Arkansas, Kentucky, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State.

The All-Sports Trophy awards schools points based on the order of finish within the conference. A conference title, for instance, is worth 12 points while a last-place finish is worth one.

The award has been presented by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group since 1994. Prior to that, the league tabulated the SEC All-Sports totals.