CONTRIBUTED BY ETSU ATHLETICS

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Make it four in a row for the Buccaneers!

For the fourth straight year and the fifth time in program history, the ETSU men’s athletics program claimed the Southern Conference Commissioner’s Cup, which is the all-sport trophy that is presented to the league’s best all-around men’s program.

“It’s a tremendous honor to win the Southern Conference Commissioner’s Cup,” said ETSU Athletic Director Scott Carter. “Our student-athletes and coaches are committed to excellence on and off the field, and they take great pride in representing our athletic program in a first-class manner.

“This championship is a testament to that commitment, and every Buccaneer should take pride in winning the Commissioner’s Cup.”

The Commissioner’s and Germann cups are awarded annually to the Southern Conference schools fielding the league’s best all-around men’s and women’s sports programs, respectively. Scoring is conducted on a percentage basis, with only the top seven sports for each school counting toward its season total.

The SoCon sponsors 22 total sports, with the league’s three co-ed rifle teams counting toward the Commissioner’s Cup standings and the two women’s rifle teams counting toward the Germann Cup.

Each sport is worth 10 points, with each spot in the standings given equal measure relative to how many schools sponsor that particular sport. For sports that determine a regular-season champion, a two-point bonus is awarded for winning the league tournament.

Each school’s total for the year is divided by 70, the maximum number of points possible when counting seven sports, to find its percentage.

During the 2018-19 season, the Bucs won championships in football and men’s tennis (regular season and tournament) en route to totaling 62.21 points and a .889 percentage. Tennis accumulated 12 points and football – which claimed its first-ever SoCon title – added 8.89 points.

In total, the Buccaneer fall sports collected 26.46 points with cross country adding nine and men’s soccer posting 8.57. Basketball added 7.50 points after finishing with its fourth straight 20-win season, while golf (8.75) and outdoor track and field (7.50) combined for 16.25 points.

The Bucs captured their first SoCon Commissioner’s Cup in 1982-83. ETSU is one of four teams in conference history to repeat as Commissioner’s Cup champions and the only current member to accomplish the feat.

For the third consecutive year, the women placed third in the Germann Cup with 55.74 points and a .796 percentage. Volleyball, who won the regular season title, earned 10 points, while tennis’ second-place finish generated 8.75 points.

Golf added 8.33 points, along with indoor and outdoor track and field accounting for 14.78 points. Soccer collected seven points and basketball registered 6.88.

The Commissioner’s Cup was inaugurated in 1970 and the Germann Cup was first awarded in 1987. The latter is named for former SoCon Commissioner Ken Germann, who served as commissioner of the Southern Conference from 1974-86 and spearheaded the effort to introduce women’s athletics to the league.

Six schools have won the Commissioner’s Cup in the 50-year history of the award, including current members ETSU (2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16 and 1982-83) Chattanooga (2014-15 and 2004-05) and Furman (1990-91).

Five schools have won the Germann Cup in its 33-year history. Among current schools, Furman owns a league-best 17, including 12 straight from 1992-2004. Samford has won two (2014-15 and 2009-10) and Chattanooga won in 2007-08.