In 1993, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics decided that, like all things, they needed something that would let them all know who had the best year. It was a competition meant to reward all the sports, not just the big two or three, but which athletic department from top to bottom had the best year.
Because what’s the point of playing if you can’t determine who’s the best?
The first year, the Directors’ Cup ended up going to UNC—it was sponsored by Sears, that’s how long ago it was—thanks to the performance of sports that included a trip the Gator Bowl, an ACC title and trip to the tournament by the men’s team, and national championships by the women’s basketball and soccer teams.