I just knew that "sports teams success" was not one of them.
Point already made, but "sports teams" encompass more than football! As the dad of a cadet who as a plebe made both the league finals for his Corp sport and the League Academic Honor Roll, I can't let this pass!
Let's see, for the 2008-09 year:
baseball: best ever finish
http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/poll/index.html?SPSID=48129&SPID=4603&DB_OEM_ID=11100
http://www.patriotleague.org/sports/m-basebl/patr-m-basebl-body.html
Men's cross country ties with Navy in League Championship:
http://www.patriotleague.org/sports/c-xc/stats/110108aac.html
Women's soccer second in league:
http://www.patriotleague.org/sports/w-soccer/patr-w-soccer-body.html
Women's diving: Junior Lindsay Adao, 2009 Patriot League Female Diver of the League Championship Meet
Rifle, small bore: 5th in NCAA
http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=48091&SPID=4592&DB_OEM_ID=11100&ATCLID=3692367
Air rifle: 6th place NCAA finish
http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=48091&SPID=4592&DB_OEM_ID=11100&ATCLID=3692814
Men's tennis: League runner-up (yeah, to Navy....)
http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=48101&SPID=4594&DB_OEM_ID=11100&ATCLID=3723829
Women's tennis: Patriot League Champions
http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=48134&SPID=4604&DB_OEM_ID=11100&ATCLID=3728555
Men's Track: Indoor and Outdoor Patriot League Champions
Then, you have club sports:
2008-09 Highlights
http://www.westpoint.edu/uscc/dca/clubs/sportshighlights.htm
Boxing 2009 -
National Championship
Combat Weapons 2008 -
National Champions (Inter-service)
Crew - Women 2009 -
National Champions
Crew - Men 2009 -
National Champions (Novice)
Cycling 2008 - Cycling Track Champions - 2009 3rd Place Div II Track Nationals
Equestrian 2008 -
First Place in Regions for Western Fencing
2008 - Men Placed 4th at Nationals
Judo 2009 -
National Champions
Lacrosse - Women 2008 - 2nd in Conference Championship/Competed at Nationals
Marathon 2008 - Won Military Academy Category 10 Miler
Martial Arts 2008 - 5th in League
Mountaineering 2009 - Fourth Place at Nationals (their first National Tournament)
Orienteering 2009 - Collegiate
National Champions (7 years in a row)
Pistol 2009 -
National Champions
Power Lifting 2008 - Men - 3rd at Nationals
Rabble Rousers 2008 - 2nd at Nationals
Rugby - Men 2008 -
Northeastern Conference Champions
Rugby - Women 2008 -
Northeastern Conference Champions
Sailing Reggata 2008 - Two back to back regatta victories
Ski Alpine 2008 - 6th in Adirondack Division
Ski Nordic 2008 - Men - 4th Nationals
Team Handball - Men 2009 -
National Champions
Triathlon 2009 -
National Champions
Volleyball - Men 2008 - 2nd in Patriot League
Water Polo 2008 - 2nd at States
...and then there's the annual Sandhurst competition, where company E4's team (Elvis Lives!) came in 2nd overall:
http://www.westpointaog.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=3427
I believe that's 9 national championships and 3 regional / conference championships... No "sports team success" here, right?
Yeah, right down there with your football team!
All joking aside, congrats to West Point! Way to go! Forbes only could have picked one other school, but apparently $1,000 for tuition was too much for them.
If I were the USNA Sup right now, I'd have the Commandant and the Dean standing tall before my desk and asking them what the HELL happened!
Yeah, Zaphod, I'd really like to see how they compiled the numbers. Given the emphasis on low cost, the service academies should come out well, but USCGA and USMMA's low rankings are puzzling. Of course, they're probably not going to release how they specifically compile the results, because that would be giving away the value of their rankings... It's fun to talk about, tho - especially if you're #1!