Dillard, Philander Smith claim Thomas Howell Cup

Dillard earns second all-sports trophy, while Philander Smith earns first in GCAC

NEW ORLEANS – After a year of stellar performances, Dillard University and Philander Smith College will end the year sharing the Thomas Howell Cup for the 2021-22 season.

Both teams finished with 25 total points, which are calculated by their respective finishes in sports with regular season standings or individual championship team performances.

Dillard, powered by championships in men’s and women’s cross country, a first place finish in volleyball and a pair of titles in men’s and women’s track and field, have earned the cup for the second time in program history and first since 2016.

Philander Smith earned maximum points for earning the top overall seed in men’s and women’s basketball this past year, while finishing as runners-up in men’s and women’s cross country and women’s track and field, while finishing third in men’s track and volleyball. It is the first Howell Cup in program history for PSC.

The Thomas Howell Cup is awarded annually to the member institution that accumulates the greatest number of points in competition that year in all sports (men’s and women’s) sponsored by the NAIA. Sports where an institution competes in another NAIA conference other than the GCAC will be excluded with the exception of the Association of Independent Institutions.

The number of points awarded depends on the number of schools competing. Otherwise, points are awarded on the basis of the results of the conference meet or tournament. The Thomas Howell Cup is named for the GCAC’s first commissioner Dr. Thomas Howell, who served the conference for more than three decades.

2021-22 Thomas Howell Cup Final Standings
1. Dillard 25 points
1. Philander Smith 25 points
3. Edward Waters 12 points
3. Tougaloo 12 points
5. Rust 11 points
6. Fisk 10 points

About the GCAC
The GCAC is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference is made up of members representing Historically Black Colleges and Universities and is only one of five in the United States across all intercollegiate sports made up of HBCU institutions. The GCAC membership includes Dillard University, Edward Waters University, Fisk University, Philander Smith College, Rust College and Tougaloo College. The conference will expand by three members with the additions of Southern University at New Orleans, Oakwood University and Wiley College. The GCAC will celebrate 40 years in 2022.