For the seventh time in 11 years since joining the Sun Belt Conference, Middle Tennessee's athletic department has won the Vic Bubas Cup as the top overall sports program in the league.

The award is given each year to the university that comes in first in the Sun Belt's all-sports standings.

The Blue Raiders, who scored 126.5 total points (out of a possible 189), were presented their seventh trophy Tuesday during the league meetings in Destin, Fla. Middle Tennessee easily won this year's prestigious trophy by a margin of 13.5 points over second place Western Kentucky.

Middle Tennessee won or shared six conference championships during the 2010-11 campaign to secure its third straight all-sports title and fourth over the last five years. The Blue Raiders also won the prestigious title in 2001, which was their first year in the SBC, and again in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2010. Middle Tennessee becomes just the third school in Sun Belt history to win the award seven times and no school has won the award more since the Blue Raiders joined the league in 2000-01.

"We make this a goal of ours every year, and it's really a culmination of the hard work of the student athletes and their drive to compete for championships," said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. "And, of course, we all know what a wonderful coaching staff we have at Middle Tennessee. With all of the great programs in the Sun Belt Conference, this is indeed an honor to be recognized as the best overall.

"Everyone in our athletic department, the University, and community should take great pride in this because this was a total team effort and that's the great thing about an All-Sports Championship."

Middle Tennessee defeated Western Kentucky for the award, while Arkansas State was third. The Blue Raiders' All-Sports Championship was bolstered by regular season titles in volleyball and women's basketball, and conference post-season championships in volleyball, women's soccer, men's indoor track, and men's tennis. Additionally, four Middle Tennessee coaches earned Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year honors - Jimmy Borendame (men's tennis), Dean Hayes (men's indoor track), Matt Peck (volleyball), and Whit Turnbow (men's golf).

The Blue Raiders aided their cause by beginning the year with a record 48 points after men's and women's cross country, soccer, volleyball, and football. Middle Tennessee saw gains in four sports from the previous season with women's soccer and men's tennis making the most substantial jump by 3.0 points.

Demonstrating tremendous balance, Middle Tennessee earned seven points or more in 12 of the 17 sports it sponsors and 10 or more points in five sports. Points are awarded based on the number of schools sponsoring the sport. Institutions not sponsoring a sport do not receive points in that sport. Institutions tying for positions split the combined points of their positions.

Middle Tennessee is the only football-playing member to win the Bubas Cup since football became a league-sponsored sport in 2001. The Blue Raiders do not field teams in men's and women's swimming and diving.

Middle Tennessee sponsors sports in men's cross country, women's cross country, women's soccer, volleyball, football, men's indoor track and field, women's indoor track and field, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's golf, women's golf, men's tennis, women's tennis, softball, men's outdoor track and field, women's outdoor track and field, and baseball.