Another year in the illustrious history of ACU athletics is almost complete.

After 104 years and 62 team national championships, fans have come to expect greatness from their Wildcats, and greatness is what they received in 2009-10.

However, with success comes the spotlight and with the spotlight, relentless scrutiny.

In the last year, ACU athletics dealt with an NCAA investigation and subsequent sanctions, intense media scrutiny on its best football player and sub-par seasons from some of its teams – yet the program emerged as strong as ever.

The future looks bright for the men and women in purple and white.

The football team reached the second round of the playoffs with a freshman under center, and the golf and men’s basketball teams each had their conference’s Freshman of the Year.

The women’s soccer team has become a force to be reckoned with in just its third year of existence, and the volleyball team has been the LSC runner-up for two consecutive seasons now.

The cross country team won an astonishing 18th-consecutive conference title and the women’s tennis team looks like a national contender.

The sheer dominance of ACU sports can be summed up this way: The program hasn’t won a national championship in just two years – and that is considered a “title drought” on the Hill.

One thing can be said for certain, ACU’s place among America’s great sports programs is well deserved and unlikely to change. The fact that only USC, UCLA and Stanford have more national championships than ACU is no coincidence; it is a testament to the teams and individuals that have made the Wildcat name synonymous with success

Julie Coppedge fights off a Texas Woman's defender during a game Oct. 16. The Wildcats finished 10-7-2 on the season, their third as a program. (Optimist photo by Heather Leiphart)

Center fielder Aaron Oliver celebrates with his teammates after their game with St. Edwards on March 2. (Optimist photo by Kelsi Williamson)

Middle blocker Heather Leyva jumps up for a block during a match against Texas Permian-Basin on Oct. 27. The 'Cats finished 29-6 and second in the LSC, but were left out of the NCAA tournament. (Optimist photo by Heather Leiphart)

Point guard Kat Kundmueller reachers for the ball against Tarleton State on Jan. 27. The team finished 17-11 on the year and droppoed a triple-overtime heartbreaker in the first round of the LSC postseason tournament March 4 to end their season. (Optimist photo by Kelsi Williamson)

The men's cross country team waits at the starting line of the ACU Naimadu Pre-Regional in Abilene on Oct. 10. (Optimist photo by Heather Leiphart)