The Nebraska softball program, widely regarded as one of the top collegaite programs in the nation, received further validation of that claim when the National Fastpitch Coaches Association of America ranked NU as the 12th-best program all-time on Oct. 10, 2003.
The NFCA compiled an all-time top 50 poll weekly rankings from the 1995 season up to the final poll of the 2003 season. Since that final poll, the Huskers have earned Nos. 14, 25 and 14 rankings in 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. NU has been ranked in each of the 12 seasons the NFCA top 25 poll has existed, one of only six programs in the nation that have been ranked in every season of the poll's existence.
Head Coach Rhonda Revelle, who has guided the Huskers to all 12 top-25 finishes, as well as 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and two Women's College World Series appearances, was pleased to see her program receive national recognition.
"It shows the program has a lot of tradition and a high level of achievement," Revelle said. "It’s an honor to be ranked 12th, however we have aspirations to keep climbing higher."
Nebraska was the second-highest ranked Big 12 Conference school, trailing only Oklahoma. Although the Huskers were ranked below the Sooners in the poll, on the field, NU has won six Big 12 titles to date, while OU has claimed five championships.
The Huskers are also the only team in the history of the league to finish the regular-season conference season with an undefeated record, accomplishing the feat with a perfect 16-0 mark in 1998.
In the history of the program, Nebraska has claimed a total of 12 conference crowns. In postseason play, the Huskers have advanced to 17 NCAA Tournaments and seven Women's College World Series, both of which are tied for the most of any Big 12 school. NU has finished fifh or better seven times in school history, including a national runner-up finish to UCLA in the 1985 WCWS.
The NFCA All-Time Top 50
1. Arizona
2. UCLA
3. Washington
4. Fresno State
5. Oklahoma
6. Michigan
7. California
8. Arizona State
9. Louisiana State
10. Stanford
11. Cal State Fullerton
12. Nebraska
13. South Carolina
14. Iowa
15. Oregon State
16. Louisiana-Lafayette
17. DePaul
18. Florida State
19. Alabama
20. Texas
21. Oklahoma State
22. South Florida
23. Cal State Northridge
24. Long Beach State
25. Missouri
26. Hawaii
27. Minnesota
28. UNLV
29. Southern Mississippi
30. Texas A&M
31. Illinois-Chicago
32. Notre Dame
33. Oregon
34. Massachusetts
35. Cal Poly SLO
36. Georgia
37. Florida Atlantic
38. Michigan State
39. Pacific
40. Cal State Sacramento
41. Colorado State
42. Kansas
43. Louisiana-Monroe
44. Ohio State
45. Utah
46. Nicholls State
47. Mississippi State
48. New Mexico
49. Baylor
50. Texas State-San Marcos