Washington University in St. Louis football
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| Washington University in St. Louis Football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| First season | 1890 | ||
| Staff | |||
| Athletic director | John Schael | ||
| Head coach | Larry Kindbom | ||
| 18th year, 110–61 | |||
| Stadium | |||
| Home stadium | Francis Field | ||
| Stadium capacity | 3,300 | ||
| Stadium surface | FieldTurf | ||
| Location | {{{Location}}} | ||
| League/Conference | |||
| Conference | UAA | ||
| Team records | |||
| All-time record | 452–437–27 (.508) | ||
| Postseason bowl record | – | ||
| Awards | |||
| Conference titles | 5 | ||
| Heisman winners | 0 | ||
| All-Americans | 34 | ||
| Pageantry | |||
| Colors | Red and Green | ||
| Fight song | Fight for Washington | ||
| Mascot | Bear | ||
| Marching band | Wash U Pep Band | ||
| Rivals | University of Chicago Maroons | ||
| Website | BearSports.wuslt.edu | ||
The Washington University in St. Louis football program is one of numerous changes and tribulations, and one of high prestige. Out of the primarily academic Washington University in St. Louis the Wash U bears play on the Francis Field FieldTurf. Last year the bears finished the season 6-4, 2-1 in the UAA.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] The Start
Kick-off began in 1890 at Sportsman's Park with a coach that history has forgotten and a one-game schedule. The Purities, labeled for their strait-laced academic code, became the Pikers in 1905 in recognition of the amusement corridor leading from the World's Fair site in Forest Park to the east edge of campus. The 1905 squad was the first to play on Francis Field, built for the 1904 Olympics.
In 1907, WU became a charter member of the MVC, joining Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. The next three decades saw the Bears take on the biggest and the best. Enthusiasm surged, as evidenced by an approved plan for a 50,000-seat horseshoe-shaped stadium.
[edit] The Depression
The Great Depression, however, kept those plans locked forever on paper. Following World War II, Chancellor Arthur Holly Compton, a physicist active in the Manhattan project, blew the lid off any leftover "big-time" aspirations by administering a department-wide "re-emphasis."
The seeds of that decision, nurtured by post-WWII athletic director Blair Gullion, helped bring to bloom Washington U.'s involvement in the CAC, the subsequent creation of Division III, and the formation of the UAA 15 years ago.
[edit] The Resurgence/The Kindbom Years
Since head coach Larry Kindbom took over in 1989, the program has really taken off. With a 6-4 record and a school-record 13th-consecutive winning season in 2005, the Washington University football team continues to build upon a tradition of success.
In 1999, the Bears went 8-3, won their first-ever UAA title and advanced to the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the first time in school history. WU's best season ever also capped the finest decade in the club's 116-year history. Washington U. followed that up with an 8-2 mark in 2001 and a 6-4 record in 2002, 2003 and 2004, all which saw WU capture outright UAA titles.
In the 1990s the WU bears have posted their best seasons yet going 66-35 with wins in 65 percent of their games. The past ten years has also produced 14 All-Americans, won five University Athletic Association titles, had seven players named UAA Player of the Year (three offense, four defense) and boasted four Academic All-Americans and 12 all-district choices. The past five years have also proved to be a success with a 64 winning percentage.[2]
[edit] Current Season
The Washington University Bears have garnered a record of 6-3 in their 2007 season. This marked the best start since the 1995 season with a 6-1 start. Despite having beaten the #14 ranked North Central College Cardinals, the Red and Green remained outside of the official top 25 ranked teams. However, the team gained increasing recognition over the weeks and reached a peak position of 30th.[3]
