William & Mary Tribe football, 1940–1949

See also: William & Mary scandal of 1951

The William & Mary Indians football[1] teams represented The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. Now known as the William & Mary Tribe, the program was established in 1893. Their long-time football rival is the University of Richmond. Their annual meeting is dubbed the I-64 Bowl, so named for the highway connecting the two nearby schools.

The 1940s was the most successful decade in William & Mary football history. The Indians (Tribe) amassed more wins than any other decade (and this includes a non-existent 1943 season due to World War II), had the largest positive-point differential, won two conference championships and qualified for back-to-back bowl games in 1947 and 1948. There were 24 National Football League (NFL) Draft selections, which is the most all-time for William & Mary in a single decade. Among the draftees were Garrard "Buster" Ramsey (1943), Ralph Sazio (1947) and Lou Creekmur (1948). These three players were later enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, Canadian Football Hall of Fame and NFL Hall of Fame, respectively.

Additionally, the 1940s was the only decade in which William & Mary was an Associated Press nationally ranked team as a member of Division I-A. In 1942 their peak ranking was #13 (Week 6); in 1946 it was #18 (Week 3); in 1947 it was #12 (Week 6); and in 1948 it was #17 (Final Poll). The three-year streak of 1946 to 1948 saw William & Mary ranked at least at some point during the regular season, and two of those years (1947, 1948) they finished as a nationally ranked team in the final AP Polls.

Contents: 1940 - 1941 - 1942 - 1943 - 1944 - 1945 - 1946 - 1947 - 1948 - 1949 - Decade totals - NFL Draft selections - Notes - External links

1940

1940 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1940 record 6–2–1 (2–1–1 SoCon)
Head coach Carl M. Voyles (2nd year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1939 1941 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 21 vs. N.C. State Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia L 0–16  
September 28 at Navy* Thompson Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland L 7–19  
October 5 The Apprentice School* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 42–0  
October 12 vs. Virginia Tech City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia W 20–13  
October 19 Hampden-Sydney* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 41–0  
October 26 Virginia* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 13–6  
November 2 Virginia Military Institute Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia T 0–0  
November 9 Randolph-Macon* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 46–6  
November 21 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 16–0  
*Non-conference game.

1941

1941 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1941 record 8–2 (4–1 SoCon)
Head coach Carl M. Voyles (3rd year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1940 1942 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 20 The Apprentice School* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 53–0  
September 27 at Navy* Thompson Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland L 0–34  
October 4 Randoph-Macon* Williamsburg, Virginia W 57–7  
October 11 vs. Virginia Tech City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia W 16–7  
October 18 at Hampden-Sydney* Hampden Sydney, Virginia W 28–0  
October 25 vs. George Washington Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia W 48–0  
November 1 at Dartmouth* Memorial Field • Hanover, New Hampshire W 3–0  
November 8 Virginia Military Institute Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 21–0  
November 20 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 33–13  
November 29 N.C. State Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 0–13  
*Non-conference game.

1942

1942 William & Mary Indians football
Southern Conference Champions
Conference Southern Conference
1942 record 9–1–1 (4–0 SoCon)
Head coach Carl M. Voyles (4th year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1941 1943 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 19 vs. Hampden-Sydney* Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia W 27–0  
September 26 at Navy* Thompson Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland W 3–0  
October 3 at Virginia Tech Miles Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia W 21–7  
October 10 at Harvard* Cambridge, Massachusetts T 7–7  
October 24 George Washington Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 61–0  
October 31 Dartmouth* #18 Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 35–14  
November 7 Randolph-Macon* #17 Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 40–0  
November 14 vs. Virginia Military Institute #15 Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia W 27–6  
November 21 N.C. Navy Pre-Flight* #13 Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 0–14  
November 26 at Richmond #19 City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 10–0  
November 28 at Oklahoma* #14 Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma W 14–7  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1943

No team was fielded due to World War II.

1944

1944 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1944 record 5–2–1 (3–1–1 SoCon)
Head coach Rube McCray (1st year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1943 1945 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 30 Fort Monroe* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 46–0  
October 7 vs. Hampden-Sydney City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia W 38–0  
October 14 at #9 Pennsylvania* Franklin Field • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania L 0–46  
October 21 Richmond AB* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 39–0  
October 28 vs. N.C. State Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia L 2–19  
November 11 at North Carolina Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, North Carolina T 0–0  
November 18 vs. Virginia Military Institute Portsmouth, Virginia W 26–0  
November 30 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 40–0  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1945

1945 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1945 record 6–3 (4–2 SoCon)
Head coach Rube McCray (2nd year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1944 1946 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 29 Catawba* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 19–6  
October 6 at Tennessee* Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee L 13–48  
October 13 vs. Virginia Tech City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia W 38–0  
October 20 vs. Virginia Military Institute City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia W 13–9  
October 27 vs. N.C. State Foreman Field • Norfok, Virginia L 6–20  
November 3 at Maryland Byrd Stadium • College Park, Maryland W 33–14  
November 10 vs. North Carolina Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia L 0–6  
November 17 Merchant Marine* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 25–7  
November 22 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 33–0  
*Non-conference game.

1946

1946 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1946 record 8–2 (7–1 SoCon)
Head coach Rube McCray (3rd year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1945 1947 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 21 Fort McClellan* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 61–0  
September 27 at Miami (FL)* Miami Orange Bowl • Miami, Florida L 3–13  
October 5 at The Citadel Charleston, South Carolina W 51–12  
October 12 Virginia Tech Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 49–0  
October 19 vs. Washington & Lee #19 Roanoke, Virginia W 34–18  
October 26 Virginia Military Institute #18 Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 41–0  
November 2 Maryland Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 41–7  
November 9 vs. #17 North Carolina City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia L 7–21  
November 16 at George Washington Washington, D.C. W 20–0  
November 28 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 40–0  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1947

The William & Mary Indians finished the regular season ranked #14 in the AP Poll after their 35–0 win over Richmond.

1947 William & Mary Indians football
Southern Conference Champions
Dixie Bowl, L 19–21, vs. Arkansas
Conference Southern Conference
Ranking
AP #14
1947 record 9–2 (7–1 SoCon)
Head coach Rube McCray (4th year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1946 1948 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 27 vs. Davidson Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia W 21–0  
October 4 The Citadel Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 56–7  
October 11 vs. Virginia Tech City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia W 21–7  
October 18 North Carolina Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 7–13  
October 25 at Boston U.* Fenway Park • Boston, Massachusetts W 47–13  
November 1 Wake Forest Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 21–0  
November 8 Virginia Military Institute #15 Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 28–20  
November 15 vs. Washington & Lee #12 Roanoke, Virginia W 45–6  
November 22 Bowling Green* #14 Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 20–0  
November 27 at Richmond #14 City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 35–0  
January 1, 1948 vs. Arkansas* #14 Legion Field • Birmingham, Alabama (Dixie Bowl) L 19–21  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1948

The William & Mary Indians finished the regular season ranked #17 in the AP Poll after their 9–0 win over Arkansas.

1948 William & Mary Indians football
Delta Bowl, W 20–0, vs. Oklahoma A&M
Conference Southern Conference
Ranking
AP #17
1948 record 7–2–2 (5–1–1 SoCon)
Head coach Rube McCray (5th year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1947 1949 »
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 25 at Davidson Richardson Stadium • Davidson, North Carolina W 14–6  
October 2 Wake Forest Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 12–21  
October 9 vs. Virginia Military Institute Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia (Oyster Bowl) W 31–0  
October 16 at Virginia Tech Miles Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia W 30–0  
October 23 at St. Bonaventure* Allegany, New York L 6–7  
October 30 Richmond Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 14–6  
November 6 at #3 North Carolina Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, North Carolina T 7–7  
November 13 at Boston College* Braves Field • Boston, Massachusetts T 14–14  
November 20 N.C. State Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 26–6  
November 27 at Arkansas* #20 War Memorial Stadium • Little Rock, Arkansas W 9–0  
January 1, 1949 vs. Oklahoma A&M* #17 Crump Stadium • Memphis, Tennessee (Delta Bowl) W 20–0  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1949

1949 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1949 record 6–4 (4–2 SoCon)
Head coach Rube McCray (6th year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1948 1950 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 17 at Houston* Houston Public School Stadium • Houston, Texas W 14–13  
September 24 at Pittsburgh* Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania L 7–13  
October 1 Virginia Tech Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 39–13  
October 8 Virginia Military Institute Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 54–6  
October 15 at #19 Michigan State* Macklin Stadium • East Lansing, Michigan L 13–42  
October 22 at Wake Forest Groves Stadium • Wake Forest, North Carolina L 28–55  
October 29 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 34–0  
November 5 North Carolina Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 14–20  
November 19 at Arkansas* War Memorial Stadium • Little Rock, Arkansas W 20–0  
November 26 N.C. State Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 33–7  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

Decade totals

NFL Draft selections

= NFL Hall of Fame = Canadian Football Hall of Fame = College Football Hall of Fame
24 NFL Draft Selections 
# Year Round Pick Overall Name Team Position
1 1943 6 3 43 Johnson, HarveyHarvey Johnson Brooklyn Dodgers Back
2 1943 11 6 96 Glenn Knox New York Giants End
3 1943 14 4 124 Ramsey, Garrard "Buster"Garrard "Buster" Ramsey Chicago Cardinals Guard
4 1943 16 1 141 Bass, MarvinMarvin Bass Detroit Lions Tackle
5 1943 22 6 206 John Korczowski New York Giants Back
6 1944 13 9 129 Bob Longacre Pittsburgh Steelers Back
7 1944 17 4 168 Freeman, JackJack Freeman Philadelphia Eagles Back
8 1945 25 4 256 Bill Iancelli Boston Yanks End
9 1945 29 8 304 Nick Forkovich Chicago Bears Back
10 1946 10 8 88 Al Vandeweghe Philadelphia Eagles End
11 1946 11 3 93 Doc Holloway Pittsburgh Steelers Guard
12 1946 16 8 148 Buddy Hubbard Philadelphia Eagles Back
13 1946 20 8 188 Dave Butcher Philadelphia Eagles Back
14 1947 13 2 108 Bob Steckroth Washington Redskins End
15 1947 28 3 258 Sazio, RalphRalph Sazio Pittsburgh Steelers Tackle
16 1948 3 3 16 Thompson, TommyTommy Thompson Washington Redskins Center
17 1948 5 7 32 Ramsey, KnoxKnox Ramsey Chicago Bears Guard
18 1948 10 1 76 Stan Magdziak New York Giants Back
19 1948 11 7 92 Jim McDowell Chicago Bears Guard
20 1948 18 10 165 Harry Caughron Chicago Cardinals Tackle
21 1948 23 3 208 Lou Hoitsma Washington Redskins End
22 1948 26 8 243 Creekmur, LouLou Creekmur Philadelphia Eagles Tackle
23 1949 14 7 138 Pat Haggerty Washington Redskins End
24 1949 16 2 153 Jack Bruce Boston Yanks Back

Notes

  1. ^ The College of William & Mary has transitioned through several official nicknames since its athletic program began in 1893. From 1893 to 1916, William & Mary football players were known as the Orange and White because those were the old official school colors. From 1916 to 1977 all William & Mary athletes were known as the Indians. And, most recently, from 1978 to the present they have been known as the Tribe.

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