William & Mary Tribe football, 1950–1959

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 single greatest win of the era came on November 9, 1957, when William & Mary traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina to play #10 ranked N.C. State in Riddick Stadium. The Indians (2–5–0) stunned the Wolfpack (5–0–2) with a 7–6 win. The loss dropped N.C. State nine spots in the following AP Poll to #19. It marked the first time that William & Mary had ever defeated a national top 10 opponent (the previous closest occasion occurred on November 6, 1948, when the Indians tied #3 North Carolina 7–7 in Chapel Hill).

Contents: 1950 - 1951 - 1952 - 1953 - 1954 - 1955 - 1956 - 1957 - 1958 - 1959 - Decade totals - NFL Draft selections - Notes

1950

1950 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1950 record 4–7 (3–3 SoCon)
Head coach Rube McCray (7th year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1949 1951 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 23 vs. Virginia Military Institute Roanoke, Virginia L 19–25  
September 30 Cincinnati* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 20–14  
October 7 Wake Forest Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 0–47  
October 14 at #20 Michigan State* Macklin Stadium • East Lansing, Michigan L 14–33  
October 21 at Virginia Tech Miles Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia W 54–0  
October 28 at North Carolina Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, North Carolina L 7–40  
November 4 at Boston U.* Nickerson Field • Boston, Massachusetts L 14–16  
November 11 at Virginia* Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, Virginia L 0–13  
November 18 at Houston* Public School Stadium • Houston, Texas L 18–36  
November 25 vs. N.C. State Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia (Oyster Bowl) W 34–0  
December 2 Richmond Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 40–6  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1951

See also: The William & Mary Scandal of 1951 – a scandal that involved former head coach Rube McCray tampering with football players' transcripts and credits to enable NCAA eligibility.
1951 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1951 record 7–3 (5–1 SoCon)
Head coach Marvin Bass (1st year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1950 1952 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 22 Boston U.* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 34–25  
September 29 at #4 Oklahoma* Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma L 7–49  
October 6 Virginia Military Institute Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 7–20  
October 13 vs. Wake Forest City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (Tobacco Bowl) W 7–6  
October 20 at N.C. State Riddick Stadium • Raleigh, North Carolina W 35–28  
October 27 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 20–14  
November 3 at Pennsylvania* Franklin Field • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania W 20–12  
November 10 Virginia Tech Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 28–7  
November 17 Duke Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 14–13  
November 24 at #15 Virginia* Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, Virginia L 0–46  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1952

1952 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1952 record 4–5 (4–1 SoCon)
Head coach Marvin Bass (2nd year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1951 1953 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 20 vs. Virginia Military Institute Roanoke, Virginia W 34–13  
September 27 Wake Forest Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 21–28  
October 4 at Penn State* New Beaver Field • University Park, Pennsylvania L 23–35  
October 11 at #17 Navy* Thompson Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland L 0–14  
October 18 at Boston U.* Nickerson Field • Boston, Massachusetts L 28–33  
October 24 Richmond Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 42–13  
November 8 at Virginia Tech Miles Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia W 34–15  
November 22 N.C. State Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 41–6  
November 29 Virginia* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 13–20  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1953

1953 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1953 record 5–4–1 (3–2 SoCon)
Head coach Jack Freeman (1st year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1952 1954 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 19 vs. Wake Forest* City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (Tobacco Bowl) W 16–14  
September 26 at Navy* Thompson Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland T 6–6  
October 3 at Cincinnati* Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, Ohio L 7–57  
October 17 Virginia Tech Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 13–7  
October 24 George Washington Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 12–7  
October 31 at N.C. State* Riddick Stadium • Raleigh, North Carolina W 7–6  
November 7 vs. Virginia Military Institute Roanoke, Virginia L 19–20  
November 14 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 21–0  
November 21 Washington & Lee Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 7–33  
November 28 Boston U.* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 14–41  
*Non-conference game.

1954

1954 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1954 record 4–4–2 (1–2–2 SoCon)
Head coach Jack Freeman (2nd year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1953 1955 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 25 at Navy* Thompson Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland L 0–27  
October 2 at Pennsylvania* Franklin Field • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania W 27–7  
October 9 vs. N.C. State* S. B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, Virginia (Oyster Bowl) L 0–26  
October 16 at Rutgers* Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway Township, New Jersey W 14–7  
October 22 at George Washington Washington, D.C. T 13–13  
October 30 at #14 Virginia Tech Miles Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia T 7–7  
November 6 vs. Virginia Military Institute Roanoke, Virginia L 0–21  
November 13 #16 West Virginia Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 6–20  
November 20 Wake Forest* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 13–9  
November 25 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 2–0  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1955

1955 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1955 record 1–7–1 (1–3–1 SoCon)
Head coach Jack Freeman (3rd year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1954 1956 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 24 at #9 Navy* Thompson Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland L 0–7  
October 1 Virginia Tech Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 7–14  
October 8 at #13 Duke* Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, North Carolina L 7–47  
October 15 at #10 West Virginia Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, West Virginia L 13–39  
October 22 George Washington Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 0–16  
October 29 Virginia Military Institute Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 20–13  
November 5 at Wake Forest* Groves Stadium • Wake Forest, North Carolina L 7–13  
November 19 at N.C. State* Riddick Stadium • Raleigh, North Carolina L 21–28  
November 24 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) T 6–6  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1956

1956 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1956 record 0–9–1 (0–5 SoCon)
Head coach Jack Freeman (4th year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1955 1957 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 22 Wake Forest* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 0–39  
September 29 at Navy* Thompson Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland L 14–39  
October 6 Boston U.* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia T 18–18  
October 13 at Virginia Tech Miles Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia L 7–34  
October 20 West Virginia Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 13–20  
October 26 at #17 George Washington Washington, D.C. L 14–16  
November 3 vs. Virginia Military Institute Lynchburg, Virginia L 6–20  
November 10 at Army* Michie Stadium • West Point, New York L 6–34  
November 17 at Rutgers* Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway Township, New Jersey L 6–20  
November 22 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) L 0–6  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1957

1957 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1957 record 4–6 (2–4 SoCon)
Head coach Milt Drewer (1st year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1956 1958 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 21 George Washington Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 0–7  
September 28 at #5 Navy* Thompson Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland L 6–33  
October 5 Virginia Tech Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 13–7  
October 12 at Penn State* New Beaver Field • University Park, Pennsylvania L 13–21  
October 19 Virginia Military Institute Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 13–14  
October 26 at West Virginia Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, West Virginia L 0–19  
November 2 at The Citadel Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, South Carolina W 14–12  
November 9 at #10 N.C. State* Riddick Stadium • Raleigh, North Carolina W 7–6  
November 16 Rutgers* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 38–7  
November 28 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) L 7–12  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1958

1958 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1958 record 2–6–1 (1–4–1 SoCon)
Head coach Milt Drewer (2nd year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1957 1959 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 27 at #12 Navy* Thompson Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland L 0–14  
October 4 at Virginia Tech Miles Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia L 15–27  
October 11 vs. Virginia Military Institute Mitchell Stadium • Bluefield, West Virginia T 6–6  
October 18 N.C. State* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 13–6  
October 24 at George Washington Washington, D.C. L 0–7  
November 1 at Boston U.* Nickerson Field • Boston, Massachusetts L 7–33  
November 8 Davidson Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 7–16  
November 15 West Virginia Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 6–55  
November 27 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 18–15  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1959

The September 26th contest against the #13 Naval Academy marked the inaugural game in the brand new Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, which replaced Thompson Stadium as the location for all of Navy's future home games. William & Mary would go on to lose the game, 2–29.

1959 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1959 record 4–6 (4–3 SoCon)
Head coach Milt Drewer (3rd year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1958 1960 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 19 at Virginia* Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, Virginia W 37–0  
September 26 at #13 Navy* Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland L 2–29  
October 3 vs. Virginia Tech Roanoke, Virginia L 14–20  
October 10 Furman Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 7–8  
October 17 vs. Virginia Military Institute S. B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, Virginia (Oyster Bowl) L 7–26  
October 24 George Washington Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 14–7  
October 31 The Citadel Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 13–38  
November 7 at Davidson Richardson Stadium • Davidson, North Carolina W 25–7  
November 14 at Florida State* Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida W 9–0  
November 21 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) L 12–20  
*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
21 NFL Draft Selections 
# Year Round Pick Overall Name Team Position
1 1950 3 7 34 Hughes, GeorgeGeorge Hughes Pittsburgh Steelers Guard
2 1950 6 3 69 Cloud, "Flyin'" Jack"Flyin'" Jack Cloud Green Bay Packers Back
3 1950 9 8 113 Ragazzo, VitoVito Ragazzo Chicago Cardinals End
4 1950 10 12 130 Frank O'Pella Cleveland Browns Back
5 1950 24 4 304 Jim McDowell Detroit Lions Guard
6 1951 17 6 201 Ted Gehlmann Pittsburgh Steelers Tackle
7 1952 20 12 241 Ed Weber Los Angeles Rams Back
8 1953 8 4 89 John Kreamcheck Chicago Bears Tackle
9 1953 18 12 217 Ed Mioduszewski Detroit Lions Back
10 1954 3 12 37 Bowman, BillBill Bowman Detroit Lions Back
11 1954 5 12 61 George Parozzo Detroit Lions Tackle
12 1954 19 1 218 Jerry Sazio Chicago Cardinals Tackle
13 1954 22 5 258 Sumner, CharlieCharlie Sumner Chicago Bears Back
14 1954 28 1 326 Tom Koller Chicago Cardinals Back
15 1955 7 10 83 Bruce Sturgess Chicago Bears Back
16 1955 28 7 332 Al Crow New York Giants Tackle
17 1956 6 1 62 Bob Lusk Detroit Lions Center
18 1956 14 12 169 Charlie Sidwell Cleveland Browns Back
19 1958 10 12 121 Elliot Schaubach Detroit Lions Tackle
20 1959 17 1 193 Tom Secules Green Bay Packers Back
21 1959 22 8 260 Lennie Rubal Chicago Bears 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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