William & Mary Tribe football, 1970–1979

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 1970s was a time of transition for the William & Mary football program. Aside from switching head coaches after the 1971 season, the Indians would also eventually switch athletic conferences and create a new nickname. Prior to the 1977 season, William & Mary left the Southern Conference after having been a member since 1936. Then, effective as of the 1978 season, the NCAA decided to split their Division I status for schools into two sub-groups: Division I-A and Division I-AA. It was also this year that William & Mary switched their long-standing nickname, the Indians, to a more politically correct Tribe.

Though the overall decade winning percentage was below .500 (49–61–1), the era started off on a strong note. Future College Football Hall of Famer Lou Holtz, in his second year as head coach, guided the Indians to be the 1970 Southern Conference Champions and make an appearance in the school's third (and final) major bowl game. Though the Indians would lose the Tangerine Bowl, 12–40, they later took solace in knowing that they lost to a Toledo Rockets team who were in their second of three straight undefeated seasons (Toledo went into the contest ranked 15th by the Associated Press and would finish #12 in the final AP Poll).

William & Mary had seven NFL Draft selections, and they were also able to split the decade's I-64 Bowl series with Richmond 5–5.

Contents: 1970 - 1971 - 1972 - 1973 - 1974 - 1975 - 1976 - 1977 - 1978 - 1979 - Decade totals - NFL Draft selections - Notes

1970

Further information: 1970 Tangerine Bowl

When William & Mary played the 20th-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers on September 12th, it marked the first game as future college football legend Bobby Bowden's career as the Mountaineers' head coach. Bowden would go on to coach West Virginia from 1970–1975, going 3–0 against the Indians (Tribe) in the process.

1970 William & Mary Indians football
Southern Conference Champions
Tangerine Bowl, L 12–40, vs. #15 Toledo
Conference Southern Conference
1970 record 5–7 (3–1 SoCon)
Head coach Lou Holtz (2nd year)
Defensive coordinator Bobby Ross (1st year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1969 1971 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 12 at #20 West Virginia* Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, West Virginia L 7–43  
September 18 at Miami (FL)* Miami Orange Bowl • Miami, Florida L 14–36  
September 26 Cincinnati* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 10–17  
October 3 Ohio Wesleyan* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 33–29  
October 10 The Citadel Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 7–16  
October 17 at Virginia Military Institute Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, Virginia W 24–10  
October 24 at Virginia* Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, Virginia L 6–33  
October 31 Virginia Tech* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 14–35  
November 7 UConn* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 28–15  
November 14 at Davidson Richardson Stadium • Davidson, North Carolina W 29–28  
November 21 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 34–33  
December 28 vs. #15 Toledo* Citrus Bowl • Orlando, Florida (Tangerine Bowl) L 12–40  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1971

1971 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1971 record 5–6 (3–1 SoCon)
Head coach Lou Holtz (3rd year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1970 1972 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 11 at The Citadel Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, South Carolina W 35–28  
September 18 at East Carolina Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, North Carolina W 28–10  
September 25 Davidson* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 40–14  
October 2 at Tulane* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, Louisiana W 14–3  
October 9 West Virginia* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 23–28  
October 16 at Virginia Tech* Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia L 30–41  
October 23 Virginia Military Institute Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 12–7  
October 30 at North Carolina* Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, North Carolina L 35–36  
November 6 at Wake Forest* Groves Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina L 29–36  
November 13 at Temple* Temple Stadium • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania L 13–17  
November 20 Richmond Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) L 19–21  
*Non-conference game.

1972

See also: 1972 Tobacco Bowl game recap
1972 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1972 record 5–6 (4–2 SoCon)
Head coach Jim Root (1st year)
Defensive coordinator Lou Tepper (1st year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1971 1973 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 9 Furman Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 31–7  
September 16 at Navy* Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland L 9–13  
September 23 at Villanova* Villanova Stadium • Villanova, Pennsylvania L 17–20  
September 30 The Citadel Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 31–12  
October 7 at West Virginia* Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, West Virginia L 34–49  
October 14 Vanderbilt* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 17–21  
October 21 at Virginia Military Institute Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, Virginia W 31–3  
October 28 vs. Virginia Tech* City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (Tobacco Bowl) W 17–16  
November 4 at Davidson Richardson Stadium • Davidson, North Carolina W 56–9  
November 11 East Carolina Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 15–21  
November 18 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) L 3–20  
*Non-conference game.

1973

1973 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1973 record 6–5 (3–2 SoCon)
Head coach Jim Root (2nd year)
Defensive coordinator Lou Tepper (2nd year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1972 1974 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 8 at Virginia Tech* Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia W 31–24  
September 15 at North Carolina* Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, North Carolina L 27–34  
September 22 at Wake Forest* Groves Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina W 15–14  
September 29 at The Citadel Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, South Carolina W 24–12  
October 6 Villanova* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 33–21  
October 13 at Vanderbilt* Dudley Field • Nashville, Tennessee L 7–20  
October 20 Davidson Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 51–35  
October 27 Virginia Military Institute Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 45–14  
November 3 at East Carolina Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, North Carolina L 3–34  
November 10 Colgate* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 42–49  
November 17 Richmond Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) L 0–31  
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press.

1974

1974 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1974 record 4–7 (2–3 SoCon)
Head coach Jim Root (3rd year)
Defensive coordinator Lou Tepper (3rd year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1973 1975 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 7 at Mississippi State* Scott Field • Starkville, Mississippi L 7–49  
September 14 at Wake Forest* Groves Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina W 17–6  
September 21 at Virginia* Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, Virginia L 28–38  
September 28 at Furman Greenville, South Carolina L 0–10  
October 5 The Citadel Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 16–12  
October 12 at Boston College* Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts L 16–31  
October 19 Rutgers* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 28–15  
October 26 at Virginia Military Institute Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, Virginia L 20–31  
November 9 Virginia Tech* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 15–34  
November 16 East Carolina Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 10–31  
November 23 at Richmond City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 54–12  
*Non-conference game.

1975

1975 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1975 record 2–9 (2–3 SoCon)
Head coach Jim Root (4th year)
Defensive coordinator Lou Tepper (4th year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1974 1976 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 6 at [[{{{school}}}|North Carolina]]* Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, North Carolina L 7–33  
September 20 at East Carolina Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, North Carolina L 0–20  
September 27 at Pittsburgh* Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania L 0–47  
October 4 at [[{{{school}}}|The Citadel]] Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, South Carolina L 6–21  
October 11 [[{{{school}}}|Ohio]]* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 8–22  
October 18 at [[{{{school}}}|Rutgers]]* Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway Township, New Jersey L 0–24  
October 25 [[{{{school}}}|Furman]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 6–21  
November 1 vs. [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Tech]]* Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia (Oyster Bowl) L 7–24  
November 8 at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Military Institute]] Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, Virginia W 13–7  
November 15 [[{{{school}}}|Colgate]]* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 17–21  
November 22 [[{{{school}}}|Richmond]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 31–21  
*Non-conference game.

1976

1976 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Southern Conference
1976 record 7–4 (3–1 SoCon)
Head coach Jim Root (5th year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1975 1977 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 11 [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Military Institute]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 34–20  
September 18 at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia]]* Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, Virginia W 14–0  
September 25 East Carolina* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 19–20  
October 2 at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Tech]]* Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia W 27–15  
October 9 [[{{{school}}}|Delaware]]* Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 13–15  
October 16 at [[{{{school}}}|Navy]]* Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland W 21–13  
October 23 at [[{{{school}}}|Ohio]]* Peden Stadium • Athens, Ohio W 20–0  
October 30 at [[{{{school}}}|Furman]] Greenville, South Carolina L 7–23  
November 6 Appalachian State Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 23–22  
November 13 [[{{{school}}}|The Citadel]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 22–0  
November 20 at [[{{{school}}}|Richmond]]* City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) L 10–21  
*Non-conference game. Homecoming.

1977

1977 William & Mary Indians football
Conference Independent
1977 record 6–5
Head coach Jim Root (6th year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1976 1978 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 3 [[{{{school}}}|Norfolk State]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 27–13  
September 10 at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Military Institute]] Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, Virginia L 13–23  
September 17 at [[{{{school}}}|Pittsburgh]] Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania L 6–28  
September 24 at [[{{{school}}}|Louisville]] Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, Kentucky W 21–7  
October 1 [[{{{school}}}|Villanova]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 28–8  
October 8 vs. [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Tech]] City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (Tobacco Bowl) L 8–17  
October 22 at [[{{{school}}}|Navy]] Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland L 17–42  
October 29 [[{{{school}}}|Rutgers]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 21–22  
November 5 at [[{{{school}}}|The Citadel]] Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, South Carolina W 14–13  
November 12 vs. East Carolina Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia (Oyster Bowl) W 21–17  
November 19 [[{{{school}}}|Richmond]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 29–13  

1978

In 1978, NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) college football came into existence. William & Mary joined the subdivision in its inaugural year and has been a member ever since.

1978 William & Mary Tribe football
Conference Independent
1978 record 5–5–1
Head coach Jim Root (7th year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1977 1979 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 9 [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Military Institute]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 10–3  
September 16 at [[{{{school}}}|UConn]] Memorial Stadium • Storrs, Connecticut W 27–3  
September 23 at [[{{{school}}}|Villanova]] Villanova Stadium • Villanova, Pennsylvania W 21–17  
September 30 at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Tech]] Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia L 19–22  
October 7 [[{{{school}}}|Temple]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia T 22–22  
October 14 [[{{{school}}}|James Madison]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 32–7  
October 21 at #17 [[{{{school}}}|Navy]] Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland L 0–9  
October 28 at [[{{{school}}}|Louisville]] Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, Kentucky L 21–33  
November 4 [[{{{school}}}|The Citadel]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 12–8  
November 11 at East Carolina Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, North Carolina L 3–20  
November 18 at [[{{{school}}}|Richmond]] City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) L 3–17  
#Rankings from Associated Press.

1979

1979 William & Mary Tribe football
Conference Independent
1979 record 4–7
Head coach Jim Root (8th year)
Home stadium Cary Field
Seasons
« 1978 1980 »
Date Opponent Site Result
September 8 at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Military Institute]] Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, Virginia L 3–7  
September 15 [[{{{school}}}|Colgate]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 28–15  
September 22 at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Tech]] Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia L 14–35  
September 29 at [[{{{school}}}|Georgia Tech]] Grant Field • Atlanta, Georgia L 7–33  
October 6 [[{{{school}}}|James Madison]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia W 33–0  
October 13 vs. [[{{{school}}}|Navy]] Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia (Oyster Bowl) L 7–24  
October 20 [[{{{school}}}|Rutgers]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 0–24  
October 27 at [[{{{school}}}|Delaware]] Delaware Stadium • Newark, Delaware L 0–40  
November 10 at Appalachian State Conrad Stadium • Boone, North Carolina W 9–0  
November 17 [[{{{school}}}|Richmond]] Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) W 24–10  
November 24 East Carolina Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia L 14–38  

Decade totals

NFL Draft selections

= NFL Hall of Fame = Canadian Football Hall of Fame = College Football Hall of Fame
7 NFL Draft Selections 
# Year Round Pick Overall Name Team Position
1 1971 15 19 383 Andy Giles Oakland Raiders Defensive end
2 1972 14 20 358 Dennis Cambal Oakland Raiders Running back
3 1972 15 25 389 Bill Davis Miami Dolphins Defensive tackle
4 1973 11 12 272 Knight, DavidDavid Knight New York Jets Wide receiver
5 1974 16 15 405 Barry Beers Kansas City Chiefs Guard
6 1975 12 12 298 Richard Pawlewicz Philadelphia Eagles Running back
7 1976 16 16 447 Craig McCurdy Detroit Lions Linebacker

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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