William & Mary Tribe football, 1990–1999

The William & Mary Tribe football teams represented The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. The program was established in 1893 and serves as William & Mary's oldest athletic team. Their long-time football rival is the University of Richmond and their annual meeting is dubbed the I-64 Bowl, so named for the highway connecting the two nearby schools.

The 1990s were the second most successful years of Tribe football (behind the 1940s) in both terms of winning percentage and by the number of points William & Mary outscored their opponents. In terms of total wins, the 1990s has been the most successful decade.

Three players were drafted during this era. Most notably, Darren Sharper was selected as the 60th overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. It is still the highest overall draft selection, in the modern football era, by any William & Mary player in the program's history. As of November 2009, Sharper is in the National Football League's Top 10 all-time in career interceptions. He has been a four-time Pro Bowl starter as well.

Four of the seasons in the 1990s saw William & Mary win at least nine games; two of those were 10-win seasons. The 1990 team won a Division I-AA playoff game for the school's first-ever playoff victory. In 1996, the Tribe were outright champions of the Yankee Conference. That same squad finished the year ranked #5 in the final Sports Network poll, which was a then-school record for highest finish ever.

Contents: 1990 - 1991 - 1992 - 1993 - 1994 - 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - Decade totals - NFL Draft selections

1990

William & Mary were the 1990 Lambert Cup winners. The Lambert Cup is an award given to the best team in the East in Division I-AA. To be eligible for the Lambert Cup, a school must be located in the East or play half its schedule against eligible Lambert teams.

1990 William & Mary Tribe football
Lambert Cup Winner
Division I-AA Quarterfinals, L 38–52, at Central Florida
Conference Independent
Ranking
AP #7 (NCAA Poll)[1]
1990 record 10–3
Head coach Jimmye Laycock (11th year)
Home stadium Zable Stadium
Seasons
« 1989 1991 »
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
September 8 at The Citadel Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC L 31–34   18,011
September 15 Villanova Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 37–14    
September 22 Connecticut Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 24–7    
September 29 at #7 (BCS) Virginia Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA L 35–63   40,400
October 6 at Delaware Delaware Stadium • Newark, DE W 22–12   21,378
October 13 vs. Virginia Military Institute Foreman Field • Norfolk, VA (Oyster Bowl) W 59–47    
October 20 Bucknell Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 45–17    
October 27 Lehigh Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 38–17    
November 3 Furman Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 38–28   15,000
November 10 at James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA W 31–21    
November 17 at Richmond University of Richmond Stadium • Richmond, VA (I-64 Bowl) W 31–10    
November 24 Massachusetts Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA (Division I-AA playoffs) W 38–0   7,027
December 1 at Central Florida Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL (Division I-AA Quarterfinals) L 38–52   20,067
#Rankings from Associated Press.
Champion – Georgia Southern Eagles

1991

1991 William & Mary Tribe football
Conference Independent
1991 record 5–6
Head coach Jimmye Laycock (12th year)
Home stadium Zable Stadium
Seasons
« 1990 1992 »
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
September 7 at Boston U. Nickerson Field • Boston, MA W 48–22   3,630
September 14 Delaware Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA L 21–28   13,579
September 21 at Navy Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MD W 26–21   23,697
September 28 James Madison Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA L 28–29   15,371
October 5 at North Carolina Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC L 36–59   44,500
October 12 at Virginia Military Institute Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA W 40–26    
October 19 The Citadel Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 24–17   15,621
October 26 at Villanova Villanova Stadium • Villanova, PA L 21–35   6,887
November 2 at Lehigh Goodman Stadium • Bethlehem, PA L 37–41   11,083
November 16 Samford Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA L 13–35   7,131
November 23 Richmond Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA (I-64 Bowl) W 49–7    

1992

William & Mary finished the regular season with a 9–2 record, but because they chose to participate in their second-ever Epson Ivy Bowl against Nihon University in Tokyo, Japan, the Tribe were forced to forfeit their qualification to participate in the 1992 Division I-AA playoffs. The postseason bowl game, due to it being an international match and not sanctioned by the NCAA, does not count toward their win-loss records.

1992 William & Mary Tribe football
Epson Ivy Bowl, W 35–19, at Nihon University
Conference Independent
Ranking
AP #13 (NCAA Poll)[2]
1992 record 9–2
Head coach Jimmye Laycock (13th year)
Home stadium Zable Stadium
Seasons
« 1991 1993 »
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
September 12 Virginia Military Institute Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 21–16    
September 19 Boston U. Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 31–21    
September 26 at Harvard Harvard Stadium • Cambridge, MA W 36–16    
October 3 Brown Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 51–6   13,012
October 10 at Pennsylvania Franklin Field • Philadelphia, PA W 21–19    
October 17 Towson State Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 43–15   15,122
October 24 at #24 (BCS) Virginia Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA L 7–33   40,100
October 31 at James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA L 14–21    
November 7 at Colgate Andy Kerr Stadium • Hamilton, NY W 44–26    
November 14 Lehigh Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 26–13    
November 21 at Richmond University of Richmond Stadium • Richmond, VA (I-64 Bowl) W 34–19   19,377
January 23, 1993 at Nihon University Tokyo Dome • Tokyo, Japan (Epson Ivy Bowl) W 35–19   40,000
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from NCAA Poll at time of game. All times are in Eastern Time.

1993

1993 William & Mary Tribe football
Yankee Conference Mid-Atlantic Division Champions
Division I-AA First Round, L 28–34, at McNeese State
Conference Yankee Conference Mid Atlantic
Ranking
Sports Network #10[3]
1993 record 9–3 (7–1 Yankee)
Head coach Jimmye Laycock (14th year)
Offensive coordinator Zbig Kepa (1st year)
Home stadium Zable Stadium
Seasons
« 1992 1994 »
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
September 4 New Hampshire Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 27–14   6,641
September 11 at [[{{{school}}}|Delaware]] Delaware Stadium • Newark, DE L 35–42   13,612
September 18 at [[{{{school}}}|Tulane]] Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 0–10   20,517
September 25 [[{{{school}}}|Harvard]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 45–17    
October 2 vs. [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Military Institute]] Foreman Field • Norfolk, VA (Oyster Bowl) W 49–6   14,000
October 16 at [[{{{school}}}|Northeastern]] Parsons Field • Brookline, MA W 53–6    
October 23 [[{{{school}}}|Villanova]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 51–17   17,616
October 30 [[{{{school}}}|James Madison]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 31–26   11,698
November 6 at [[{{{school}}}|Maine]] Alumni Stadium • Orono, ME W 47–23   3,400
November 13 at Massachusetts Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium • Amherst, MA W 45–28   3,222
November 20 [[{{{school}}}|Richmond]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA (I-64 Bowl) W 31–17    
November 27 at [[{{{school}}}|McNeese State]] Cowboy Stadium • Lake Charles, LA (Division I-AA playoffs) L 28–34   17,167
  • [[{{{school}}}|Boston U]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Central Florida]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Delaware]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Eastern Kentucky]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Georgia Southern]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Howard]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Idaho]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Marshall]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|McNeese State]]
  • Montana
  • [[{{{school}}}|Northeast Louisiana]]
  • Northern Iowa
  • [[{{{school}}}|Stephen F. Austin]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Troy]]
  • William & Mary
  • [[{{{school}}}|Youngstown State]]
Champion – Youngstown State Penguins

1994

1994 William & Mary Tribe football
Conference Yankee Conference Mid Atlantic
Ranking
Sports Network #19[4]
1994 record 8–3 (6–2 Yankee)
Head coach Jimmye Laycock (15th year)
Offensive coordinator Zbig Kepa (2nd year)
Home stadium Zable Stadium
Seasons
« 1993 1995 »
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
September 3 at [[{{{school}}}|Rhode Island]] Meade Stadium • Kingston, RI W 38–17   3,383
September 10 [[{{{school}}}|Delaware]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 31–7   12,136
September 17 at [[{{{school}}}|Furman]] Paladin Stadium • Greenville, SC W 28–26    
September 24 [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Military Institute]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 45–7    
October 1 at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia]] Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA L 3–37   38,300
October 8 [[{{{school}}}|Northeastern]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 17–12   7,894
October 15 Massachusetts Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA L 14–23   9,042
October 22 at [[{{{school}}}|James Madison]] Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA L 7–33    
October 29 at [[{{{school}}}|Villanova]] Villanova Stadium • Villanova, PA W 53–28    
November 5 [[{{{school}}}|Maine]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 17–0   14,687
November 19 at [[{{{school}}}|Richmond]] University of Richmond Stadium • Richmond, VA (I-64 Bowl) W 21–20   10,683

1995

1995 William & Mary Tribe football
Conference Yankee Conference Mid Atlantic
Ranking
Sports Network #19[5]
1995 record 7–4 (5–3 Yankee)
Head coach Jimmye Laycock (16th year)
Offensive coordinator Zbig Kepa (3rd year)
Home stadium Zable Stadium
Seasons
« 1994 1996 »
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
September 2 at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia]] Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA L 16–40   38,300
September 9 #7 [[{{{school}}}|James Madison]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA L 17–24   13,871
September 16 at [[{{{school}}}|Northeastern]] Parsons Field • Brookline, MA W 32–0   2,400
September 23 at [[{{{school}}}|New Hampshire]] Cowell Stadium • Durham, NH W 39–0   4,266
September 30 at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Military Institute]] Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA W 27–7   7,896
October 7 [[{{{school}}}|Rhode Island]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 23–14   7,230
October 14 #22 [[{{{school}}}|Pennsylvania]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 48–34   8,535
October 21 at Massachusetts Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium • Amherst, MA L 9–20   5,011
October 28 [[{{{school}}}|Villanova]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 18–15   13,925
November 4 at #5 [[{{{school}}}|Delaware]] Delaware Stadium • Newark, DE L 20–23   18,439
November 11 #16 [[{{{school}}}|Richmond]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA (I-64 Bowl) W 27–7   12,779
#Rankings from The Sports Network FCS Poll at time of game. All times are in Eastern Time.

1996

1996 William & Mary Tribe football
Yankee Conference Champions
Lambert Cup Winner
Division I-AA Quarterfinals, L 35–38, at #3 [[{{{school}}}|Northern Iowa]]
Conference Yankee Conference Mid Atlantic
Ranking
Sports Network #5[6]
1996 record 10–3 (7–1 Yankee)
Head coach Jimmye Laycock (17th year)
Offensive coordinator Zbig Kepa (4th year)
Defensive coordinator Russ Huesman (1st year)
Home stadium Zable Stadium
Seasons
« 1995 1997 »
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
August 29 at [[{{{school}}}|Central Florida]] Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL L 33–39   18,013
September 7 at #22 [[{{{school}}}|Rhode Island]] Meade Stadium • Kingston, RI W 23–16   2,131
September 14 [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Military Institute]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 40–21   9,614
September 21 at [[{{{school}}}|Bucknell]] Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium • Lewisburg, PA W 47–0   4,429
October 5 #20 [[{{{school}}}|New Hampshire]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 31–7   7,256
October 12 at #17 [[{{{school}}}|James Madison]] Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA L 21–26   10,500
October 19 at #9 [[{{{school}}}|Villanova]] Villanova Stadium • Villanova, PA W 30–21   4,733
October 26 [[{{{school}}}|Northeastern]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 21–14   11,373
November 2 #6 [[{{{school}}}|Delaware]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 10–7 (OT)  8,177
November 9 Massachusetts Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 30–6   6,867
November 16 at [[{{{school}}}|Richmond]] University of Richmond Stadium • Richmond, VA (I-64 Bowl) W 28–13   11,204
November 30 #8 [[{{{school}}}|Jackson State]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA (Division I-AA playoffs) W 45–6   4,057
December 7 at #3 [[{{{school}}}|Northern Iowa]] UNI-Dome • Cedar Falls, IA (Division I-AA Quarterfinals) L 35–38   10,796
#Rankings from The Sports Network FCS Poll at time of game. All times are in Eastern Time.
  • [[{{{school}}}|Delaware]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|East Tennessee State]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Eastern Illinois]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Florida A&M]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Furman]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Jackson State]]
  • Marshall
  • Montana
  • [[{{{school}}}|Murray State]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Nicholls State]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Northern Arizona]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Northern Iowa]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Troy]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Villanova]]
  • [[{{{school}}}|Western Illinois]]
  • William & Mary
Champion – Marshall Thundering Herd

1997

1997 William & Mary Tribe football
Conference Atlantic 10 Conference
1997 record 7–4 (4–4 A-10)
Head coach Jimmye Laycock (18th year)
Offensive coordinator Zbig Kepa (5th year)
Defensive coordinator Russ Huesman (2nd year)
Home stadium Zable Stadium
Seasons
« 1996 1998 »
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
August 30 [[{{{school}}}|Hampton]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 31–6   10,667
September 6 at #23 [[{{{school}}}|Georgia Southern]] Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA W 29–28   10,329
September 13 at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Military Institute]] Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA W 41–12   7,267
September 20 at [[{{{school}}}|New Hampshire]] Cowell Stadium • Durham, NH L 22–24   3,274
September 27 [[{{{school}}}|Boston U.]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 20–17   8,574
October 4 at [[{{{school}}}|Northeastern]] Parsons Field • Brookline, MA L 12–33   3,112
October 11 [[{{{school}}}|James Madison]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 38–25   8,529
October 18 at [[{{{school}}}|Connecticut]] Memorial Stadium • Storrs, CT W 38–17   8,396
October 25 #1 [[{{{school}}}|Villanova]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA L 13–20   10,559
November 1 at #3 [[{{{school}}}|Delaware]] Delaware Stadium • Newark, DE L 0–14   18,707
November 15 [[{{{school}}}|Richmond]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA (I-64 Bowl) W 10–7   8,201
#Rankings from The Sports Network FCS Poll at time of game. All times are in Eastern Time.

1998

1998 William & Mary Tribe football
Conference Atlantic 10 Conference
Ranking
Sports Network #17[7]
1998 record 7–4 (4–4 A-10)
Head coach Jimmye Laycock (19th year)
Offensive coordinator Zbig Kepa (6th year)
Home stadium Zable Stadium
Seasons
« 1997 1999 »
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
September 5 at [[{{{school}}}|Rhode Island]] Meade Stadium • Kingston, RI W 21–13   3,713
September 12 [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Military Institute]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 49–0   9,598
September 19 [[{{{school}}}|Northeastern]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 24–21   6,005
September 26 at #4 [[{{{school}}}|Villanova]] Villanova Stadium • Villanova, PA L 28–45   12,008
October 3 at [[{{{school}}}|Temple]] Veterans Stadium • Philadelphia, PA W 45–38   16,281
October 10 #6 [[{{{school}}}|Delaware]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 52–45   7,443
October 17 at [[{{{school}}}|James Madison]] Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA W 24–12   14,000
October 24 [[{{{school}}}|New Hampshire]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA L 19–31   10,553
October 31 at #2 [[{{{school}}}|Hampton]] Armstrong Stadium • Hampton, VA W 41–34   10,704
November 14 #13 [[{{{school}}}|Connecticut]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA L 26–34   6,529
November 21 at #8 [[{{{school}}}|Richmond]] University of Richmond Stadium • Richmond, VA (I-64 Bowl) L 17–42   18,914
#Rankings from The Sports Network FCS Poll at time of game. All times are in Eastern Time.

1999

1999 William & Mary Tribe football
Conference Atlantic 10 Conference
1999 record 6–5 (5–3 A-10)
Head coach Jimmye Laycock (20th year)
Offensive coordinator Zbig Kepa (7th year)
Home stadium Zable Stadium
Seasons
« 1998 2000 »
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
September 2 at #11 [[{{{school}}}|Delaware]] Delaware Stadium • Newark, DE L 27–34 2OT  22,038
September 11 at #23 (BCS) [[{{{school}}}|N.C. State]] Carter-Finley Stadium • Raleigh, NC L 9–38   42,386
September 18 [[{{{school}}}|Furman]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA L 6–52   6,390
September 25 at [[{{{school}}}|Northeastern]] Parsons Field • Brookline, MA W 42–30   3,721
October 9 #19 [[{{{school}}}|Villanova]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA W 45–10   4,923
October 16 #13 [[{{{school}}}|James Madison]] Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA L 20–30   9,225
October 23 at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Military Institute]] Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA W 35–14   5,273
October 30 [[{{{school}}}|Maine]] Zable Stadium • Lexington, VA W 37–13   9,358
November 6 at [[{{{school}}}|Rhode Island]] Meade Stadium • Kingston, RI W 24–6   6,130
November 13 #17 Massachusetts Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA L 16–25   7,055
November 20 at [[{{{school}}}|Richmond]] University of Richmond Stadium • Richmond, VA (I-64 Bowl) W 34–14   13,411
#Rankings from The Sports Network FCS Poll at time of game. The ranking for N.C. State is from the AP Poll which is used for Division I-A (BCS) teams.. All times are in Eastern Time.

Decade totals

NFL Draft selections

= NFL Hall of Fame = Canadian Football Hall of Fame = College Football Hall of Fame
3 NFL Draft Selections 
# Year Round Pick Overall Name Team Position
1 1991 7 2 170 Tyrone Shelton Saint Louis Rams Running back
2 1992 4 28 112 Chris Hakel Washington Redskins Quarterback
3 1997 2 30 60 Sharper, DarrenDarren Sharper Green Bay Packers Defensive back

References

  1. ^ NCAA Final Poll 1990 – Division I-AA
  2. ^ NCAA Final Poll 1992 – Division I-AA
  3. ^ Sports Network's 1993 FCS College Football Poll
  4. ^ Sports Network's 1994 FCS College Football Poll
  5. ^ Sports Network's 1995 FCS College Football Poll
  6. ^ Sports Network's 1996 FCS College Football Poll
  7. ^ Sports Network's 1998 FCS College Football Poll
Venues
Bowls & rivalries
Culture & lore
People
  • Head coaches
Seasons