William & Mary Tribe football, 1970β79
The William & Mary Indians / Tribe football[a] 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 (renamed the Capital Cup starting in the 2009 season), 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 (49β61β1), 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, 12β40, 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 5β5.
1970
1971
Date |
Opponent |
Site |
Result
|
September 11 |
at The Citadel |
Johnson Hagood Stadium β’ Charleston, South Carolina |
W 35β28
|
September 18 |
at East Carolina |
Ficklen Stadium β’ Greenville, North Carolina |
W 28β10
|
September 25 |
Davidson* |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 40β14
|
October 2 |
at Tulane* |
Tulane Stadium β’ New Orleans, Louisiana |
W 14β3
|
October 9 |
West Virginia* |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 23β28
|
October 16 |
at Virginia Tech* |
Lane Stadium β’ Blacksburg, Virginia |
L 30β41
|
October 23 |
VMI |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia (Rivalry) |
W 12β7
|
October 30 |
at North Carolina* |
Kenan Memorial Stadium β’ Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
L 35β36
|
November 6 |
at Wake Forest* |
Groves Stadium β’ Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
L 29β36
|
November 13 |
at Temple* |
Temple Stadium β’ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
L 13β17
|
November 20 |
Richmond |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) |
L 19β21
|
*Non-conference game. |
1972
- See also: 1972 Tobacco Bowl game recap
Date |
Opponent |
Site |
Result
|
September 9 |
Furman |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 31β7
|
September 16 |
at Navy* |
NavyβMarine Corps Memorial Stadium β’ Annapolis, Maryland |
L 9β13
|
September 23 |
at Villanova* |
Villanova Stadium β’ Villanova, Pennsylvania |
L 17β20
|
September 30 |
The Citadel |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 31β12
|
October 7 |
at West Virginia* |
Mountaineer Field β’ Morgantown, West Virginia |
L 34β49
|
October 14 |
Vanderbilt* |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 17β21
|
October 21 |
at VMI |
Alumni Memorial Field β’ Lexington, Virginia (Rivalry) |
W 31β3
|
October 28 |
vs. Virginia Tech* |
City Stadium β’ Richmond, Virginia (Tobacco Bowl) |
W 17β16
|
November 4 |
at Davidson |
Richardson Stadium β’ Davidson, North Carolina |
W 56β9
|
November 11 |
East Carolina |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 15β21
|
November 18 |
at Richmond |
City Stadium β’ Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) |
L 3β20
|
*Non-conference game. |
1973
Date |
Opponent |
Site |
Result
|
September 8 |
at Virginia Tech* |
Lane Stadium β’ Blacksburg, Virginia |
W 31β24
|
September 15 |
at North Carolina* |
Kenan Memorial Stadium β’ Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
L 27β34
|
September 22 |
at Wake Forest* |
Groves Stadium β’ Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
W 15β14
|
September 29 |
at The Citadel |
Johnson Hagood Stadium β’ Charleston, South Carolina |
W 24β12
|
October 6 |
Villanova* |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 33β21
|
October 13 |
at Vanderbilt* |
Dudley Field β’ Nashville, Tennessee |
L 7β20
|
October 20 |
Davidson |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 51β35
|
October 27 |
VMI |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia (Rivalry) |
W 45β14
|
November 3 |
at East Carolina |
Ficklen Stadium β’ Greenville, North Carolina |
L 3β34
|
November 10 |
Colgate* |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 42β49
|
November 17 |
Richmond |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) |
L 0β31
|
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Associated Press. |
1974
Date |
Opponent |
Site |
Result
|
September 7 |
at Mississippi State* |
Scott Field β’ Starkville, Mississippi |
L 7β49
|
September 14 |
at Wake Forest* |
Groves Stadium β’ Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
W 17β6
|
September 21 |
at Virginia* |
Scott Stadium β’ Charlottesville, Virginia |
L 28β38
|
September 28 |
at Furman |
Greenville, South Carolina |
L 0β10
|
October 5 |
The Citadel |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 16β12
|
October 12 |
at Boston College* |
Alumni Stadium β’ Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts |
L 16β31
|
October 19 |
Rutgers* |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 28β15
|
October 26 |
at VMI |
Alumni Memorial Field β’ Lexington, Virginia (Rivalry) |
L 20β31
|
November 9 |
Virginia Tech* |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 15β34
|
November 16 |
East Carolina |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 10β31
|
November 23 |
at Richmond |
City Stadium β’ Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) |
W 54β12
|
*Non-conference game. |
1975
Date |
Opponent |
Site |
Result
|
September 6 |
at North Carolina* |
Kenan Memorial Stadium β’ Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
L 7β33
|
September 20 |
at East Carolina |
Ficklen Stadium β’ Greenville, North Carolina |
L 0β20
|
September 27 |
at Pittsburgh* |
Pitt Stadium β’ Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
L 0β47
|
October 4 |
at The Citadel |
Johnson Hagood Stadium β’ Charleston, South Carolina |
L 6β21
|
October 11 |
Ohio* |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 8β22
|
October 18 |
at Rutgers* |
Rutgers Stadium β’ Piscataway Township, New Jersey |
L 0β24
|
October 25 |
Furman |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 6β21
|
November 1 |
vs. Virginia Tech* |
Foreman Field β’ Norfolk, Virginia (Oyster Bowl) |
L 7β24
|
November 8 |
at VMI |
Alumni Memorial Field β’ Lexington, Virginia (Rivalry) |
W 13β7
|
November 15 |
Colgate* |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 17β21
|
November 22 |
Richmond |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) |
W 31β21
|
*Non-conference game. |
1976
Date |
Opponent |
Site |
Result
|
September 11 |
VMI |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia (Rivalry) |
W 34β20
|
September 18 |
at Virginia* |
Scott Stadium β’ Charlottesville, Virginia |
W 14β0
|
September 25 |
East Carolina* |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 19β20
|
October 2 |
at Virginia Tech* |
Lane Stadium β’ Blacksburg, Virginia |
W 27β15
|
October 9 |
Delaware* |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia (Rivalry) |
L 13β15
|
October 16 |
at Navy* |
NavyβMarine Corps Memorial Stadium β’ Annapolis, Maryland |
W 21β13
|
October 23 |
at Ohio* |
Peden Stadium β’ Athens, Ohio |
W 20β0
|
October 30 |
at Furman |
Greenville, South Carolina |
L 7β23
|
November 6 |
Appalachian State |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 23β22
|
November 13 |
The Citadel |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 22β0
|
November 20 |
at Richmond* |
City Stadium β’ Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) |
L 10β21
|
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. |
1977
Date |
Opponent |
Site |
Result
|
September 3 |
Norfolk State |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 27β13
|
September 10 |
at VMI |
Alumni Memorial Field β’ Lexington, Virginia (Rivalry) |
L 13β23
|
September 17 |
at Pittsburgh |
Pitt Stadium β’ Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
L 6β28
|
September 24 |
at Louisville |
Cardinal Stadium β’ Louisville, Kentucky |
W 21β7
|
October 1 |
Villanova |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 28β8
|
October 8 |
vs. Virginia Tech |
City Stadium β’ Richmond, Virginia (Tobacco Bowl) |
L 8β17
|
October 22 |
at Navy |
NavyβMarine Corps Memorial Stadium β’ Annapolis, Maryland |
L 17β42
|
October 29 |
Rutgers |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 21β22
|
November 5 |
at The Citadel |
Johnson Hagood Stadium β’ Charleston, South Carolina |
W 14β13
|
November 12 |
vs. East Carolina |
Foreman Field β’ Norfolk, Virginia (Oyster Bowl) |
W 21β17
|
November 19 |
Richmond |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) |
W 29β13
|
|
- "12th Man Tackle"
In October 1977, William & Mary met heavily favored East Carolina in the Oyster Bowl. In the fourth quarter ECU led by three points. During the game's final seconds, William & Mary quarterback Tom Rozantz broke loose and ran for the end zone. Jim Johnson, a former head coach for the ECU football team, who was described by The Virginian Pilot as "a portly 65-year-old gentleman in a raincoat," ran from the sidelines and threw a block tackle on Rozantz before he could score the winning touchdown. The unusual turn of events silenced the screaming William & Mary fans, and the officials gathered to discuss their course of action. After deliberation, the play was ruled a touchdown and William & Mary went on to win, 21β17.[2][3]
1978
Date |
Opponent |
Site |
Result
|
September 9 |
VMI |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia (Rivalry) |
W 10β3
|
September 16 |
at Connecticut |
Memorial Stadium β’ Storrs, Connecticut |
W 27β3
|
September 23 |
at Villanova |
Villanova Stadium β’ Villanova, Pennsylvania |
W 21β17
|
September 30 |
at Virginia Tech |
Lane Stadium β’ Blacksburg, Virginia |
L 19β22
|
October 7 |
Temple |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
T 22β22
|
October 14 |
James Madison |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia (Rivalry) |
W 32β7
|
October 21 |
at No. 17 Navy |
NavyβMarine Corps Memorial Stadium β’ Annapolis, Maryland |
L 0β9
|
October 28 |
at Louisville |
Cardinal Stadium β’ Louisville, Kentucky |
L 21β33
|
November 4 |
The Citadel |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 12β8
|
November 11 |
at East Carolina |
Ficklen Stadium β’ Greenville, North Carolina |
L 3β20
|
November 18 |
at Richmond |
City Stadium β’ Richmond, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) |
L 3β17
|
#Rankings from Associated Press. |
1979
Date |
Opponent |
Site |
Result
|
September 8 |
at VMI |
Alumni Memorial Field β’ Lexington, Virginia (Rivalry) |
L 3β7
|
September 15 |
Colgate |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
W 28β15
|
September 22 |
at Virginia Tech |
Lane Stadium β’ Blacksburg, Virginia |
L 14β35
|
September 29 |
at Georgia Tech |
Grant Field β’ Atlanta, Georgia |
L 7β33
|
October 6 |
James Madison |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia (Rivalry) |
W 33β0
|
October 13 |
vs. Navy |
Foreman Field β’ Norfolk, Virginia (Oyster Bowl) |
L 7β24
|
October 20 |
Rutgers |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 0β24
|
October 27 |
at Delaware |
Delaware Stadium β’ Newark, Delaware (Rivalry) |
L 0β40
|
November 10 |
at Appalachian State |
Conrad Stadium β’ Boone, North Carolina |
W 9β0
|
November 17 |
Richmond |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl) |
W 24β10
|
November 24 |
East Carolina |
Cary Field β’ Williamsburg, Virginia |
L 14β38
|
|
Decade totals
- Final record: 49β61β1
- Points scored: 2,065
- Points against: 2,324
- +/- point differential: β259
NFL Draft selections
Notes
- a Between 1896 and 1909 their nickname was "Orange and White," deriving that name from the school's former colors (William & Mary now uses green and gold).[4] Since white uniforms dirtied too quickly, they became known as the "Orange and Black" from 1910 through 1916.[4] Between 1917 and 1977 they were known as the Indians, and throughout this period a man dressing up as a Native American would ride around on a pony along the sidelines during games.[4] This practice was discontinued when the outcry of stereotyping Native Americans as well as the use of a live animal became controversial.[4] Since the 1978 season William & Mary has adopted the nickname "Tribe."[4]
References
- β http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1977-standings.html
- β Coach Jim tackled a lot in life, but one was most memorable, The Virginian Pilot, December 1, 2004, retrieved February 3, 2009.
- β Pirate Alumni newsletter June 23, 2008, retrieved March 13, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "A History of W&M Mascots and Nicknames". wm.edu. The College of William & Mary. 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
|
---|
Venues | |
---|
Bowls & rivalries | |
---|
Culture & lore | |
---|
People | |
---|
Seasons | |
---|