William & Mary Tribe football, 1970–79

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 (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.

1970
1970 William & Mary Indians football
Southern Conference Champions
Tangerine Bowl, L 12–40, vs. #15 Toledo
ConferenceSouthern Conference
1970 record5–7 (3–1 SoCon)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorBobby Ross (1st year)
Home stadiumCary Field
1970 Southern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
William & Mary $  3 –1     5 –7  
The Citadel  4 –2     5 –6  
Furman  3 –2     8 –3  
East Carolina  2 –2     3 –8  
Richmond  3 –3     4 –6  
Davidson  2 –4     2 –8  
VMI  1 –4     1 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
Main article: 1970 William & Mary Indians football team

1971
1971 William & Mary Indians football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
1971 record5–6 (3–1 SoCon)
Head coach
Home stadiumCary Field
1971 Southern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
Richmond $ 5 –1 –0  5 –6 –0
William & Mary 4 –1 –0  5 –6 –0
The Citadel 4 –2 –0  8 –3 –0
East Carolina 3 –2 –0  4 –6 –1
Furman 2 –3 –0  5 –5 –1
VMI 1 –4 –0  1 –10 –0
Davidson 0 –6 –0  1 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 11at The Citadel
W 35–28
September 18at East Carolina
W 28–10
September 25Davidson*
W 40–14
October 2at Tulane*
W 14–3
October 9West Virginia*
L 23–28
October 16at Virginia Tech*
L 30–41
October 23VMI
W 12–7
October 30at North Carolina*
L 35–36
November 6at Wake Forest*
L 29–36
November 13at Temple*
L 13–17
November 20Richmond
L 19–21
  • *Non-conference game

1972
See also: 1972 Tobacco Bowl game recap
1972 William & Mary Indians football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
1972 record5–6 (4–2 SoCon)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorLou Tepper (1st year)
Home stadiumCary Field
1972 Southern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
East Carolina $ 6 –0 –0  9 –2 –0
Richmond 5 –1 –0  6 –4 –0
William & Mary 4 –2 –0  5 –6 –0
The Citadel 4 –3 –0  5 –6 –0
Davidson 2 –3 –1  3 –7 –1
VMI 1 –5 –0  2 –9 –0
Furman 1 –6 –0  2 –9 –0
Appalachian State 0 –3 –1  5 –5 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 9Furman
W 31–7
September 16at Navy*
L 9–13
September 23at Villanova*
L 17–20
September 30The Citadel
W 31–12
October 7at West Virginia*
L 34–49
October 14Vanderbilt*
L 17–21
October 21at VMI
W 31–3
October 28vs. Virginia Tech*
W 17–16
November 4at Davidson
W 56–9
November 11East Carolina
L 15–21
November 18at Richmond
L 3–20
  • *Non-conference game

1973
1973 William & Mary Indians football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
1973 record6–5 (3–2 SoCon)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorLou Tepper (2nd year)
Home stadiumCary Field
1973 Southern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
East Carolina $ 7 –0 –0  9 –2 –0
Richmond 5 –1 –0  8 –2 –0
William & Mary 3 –2 –0  6 –5 –0
Furman 3 –3 –0  7 –4 –0
Appalachian State 2 –2 –0  3 –7 –1
VMI 2 –4 –0  2 –9 –0
Davidson 1 –6 –0  2 –8 –0
The Citadel 1 –6 –0  3 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 8at Virginia Tech*
W 31–24
September 15at North Carolina*
L 27–34
September 22at Wake Forest*
W 15–14
September 29at The Citadel
W 24–12
October 6Villanova*
W 33–21
October 13at Vanderbilt*
L 7–20
October 20Davidson
W 51–35
October 27VMI
W 45–14
November 3at East Carolina
L 3–34
November 10Colgate*
L 42–49
November 17Richmond
L 0–31
  • *Non-conference game

1974
1974 William & Mary Indians football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
1974 record4–7 (2–3 SoCon)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorLou Tepper (3rd year)
Home stadiumCary Field
1974 Southern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
VMI $  5 –1     7 –4  
Appalachian State  4 –1     6 –5  
East Carolina  3 –3     7 –4  
Richmond  3 –3     5 –5  
The Citadel  3 –4     4 –7  
William & Mary  2 –3     4 –7  
Furman  2 –4     5 –6  
Davidson  0 –3     2 –7  
  • $ – Conference champion
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 7at Mississippi State*
L 7–49
September 14at Wake Forest*
W 17–6
September 21at Virginia*
L 28–38
September 28at FurmanGreenville, South CarolinaL 0–10
October 5The Citadel
W 16–12
October 12at Boston College*
L 16–31
October 19Rutgers*
W 28–15
October 26at VMI
L 20–31
November 9Virginia Tech*
L 15–34
November 16East Carolina
L 10–31
November 23at Richmond
W 54–12
  • *Non-conference game

1975
1975 William & Mary Indians football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
1975 record2–9 (2–3 SoCon)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorLou Tepper (4th year)
Home stadiumCary Field
1975 Southern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
Richmond $ 5 –1 –0  5 –6 –0
East Carolina 4 –2 –0  8 –3 –0
Appalachian State 3 –2 –0  8 –3 –0
The Citadel 4 –3 –0  6 –5 –0
William & Mary 2 –3 –0  2 –9 –0
Furman 2 –4 –0  5 –5 –1
VMI 2 –4 –0  3 –8 –0
Davidson 0 –3 –0  1 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 6at North Carolina*
L 7–33
September 20at East Carolina
L 0–20
September 27at Pittsburgh*
L 0–47
October 4at The Citadel
L 6–21
October 11Ohio*
L 8–22
October 18at Rutgers*
L 0–24
October 25Furman
L 6–21
November 1vs. Virginia Tech*
L 7–24
November 8at VMI
W 13–7
November 15Colgate*
L 17–21
November 22Richmond
W 31–21
  • *Non-conference game

1976
1976 William & Mary Indians football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
1976 record7–4 (3–2 SoCon)
Head coach
Home stadiumCary Field
1976 Southern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
East Carolina $ 4 –1 –0  9 –2 –0
William & Mary 3 –2 –0  7 –4 –0
Appalachian State 2 –2 –1  6 –4 –1
Furman 2 –2 –1  6 –4 –1
VMI 2 –3 –0  5 –5 –0
The Citadel 1 –4 –0  6 –5 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 11VMI
W 34–20
September 18at Virginia*
W 14–0
September 25East Carolina*
L 19–20
October 2at Virginia Tech*
W 27–15
October 9Delaware*
L 13–15
October 16at Navy*
W 21–13
October 23at Ohio*
W 20–0
October 30at FurmanGreenville, South CarolinaL 7–23
November 6Appalachian State
W 23–22
November 13The Citadel
W 22–0
November 20at Richmond*
L 10–21
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming

1977
1977 William & Mary Indians football
ConferenceIndependent
1977 record6–5
Head coach
Home stadiumCary Field
1977 NCAA Division I independents football records
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 1 Notre Dame   –  –   11 –1 –0
No. 5 Penn State   –  –   11 –1 –0
Colgate   –  –   10 –1 –0
North Texas State *   –  –   10 –1 –0
No. 16 San Diego State   –  –   10 –1 –0
Tennessee State   –  –   8 –1 –1
No. 14 Florida State   –  –   10 –2 –0
No. 8 Pittsburgh   –  –   9 –2 –1
East Carolina   –  –   8 –3 –0
Rutgers   –  –   8 –3 –0
Army   –  –   7 –4 –0
Louisville   –  –   7 –4 –1
Boston College   –  –   6 –5 –0
Cincinnati   –  –   5 –4 –2
Georgia Tech   –  –   6 –5 –0
Memphis State   –  –   6 –5 –0
Northwestern State   –  –   6 –5 –0
Syracuse   –  –   6 –5 –0
William & Mary   –  –   6 –5 –0
Southern Miss   –  –   6 –5 –0
Temple   –  –   5 –5 –1
Hawaii   –  –   5 –6 –0
Navy   –  –   5 –6 –0
West Virginia   –  –   5 –6 –0
South Carolina   –  –   5 –7 –0
Utah State   –  –   4 –7 –0
Villanova   –  –   4 –7 –0
Illinois State   –  –   3 –7 –1
Virginia Tech   –  –   3 –7 –1
Indiana State   –  –   3 –7 –0
Miami (FL)   –  –   3 –8 –0
Richmond   –  –   3 –8 –0
Tulane   –  –   3 –8 –0
Air Force   –  –   2 –8 –1
Holy Cross   –  –   2 –8 –0
Northeast Louisiana   –  –   2 –9 –0
  • North Texas State (originally 9–2) awarded a forfeit win after Mississippi State was found to be using an ineligible player.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 3Norfolk State
W 27–13
September 10at VMI
L 13–23
September 17at Pittsburgh
L 6–28
September 24at Louisville
W 21–7
October 1Villanova
W 28–8
October 8vs. Virginia Tech
L 8–17
October 22at Navy
L 17–42
October 29Rutgers
L 21–22
November 5at The Citadel
W 14–13
November 12vs. East Carolina
W 21–17
November 19Richmond
W 29–13
"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, 21–17.[2][3]

1978
1978 William & Mary Tribe football
ConferenceIndependent
1978 record5–5–1
Head coach
Home stadiumCary Field
1978 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 4 Penn State   –  –   11 –1 –0
North Texas State   –  –   9 –2 –0
East Carolina   –  –   9 –3 –0
Navy   –  –   9 –3 –0
No. 7 Notre Dame   –  –   9 –3 –0
Rutgers   –  –   9 –3 –0
Florida State   –  –   8 –3 –0
Temple   –  –   7 –3 –1
Pittsburgh   –  –   8 –4 –0
Holy Cross   –  –   7 –4 –0
Louisville   –  –   7 –4 –0
UNLV   –  –   7 –4 –0
Southern Miss   –  –   7 –4 –0
Northeast Louisiana   –  –   6 –4 –1
Georgia Tech   –  –   7 –5 –0
Hawaii   –  –   6 –5 –0
Miami (FL)   –  –   6 –5 –0
South Carolina   –  –   5 –5 –1
William & Mary   –  –   5 –5 –1
Cincinnati   –  –   5 –6 –0
Villanova   –  –   5 –6 –0
Army   –  –   4 –6 –1
Memphis State   –  –   4 –7 –0
Tulane   –  –   4 –7 –0
Virginia Tech   –  –   4 –7 –0
Air Force   –  –   3 –8 –0
Colgate   –  –   3 –8 –0
Richmond   –  –   3 –8 –0
Syracuse   –  –   3 –8 –0
Illinois State   –  –   2 –9 –0
West Virginia   –  –   2 –9 –0
Boston College   –  –   0 –11 –0
Rankings from AP Poll
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 9VMI
W 10–3
September 16at Connecticut
W 27–3
September 23at Villanova
W 21–17
September 30at Virginia Tech
L 19–22
October 7Temple
T 22–22
October 14James Madison
W 32–7
October 21at No. 17 Navy
L 0–9
October 28at Louisville
L 21–33
November 4The Citadel
W 12–8
November 11at East Carolina
L 3–20
November 18at Richmond
L 3–17

1979
1979 William & Mary Tribe football
ConferenceIndependent
1979 record4–7
Head coach
Home stadiumCary Field
1979 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 6 Florida State   –  –   11 –1 –0
No. 7 Pittsburgh   –  –   11 –1 –0
UNLV   –  –   9 –1 –2
No. 17 Temple   –  –   10 –2 –0
Tulane   –  –   9 –3 –0
Rutgers   –  –   8 –3 –0
East Carolina   –  –   7 –3 –1
No. 20 Penn State   –  –   8 –4 –0
South Carolina   –  –   8 –4 –0
Navy   –  –   7 –4 –0
Notre Dame   –  –   7 –4 –0
Southern Miss   –  –   6 –4 –1
Syracuse   –  –   7 –5 –0
Colgate   –  –   5 –4 –1
Boston College   –  –   5 –6 –0
Holy Cross   –  –   5 –6 –0
Memphis   –  –   5 –6 –0
Miami   –  –   5 –6 –0
North Texas State   –  –   5 –6 –0
Villanova   –  –   5 –6 –0
Virginia Tech   –  –   5 –6 –0
West Virginia   –  –   5 –6 –0
Georgia Tech   –  –   4 –6 –1
Louisville   –  –   4 –6 –1
William & Mary   –  –   4 –7 –0
Illinois State   –  –   3 –8 –0
Northeast Louisiana   –  –   3 –8 –0
Army   –  –   2 –8 –1
Air Force   –  –   2 –9 –0
Cincinnati   –  –   2 –9 –0
Richmond   –  –   0 –11 –0
Rankings from AP Poll
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 8at VMI
L 3–7
September 15Colgate
W 28–15
September 22at Virginia Tech
L 14–35
September 29at Georgia Tech
L 7–33
October 6James Madison
W 33–0
October 13vs. Navy
L 7–24
October 20Rutgers
L 0–24
October 27at Delaware
L 0–40
November 10at Appalachian State
W 9–0
November 17Richmond
W 24–10
November 24East Carolina
L 14–38

Decade totals
  • Final record: 49–61–1
  • Points scored: 2,065
  • Points against: 2,324
  • +/- point differential: –259

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 David 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
  • 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
  1. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1977-standings.html
  2. Coach Jim tackled a lot in life, but one was most memorable, The Virginian Pilot, December 1, 2004, retrieved February 3, 2009.
  3. Pirate Alumni newsletter June 23, 2008, retrieved March 13, 2011.
  4. "A History of W&M Mascots and Nicknames". wm.edu. The College of William & Mary. 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
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