Georgetown Hoyas football
Encyclopedia
The Georgetown Hoyas football team represents Georgetown University
in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level of college football
. Like other sports teams from Georgetown, the team is named the Hoyas
, which derives from the chant, Hoya Saxa
. They play their home games at Multi-Sport Field
on the Georgetown University campus in Washington, D.C.
The first football team at Georgetown was formed on November 1, 1874, with the earliest recorded intercollegiate games dating to 1887. By the 1940s, Georgetown played in the Orange Bowl, where they lost 14–7 to Mississippi State
.
As the college game became more expensive after World War II, however, Georgetown's program began to lose money rapidly. The Hoyas' last successful season was 1949, when they lost in the Sun Bowl
against Texas Western
.
After a 2–7 season in 1950, Georgetown attempted to salvage its program by softening its schedule, replacing major opponents such as Penn State, Miami, and Tulsa with Richmond, Bucknell, and Lehigh. The program was losing too much money, however, and on March 22, 1951 the University's president canceled the football program.
In 1962, Georgetown allowed its students to start a football program as an exhibition-only club sport. New games began in 1964, and their first drew 8,000 to see the Hoyas host another university with an unofficial program, New York University
(NYU). Varsity football resumed in 1970 at what later became known as the Division III level. Today, Georgetown plays in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision due to NCAA legislation forbidding Division I or II schools from playing football in lower divisions.
In 1993, the team joined the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
, a mostly Catholic conference on the East Coast. With eight wins, The team won the conference championship outright in 1997, and were co-champions in 1998 with nine wins. In 1999 the team joined the Patriot League
, a conference that currently prohibits its members from awarding football scholarships. As a non-scholarship FCS program, many of Georgetown's non-conference games are against Ivy League
schools, which do not award scholarships for any sport. Without the ability to add scholarships, Georgetown's program fell on hard times in the 2000s. Georgetown has by far the lowest football budget in the Patriot League at less than half that of next program. Georgetown also has the lowest number of Patriot League FSE's (funded scholarship equivalences) which measures the financial aid given out to it's Varsity football players.
Following the 2010 season, the team has not had a winning campaign since 1999, with the 2009 season yielding no wins. However, the Hoyas' 2011 Football team finished with a strong 8-3 record and second place in the Patriot League, becoming the first Hoya squad to produce a winning a record in twelve seasons, and head coach Kevin Kelly was named the conference Coach of the Year.
played host to Georgetown football. Then From 1921 until 1950, Griffith Stadium
played host to Georgetown football.
Currently, the Hoyas play at Multi-Sport Field
, which was upgraded from Harbin Field in 2003.
The MSF has been awaiting further construction since 2005, when work was halted on completing permanent bleachers and other facilities. As a result, it remains the smallest stadium in Division I football and has only temporary bleachers as a part of the current set-up. The contruction plans remain on hold indefinitly until the administration can properly fund the completion of the project.
(which also plays at the FCS level, but awards football scholarships), for a championship known as the DC Cup (awarded by the mayor of Washington). Three DC Cups have been held (2008, 2009 and 2011). The series has Georgetown leading 2-1-0 following their 2011 victory.
, who would play for the NFL's New York Giants
before being killed in action in World War II
. Blozis's great athletic accomplishments, however, came in shotput and discus
. He set the world indoor record for the shotput, throwing it 56 feet 4.5 inches in 1941. He was the national indoor and outdoor shotput champion in both 1942 and 1943.
"Big Jim" Ricca, an NFL defensive end
and offensive lineman, graduated in 1949 and was the last Hoya to play in an NFL game.
Jim Schwartz
, head coach of the NFL's Detroit Lions, was a four-year letterman at linebacker. He received Distinguished Economics Graduate honors and earned numerous honors in 1988, including Division III CoSIDA/GTE Academic All-America, All-America, and team captain.
In 2007, the Washington Redskins
made Alex Buzbee
a reserve player, becoming the first Georgetown player on an NFL team since Ricca retired in 1956.
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level of college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. Like other sports teams from Georgetown, the team is named the Hoyas
Georgetown Hoyas
Georgetown's nickname is The Hoyas, but its mascot is "Jack the Bulldog." Various breeds of dogs have been used by the sports teams as mascots since the early 1900s. Several notable bull terriers like Sergeant Stubby and "Hoya" were used at football games in the 1920s, as was a Great Dane in the...
, which derives from the chant, Hoya Saxa
Hoya Saxa
Hoya Saxa is the official cheer and "college yell" of Georgetown University and its athletics teams. Hoya is an Ancient Greek word usually transliterated from as hoia from the word hoios meaning "such" or "what" as in "what manner of", and is used in certain Biblical quotations. however, is...
. They play their home games at Multi-Sport Field
Multi-Sport Field
Multi-Sport Field is a 2,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Washington, D.C. on the campus of Georgetown University. The field was originally used for intramurals and was adopted for soccer in 1994 as Harbin Field...
on the Georgetown University campus in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
History
 |
The first football team at Georgetown was formed on November 1, 1874, with the earliest recorded intercollegiate games dating to 1887. By the 1940s, Georgetown played in the Orange Bowl, where they lost 14–7 to Mississippi State
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
.
As the college game became more expensive after World War II, however, Georgetown's program began to lose money rapidly. The Hoyas' last successful season was 1949, when they lost in the Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
against Texas Western
University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
.
After a 2–7 season in 1950, Georgetown attempted to salvage its program by softening its schedule, replacing major opponents such as Penn State, Miami, and Tulsa with Richmond, Bucknell, and Lehigh. The program was losing too much money, however, and on March 22, 1951 the University's president canceled the football program.
In 1962, Georgetown allowed its students to start a football program as an exhibition-only club sport. New games began in 1964, and their first drew 8,000 to see the Hoyas host another university with an unofficial program, New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU). Varsity football resumed in 1970 at what later became known as the Division III level. Today, Georgetown plays in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision due to NCAA legislation forbidding Division I or II schools from playing football in lower divisions.
In 1993, the team joined the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
, a mostly Catholic conference on the East Coast. With eight wins, The team won the conference championship outright in 1997, and were co-champions in 1998 with nine wins. In 1999 the team joined the Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
, a conference that currently prohibits its members from awarding football scholarships. As a non-scholarship FCS program, many of Georgetown's non-conference games are against Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
schools, which do not award scholarships for any sport. Without the ability to add scholarships, Georgetown's program fell on hard times in the 2000s. Georgetown has by far the lowest football budget in the Patriot League at less than half that of next program. Georgetown also has the lowest number of Patriot League FSE's (funded scholarship equivalences) which measures the financial aid given out to it's Varsity football players.
Following the 2010 season, the team has not had a winning campaign since 1999, with the 2009 season yielding no wins. However, the Hoyas' 2011 Football team finished with a strong 8-3 record and second place in the Patriot League, becoming the first Hoya squad to produce a winning a record in twelve seasons, and head coach Kevin Kelly was named the conference Coach of the Year.
Stadiums
Georgetown has played football at various on-campus intermural fields. From 1891 until 1893, the stadium known as Boundary FieldBoundary Field
Boundary Field is a former baseball ground located in Washington, D.C. located on a larger block bounded approximately by Georgia Avenue, 5th Street, W Street and Florida Avenue, NW...
played host to Georgetown football. Then From 1921 until 1950, Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium was a sports stadium that stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965, between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street, and between W Street and Florida Avenue, NW. An earlier wooden baseball park had been built on the same site in 1891...
played host to Georgetown football.
Currently, the Hoyas play at Multi-Sport Field
Multi-Sport Field
Multi-Sport Field is a 2,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Washington, D.C. on the campus of Georgetown University. The field was originally used for intramurals and was adopted for soccer in 1994 as Harbin Field...
, which was upgraded from Harbin Field in 2003.
The MSF has been awaiting further construction since 2005, when work was halted on completing permanent bleachers and other facilities. As a result, it remains the smallest stadium in Division I football and has only temporary bleachers as a part of the current set-up. The contruction plans remain on hold indefinitly until the administration can properly fund the completion of the project.
D.C. Cup Rivalry Game
The Hoyas have a new cross-town rivalry with Howard UniversityHoward University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
(which also plays at the FCS level, but awards football scholarships), for a championship known as the DC Cup (awarded by the mayor of Washington). Three DC Cups have been held (2008, 2009 and 2011). The series has Georgetown leading 2-1-0 following their 2011 victory.
Conference Championships
Georgetown has won two conference championships.| Year | Coach | Conference | Overall Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Bob Benson | Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference | 8-3-0 (outright champions) |
| 1998 | Bob Benson | Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference | 9-2-0 (co-champions) |
Bowl Games
While in the Major College Division of the NCAA (what is now the FBS), Georgetown competed in two major bowl games (including a New Year's Day bowl game), one of which is today a BCS Bowl Game.| Bowl | Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Bowl Orange Bowl The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009... |
January 1, 1941 | Mississippi State Mississippi State Bulldogs football The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has produced 38 All-Americans, 171 All-SEC selections, and 124... |
L 7-14 |
| Sun Bowl Sun Bowl The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl... |
January 1, 1950 | UTEP UTEP Miners football The UTEP Miners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Texas at El Paso . With a history dating back to 1914, UTEP currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of Conference USA . UTEP currently plays their home games at the Sun Bowl... |
L 20-33 |
Polling
Georgetown was ranked in the AP Poll while a member of the Major College Division.| Season | Poll(s) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 1940 college football season The 1940 college football season ended with the Gophers of the University of Minnesota being named the nation’s #1 team and national champion, and the Stanford University Indians in second, with the two teams receiving 65 and 44 first place votes respectively... |
AP Poll | 13 |
Hoyas in the NFL
Perhaps the football team's most accomplished athlete was Al BlozisAl Blozis
Albert Charles Blozis was an American football player who died in World War II.-Early life:Blozis was born in Garfield, New Jersey. He attended William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City, New Jersey where he became well known for throwing the discus and shot put...
, who would play for the NFL's New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
before being killed in action in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Blozis's great athletic accomplishments, however, came in shotput and discus
Discus
Discus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
. He set the world indoor record for the shotput, throwing it 56 feet 4.5 inches in 1941. He was the national indoor and outdoor shotput champion in both 1942 and 1943.
"Big Jim" Ricca, an NFL defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
and offensive lineman, graduated in 1949 and was the last Hoya to play in an NFL game.
Jim Schwartz
Jim Schwartz
Jim Schwartz is an American football head coach for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League.-Early life:Born just outside Baltimore, Maryland, Schwartz attended Mount Saint Joseph High School, an all male Catholic school, where he played football.Schwartz was a four-year letterman at...
, head coach of the NFL's Detroit Lions, was a four-year letterman at linebacker. He received Distinguished Economics Graduate honors and earned numerous honors in 1988, including Division III CoSIDA/GTE Academic All-America, All-America, and team captain.
In 2007, the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
made Alex Buzbee
Alex Buzbee
Alex Buzbee is a defensive end for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
a reserve player, becoming the first Georgetown player on an NFL team since Ricca retired in 1956.