William & Mary Tribe football, 1940–1949
Encyclopedia
The William & Mary Indians football 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 1940s was the most successful decade in William & Mary football history. The Indians (Tribe) amassed more wins than any other decade (and this includes a non-existent 1943 season due to World War II
), had the largest positive-point differential, won two conference championships and qualified for back-to-back bowl games in 1947 and 1948. There were 24 National Football League
(NFL) Draft
selections, which is the most all-time for William & Mary in a single decade. Among the draftees were Garrard "Buster" Ramsey
(1943), Ralph Sazio
(1947) and Lou Creekmur
(1948). These three players were later enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame
, Canadian Football Hall of Fame
and NFL Hall of Fame
, respectively.
Additionally, the 1940s was the only decade in which William & Mary was an Associated Press
nationally ranked team as a member of Division I-A. In 1942 their peak ranking was #13 (Week 6); in 1946 it was #18 (Week 3); in 1947 it was #12 (Week 6); and in 1948 it was #17 (Final Poll). The three-year streak of 1946 to 1948 saw William & Mary ranked at least at some point during the regular season, and two of those years (1947, 1948) they finished as a nationally ranked team in the final AP Polls.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, 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
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
. Their annual meeting is dubbed the I-64 Bowl
I-64 Bowl
Coined as the "South's Oldest Rivalry," the Capital Cup is one of the longest-running college football rivalries in the United States. Contested yearly between the University of Richmond Spiders and College of William & Mary Tribe, only four rivalries have more games played.-History:The Capital...
, so named for the highway connecting the two nearby schools.
The 1940s was the most successful decade in William & Mary football history. The Indians (Tribe) amassed more wins than any other decade (and this includes a non-existent 1943 season due to 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...
), had the largest positive-point differential, won two conference championships and qualified for back-to-back bowl games in 1947 and 1948. There were 24 National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) Draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
selections, which is the most all-time for William & Mary in a single decade. Among the draftees were Garrard "Buster" Ramsey
Buster Ramsey
Garrard Sliger "Buster" Ramsey was an American football player who starred at William and Mary and was the first head coach of the American Football League's Buffalo Bills in 1960...
(1943), Ralph Sazio
Ralph Sazio
Ralph Joseph Sazio is a former football player, assistant coach, head coach general manager and team president for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He also served as president of the Toronto Argonauts...
(1947) and Lou Creekmur
Lou Creekmur
Louis Creekmur was an NFL left offensive tackle/guard for the Detroit Lions from 1950-59. He was also used as a defensive lineman in critical situations...
(1948). These three players were later enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
, Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
and NFL Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
, respectively.
Additionally, the 1940s was the only decade in which William & Mary was an Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
nationally ranked team as a member of Division I-A. In 1942 their peak ranking was #13 (Week 6); in 1946 it was #18 (Week 3); in 1947 it was #12 (Week 6); and in 1948 it was #17 (Final Poll). The three-year streak of 1946 to 1948 saw William & Mary ranked at least at some point during the regular season, and two of those years (1947, 1948) they finished as a nationally ranked team in the final AP Polls.
| : | 1940 - 1941 - 1942 - 1943 - 1944 - 1945 - 1946 - 1947 - 1948 - 1949 - Decade totals - NFL Draft selections - Notes - External links |
|---|
1940
1941
1942
1944
1945
1946
1947
The William & Mary Indians finished the regular season ranked #14 in the AP Poll after their 35–0 win over Richmond.1948
The William & Mary Indians finished the regular season ranked #17 in the AP Poll after their 9–0 win over Arkansas.1949
Decade totals
- Final record: 64–20–5
- Points scored: 2,146
- Points against: 748
- +/- point differential: +1,398
NFL Draft selections
| = NFL Hall of Fame Pro Football Hall of Fame The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees... |
= Canadian Football Hall of Fame Canadian Football Hall of Fame The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian... |
= College Football Hall of Fame College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move... |
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