A History of Washington and Lee University Football
The Washington and Lee (W&L) Generals football team has a long and storied history, dating back to the late 19th century. From its early days as a pioneer in the sport to its current status in NCAA Division III, the program has experienced periods of great success, significant challenges, and ultimately, a commitment to balancing academics and athletics. The Generals of Washington and Lee have fared well on the gridiron over the past 150 years. They were pioneers of the sport in the late 1800s, and soon became a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA. This article explores the history of Washington and Lee football, highlighting key moments, influential figures, and the program's evolution over time.
Early Years and Rise to Prominence (1873-1954)
Washington and Lee football dates back to 1873 with a one-game season, featuring a 4-2 win over the VMI Keydets. No player or coaching records are known from that game. The first golden era of W&L football began in 1905. The Generals quickly established themselves as a competitive program. This era laid the foundation for future success and helped to build a strong football tradition at the university. Between 1905 and 1917, the Generals reeled off 13 straight winning seasons. From 1912 to 1915, W&L went 32-3-1 and won the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SAIAA) championship in 1914. The 1914 team, coached by Jogger Elcock, was the first team in school history to go undefeated (9-0). Members of that team include All-Southern lineman Ted Shultz and College Football Hall of Fame running back Harry Young.
Several artifacts from this era offer glimpses into the program's early days. A leather football helmet, specifically an 8-Spoke Leather Head Harness Helmet, worn by a member of the 1905 team, provides a tangible connection to the past. Similarly, leather football cleats from the same era offer a glimpse into the equipment used by players. A 1905 football brochure includes a team photo, player names, and information about the coaches, captain, manager, starting lineup, and substitutes. A 1912 victory pennant commemorates a 20-6 win over Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech), showcasing the rivalries and victories that defined the program's early years.
The Generals continued to experience success in the following decades. A 1932 football keepsake commemorates a 7-0 win over the University of Virginia, further highlighting the program's rivalry with other Virginia schools. A Gator Bowl ticket from 1951 documents the team's appearance in the prestigious New Year's Day bowl game in Jacksonville, Florida, where they faced the University of Wyoming Cowboys. W&L became the first intercollegiate football program from the Commonwealth of Virginia to compete in a New Year's Day Bowl game. A Gator Bowl photo captures the team in action during the game. Walt Michaels, a 1951 class member and All-America football player, helped lead W&L to the 1951 Gator Bowl. Following his time at W&L Michaels played 10 seasons in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, and earned All-Pro honors five times.
Washington and Lee University competed in the NCAA Division 1 Southern Conference around the 1950s, and a blue felt pennant with white lettering that reads "Washington Lee" and includes an image of both George Washington and Robert E. Lee as well as the word "Generals" written beneath the image would be waved by fans during football games.
Read also: Get Your Boater Card
The 1954 Scandal and Shift to Division III
In 1954, an academic cheating scandal that involved multiple football team members severely challenged the honor system and ultimately brought an end to subsidized athletics on W&L’s campus. At that time, university officials felt that athletics were detracting from the school's academic mission. The Honor System: Washington & Lee. Washington and Lee University. Dr. Gaines on the Football Decision This an excerpt from the September 1954 edition of the W&L Alumni Magazine. The Board's Resolution This is an excerpt taken from the September 1954 edition of the W&L Alumni Magazine.
Some people have argued that the 1954 decision was unfavorable for the university, as it pushed W&L out of the NCAA Division I and out of the national athletic spotlight. However, the events directly following the scandal, specifically those leading to W&L competing in the NCAA Division III, helped the university prioritize academics and a small liberal arts school atmosphere while allowing for their students to achieve athletic excellence and compete on a level playing field against similarly sized colleges and universities.
The Undefeated 1961 Season
Despite the challenges of the late 1950s, the Washington and Lee football program experienced a resurgence in the early 1960s. The 1961 team, coached by Lee McLaughlin, achieved a perfect undefeated season, a feat that remains a source of pride for the university.
Charlie Gummey, class of 1963, was a member of the undefeated 1961 football team and an All-American running back. Along with serving as team captain in football, he was also a team captain in lacrosse and swimming. John Norman wore jersey number 33 in 1961. It is a size large and the majority of the jersey is blue. The numbers are in white and are located largely on the chest and back. They are also located on each shoulder area but smaller in size, and they are above two white strips. The W&L trident is also white and is located in small fashion below the neck of the jersey. The Touchdown Club of Washington D.C. gives out an award each year, known as "Timmie," for the most outstanding small college team of the year. The award was given in 1961 to W&L and head coach Lee McLaughlin. The bottom half of the trophy is the base stating what the award is and the top half is a small figurine of a kid running with a football. A Wilson football was engraved to say "WASHINGTON & LEE UNIVERSITY UNDEFEATED 1961." Then the football was signed in pen by every member of the team that year. A framed photo of the 1961 undefeated and untied football squad. Along with the team photo, there is a list of all of the team members and positions beneath it. In the middle of the frame, beneath the team photo and between the names of team members, is a list of all the teams W&L defeated throughout the season.
Recent History and ODAC Success
In more recent years, the Washington and Lee football program has continued to compete in NCAA Division III, primarily within the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). The team has experienced periods of success, including winning the 2021 ODAC Championship.
Read also: Academics at UW Bothell
Tony Perry, class of 1977, was the first African American in school history to earn All-America honors and was the first person of color to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at W&L. He earned his All-America honors as a receiver. This is a photo picturing the 2021 Washington and Lee Football Team on Wilson Field in Lexington, Va after defeating Ferrum College by a score of 28-24 to win the 2021 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship.
The Generals have appeared in two NCAA Division III bowl games, the Cape Henry Bowl and Cape Charles Bowl as part of the Chesapeake Bowl Challenge. It features the teams from the Landmark Conference and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference that places highest in each conference's standings that don't qualify for the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Archival Magazine Articles
Several articles from the W&L Alumni Magazine provide insights into the university's perspective on football and athletics throughout the years. These articles offer valuable historical context and reflect the evolving attitudes towards the role of athletics in the university's overall mission. Washington and Lee, October 1955 Alumni Magazine Article: Football This an article from the October 1955 edition of the W&L Alumni Magazine. Washington and Lee, March 1955 Alumni Magazine Article: Campus News This an article from the March 1955 edition of the W&L Alumni Magazine. Washington and Lee, December 1954 Alumni Magazine Article: Athletics This an article from the September 1954 edition of the W&L Alumni Magazine. Washington and Lee, September 1954 Alumni Magazine Article: Football This an article from the September 1954 edition of the W&L Alumni Magazine.
Football Records Against Other Universities
vs Alfred UniversityOverall:1-1Home:1-0Away:0-1vs Allegheny CollegeOverall:1-1Home:1-0Away:0-1vs Alma Collegevs Armyvs Auburn Universityvs Averett UniversityOverall:7-3Conf:4-0Home:3-1Away:2-2Neutral:2-0vs Bridgewater CollegeOverall:33-22Conf:26-21Home:18-9Away:15-13vs Bucknell UniversityOverall:1-3Home:1-1Away:0-1Neutral:0-1vs Carnegie Mellon UniversityOverall:1-2Home:0-1Away:1-1vs Carson-Newman Universityvs Case Western Reserve UniversityOverall:1-1Home:1-0Away:0-1vs Catholic UniversityOverall:17-4Conf:14-4Home:11-0Away:6-4vs Centre CollegeOverall:23-40-2Conf:3-8Home:13-13-2Away:9-24Neutral:1-3vs Christopher Newport UniversityOverall:0-2Home:0-1Away:0-1vs Claremont-Mudd-Scripps CollegesOverall:1-1Home:0-1Away:1-0vs Columbia Universityvs Cornell Universityvs Davidson CollegeOverall:18-13-1Conf:8-1-1Home:10-6-1Away:7-7Neutral:1-0vs Delaware Valley UniversityOverall:1-1Home:1-0Away:0-1vs Denison UniversityOverall:0-4Home:0-2Away:0-2vs Dickinson CollegeOverall:4-1Home:2-1Away:2-0vs Drexel Universityvs Duke UniversityOverall:1-7Conf:0-3Home:1-1Away:0-3Neutral:0-3vs Elon Universityvs Emory & Henry UniversityOverall:19-31Conf:15-27Home:12-14Away:7-17vs Ferrum CollegeOverall:6-0Conf:6-0Home:3-0Away:3-0vs Fordham Universityvs Franklin and Marshall CollegeOverall:7-7Home:5-2Away:2-5vs Furman UniversityOverall:3-2Conf:3-1Home:1-2Away:2-0vs Gallaudet UniversityOverall:2-0Conf:1-0Home:2-0vs George Washington UniversityOverall:3-6-1Conf:1-3-1Home:1-2Away:2-4-1vs Georgetown UniversityOverall:13-12Home:5-4Away:8-6Neutral:0-2vs Georgia Techvs Gettysburg CollegeOverall:1-3Home:1-1Away:0-2vs Greensboro CollegeOverall:5-0Home:3-0Away:2-0vs Guilford CollegeOverall:24-14Conf:21-12Home:13-8Away:11-6vs Hamilton Collegevs Hampden-Sydney CollegeOverall:41-40-2Conf:21-29Home:22-20-2Away:17-17Neutral:2-3vs Hobart Collegevs Indiana Universityvs James Madison UniversityOverall:0-3Conf:0-2Home:0-1Away:0-2vs Johns Hopkins UniversityOverall:6-9-1Home:2-3-1Away:4-6vs Juniata Collegevs Lafayette CollegeOverall:0-2Home:0-1Away:0-1vs Lebanon Valley Collegevs Lock Haven Universityvs Lycoming CollegeOverall:1-1Home:0-1Away:1-0vs Marshall Universityvs Maryville CollegeOverall:7-7Conf:5-3Home:4-3Away:3-4vs McDaniel CollegeOverall:3-5Home:3-2Away:0-3vs Methodist UniversityOverall:4-0Home:2-0Away:2-0vs Millersville UniversityOverall:0-2Home:0-1Away:0-1vs Navyvs NC State UniversityOverall:11-5-1Conf:0-1Home:4-2-1Away:3-2Neutral:4-1vs Newport News Apprentice SchoolOverall:4-0Home:3-0Away:1-0vs Oberlin CollegeOverall:2-0Home:1-0Away:1-0vs Ohio Universityvs Princeton Universityvs Randolph-Macon CollegeOverall:33-37-3Conf:19-29-2Home:19-15-3Away:13-22Neutral:1-0vs Rhodes CollegeOverall:6-11-1Conf:6-5Home:4-4Away:2-7-1vs Roanoke CollegeOverall:20-0-1Conf:1-0Home:20-0-1vs Rollins Collegevs Rutgers Universityvs Salisbury UniversityOverall:0-3Home:0-2Away:0-1vs Samford Universityvs SewaneeOverall:47-23Conf:7-4Home:30-5Away:17-18vs Shenandoah UniversityOverall:7-6Conf:7-6Home:3-3Away:4-3vs Shepherd Universityvs Southern Virginia UniversityOverall:2-0Conf:1-0Home:2-0vs St. John's (Md.)vs Susquehanna UniversityOverall:0-2Home:0-1Away:0-1vs Swarthmore CollegeOverall:6-2Home:3-1Away:2-1Neutral:1-0vs The CitadelOverall:2-0Conf:1-0Home:1-0Away:1-0vs Thomas More Universityvs Towson UniversityOverall:2-3Home:1-1Away:1-2vs Trinity University (Texas)vs Tufts UniversityOverall:1-1Home:0-1Away:1-0vs Tulane Universityvs UABvs United States Coast Guard AcademyOverall:1-1Home:1-0Away:0-1vs University of Alabamavs University of Charlestonvs University of Cincinnativs University of DelawareOverall:3-1Home:1-1Away:2-0vs University of FloridaOverall:0-5-1Away:0-4-1Neutral:0-1vs University of KentuckyOverall:7-11-2Home:0-2Away:6-9-2Neutral:1-0vs University of Louisvillevs University of Lynchburgvs University of MarylandOverall:6-13-2Conf:1-7-2Home:3-2Away:2-11-2Neutral:1-0vs University of Miamivs University of Mount Unionvs University of North CarolinaOverall:3-5-2Home:0-2Away:0-1Neutral:3-2-2vs University of Pennsylvaniavs University of Pittsburghvs University of RichmondOverall:17-8Conf:8-6Home:6-4Away:11-4vs University of South CarolinaOverall:3-2Conf:1-1Home:1-0Away:2-1Neutral:0-1vs University of TennesseeOverall:0-5Away:0-4Neutral:0-1vs University of VirginiaOverall:13-21-1Conf:3-1Home:8-6-1Away:5-14Neutral:0-1vs University of Wyomingvs Ursinus CollegeOverall:3-3Home:2-2Away:1-1vs Vanderbilt Universityvs Virginia Military InstituteOverall:2-14-1Home:2-9-1Away:0-5vs Virginia TechOverall:20-23-5Conf:8-8-2Home:5-3-1Away:0-6-1Neutral:15-14-3vs Wabash CollegeOverall:0-2Home:0-1Away:0-1vs Wake Forest Universityvs Washington and Jefferson CollegeOverall:0-3Away:0-1Neutral:0-2vs Washington University in St. Louis
Read also: Explore Husky Stadium's past
tags: #washington #and #lee #university #football #history
