Washington and Lee Generals football

Washington and Lee Generals football
First season1873; 151 years ago[a]
Athletic directorJan Hathorn
Head coachGarrett LeRose
6th season, 33–21 (.611)
FieldWilson Field
Year built2008
LocationLexington, Virginia
ConferenceOld Dominion Athletic Conference
Past conferencesSAIAA
Conference titles9 (1914, 1981, 1985, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2021)
ColorsBlue and white[1]
   
WebsiteOfficial website

The Washington and Lee Generals football team represents Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. The Generals compete at NCAA Division III level as members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

History

19th century

Washington and Lee football dates back to 1873 with a one-game season, featuring a 4–2 win over the VMI Keydets.[2] No player or coaching records are known from that game. UVA historians also remark on a game played between Virginia and Washington and Lee in 1871 with no records.[3] The Generals did not have another intercollegiate team until 1890.[4]

20th century

The first golden era of W&L football began in 1905.[5] 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).[6] Members of that team include All-Southern lineman Ted Shultz and College Football Hall of Fame running back Harry Young. It secured a share of the title when it finished the season with a victory over North Carolina A&M.[7] The school temporarily gave up football in 1954.[8]

Postseason appearances

NCAA Division III

The Generals have made six appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs, with a combined record of 0–6.

Year Round Opponent Result
2006 First Round Wilkes L, 0–42
2010 First Round Thomas More L, 14–42
2012 First Round Hobart L, 10–42
2015 First Round Thomas More L, 21–51
2017 First Round Mount Union L, 0–21
2021 First Round Mount Union L, 0–52

Bowl games

The Generals have appeared in one-FBS level bowl game with an overall record of 0–1.

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1950 George T. Barclay Gator Bowl Wyoming L, 7–20

NCAA Division III bowl games

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.[9][10] 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. They have an overall record of 1–1.

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
2023 Garret LeRose Cape Charles Bowl Lycoming L, 17–20
2024 Cape Henry Bowl Wilkes W, 40–21

All-Americans

Year Name Position Selectors
1914 Ted Shultz T PPL
1926 Ty Rauber FB AP-3
2024 Jalen Todd LB AP-3

Notes and references

  1. ^ The team only played this season. They played continuously since 1890; 134 years ago (1890).
  1. ^ "Completmentary Typeface and Color : Washington and Lee University". Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  2. ^ "A History of Washington and Lee Athletics". Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  3. ^ Ratcliffe, Jerry (2008). University of Virginia Football Vault. Atlanta, Ga.: Whitman Publishing, LLC. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-7948-2647-5.
  4. ^ "Year by Year Results". Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  5. ^ "Washington and Lee". The Washington Post. November 26, 1905. p. 39. Retrieved August 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ "Washington & Lee Generals football media guide" (PDF). 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  7. ^ "The Indianapolis Football Game". Indiana University Alumni Quarterly. 2: 322. 1915.
  8. ^ "Washington and Lee Gives Up Football". Toledo Blade. July 24, 1954.
  9. ^ "Landmark and ODAC Team Up for Chesapeake Bowl Challenge". Landmark Conference. September 15, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  10. ^ "Landmark, ODAC Announce Future Plans for Chesapeake Challenge Bowl Series". Landmark Conference. September 25, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.