1953 William & Mary Indians football team

American college football season August 2023 December 2025 1953 William & Mary Indians football Southern Conference SoCon 5–4–1 3–2 Jack Freeman 2nd Tommy Martin Steve Milkovich Cary Field The 1953 William & Mary Indians football team represented the College of William & Mary as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1953 college football season. The team is considered, within the school's community, to be one of the most remarkable stories in its athletics history.Ducibella Jim "Iron Indians" recalls a season of grit, determination http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2011/iron-indians-recalls-a-season-of-grit,-determination.php College of William & Mary September 30, 2011 June 26, 2012 Due to an academic cheating scandal (unrelated to the 1951 scandal), eight of the team's starting members were dismissed from school and another portion of the remaining 33 players transferred out. Among the 24 remaining players, five were returning Korean War veterans and one other had never played a minute of football in his life. Many of them were undersized (the quarterback stood 5′8″ and weighed 160 pounds) and the coaching staff was few in numbers: five total, including Boydson Baird, William & Mary's head basketball coach. Their schedule was so tough that opposing teams would call ahead to make sure that William & Mary still intended on playing them the following week. The Indians started the season 5–2–1 before losing their final two games after accumulating injuries with few available substitutions. Six of the players went on to play professional football. The 1953 team was profiled in a 2011 book written by Rene A. Henry and titled The Iron Indians.Freund Kelly Remembering and saluting W&M's 1953 'Iron Indians' https://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2018/remembering-and-saluting-wms-1953-iron-indians.php W&M Alumni Magazine College of William & Mary September 28, 2018 June 8, 2021 Schedule Eastern September 19 w y y Wake Forest City Stadium Richmond, VA Tobacco Bowl 16–14 20,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-indians-gain-lea/138029135/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Indians gain lead on Hines' field goal, hold off Wake, 16–14 September 20, 1953 January 4, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 t y y Navy Thompson Stadium Annapolis, MD 6–6 13,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-indians-rally-to-tie-favored/138029254/ Tulsa World Indians rally to tie favored Midshipmen, 6–6 September 27, 1953 January 4, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 l y y Cincinnati Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH 7–57 21,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-cincinnati-pummels-w-m/138029327/ The Miami Herald Cincinnati pummels W-M, 57–7 October 4, 1953 January 4, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 w VPI Cary Field Williamsburg, VA 13–7 Big Green Silences Squawking Gobblers in Thriller https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/bitstream/handle/10288/3807/fh19531020.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y College of William & Mary The Flat Hat October 20, 1953 5 July 24, 2017 October 24 w George Washington Cary Field Williamsburg, VA 12–7 6,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69890339/william-and-mary-edges-george/ The Bristol Herald Courier William and Mary edges George Washington 12–7 October 25, 1953 February 10, 2021 Newspapers.com October 31 w y y NC State Riddick Stadium Raleigh, NC 7–6 7,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-william-mary-sh/138029420/ The Charlotte Observer William & Mary shades Wolfpack by 7–6 score November 1, 1953 January 4, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 l y VMI Victory Stadium Roanoke, VA rivalry 19–20 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91827213/vmi-rallies-in-last-56-seconds-to-upset/ Daily Press VMI rallies in last 56 seconds to upset William and Mary, 20–19 November 8, 1953 January 4, 2022 Newspapers.com November 14 w y Richmond City Stadium Richmond, VA rivalry 21–0 18,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112665339/wm-grabs-210-victory/ Durham Morning Herald W&M grabs 21–0 victory November 15, 1953 November 6, 2022 Newspapers.com November 21 l Washington and Lee Cary Field Williamsburg, VA 7–33 3,300 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108030502/halfback-carol-bolt-sparks-generals-to-3/ Norfolk Virginian-Pilot Halfback Carol Bolt sparks Generals to 33–7 triumph November 22, 1953 August 21, 2022 Newspapers.com November 28 1:30 p.m. l y Boston University Cary Field Williamsburg, VA 14–41 2,300 Drewry Walt Injured Indians Are Underdogs to Powerful BU Terriers Today https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80946795/the-times-dispatch/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Richmond, Virginia November 28, 1953 13 July 6, 2021 Newspapers.com Karmosky Charles Terriers' Depth Mauls Thinly-Manned Indians https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80946928/daily-press/ Daily Press Newport News, Virginia November 29, 1953 27 July 6, 2021 Newspapers.com NFL draft selections = Pro Football Hall of Fame= Canadian Football Hall of Fame = College Football Hall of Fame Year Round Pick Overall Name Team Position195431237Bill Bowman Bill Bowman (American football)Detroit LionsBack195451261Parozzo George ParozzoDetroit LionsTackle1954191218Sazio Jerry SazioChicago CardinalsTackle1954225258Charlie SumnerChicago BearsBack References William and Mary Category:William & Mary Tribe football seasons William