List of VMI Keydets football seasons
The following is a list of seasons completed by the VMI Keydets football team. Representing the Virginia Military Institute, the Keydets compete in the Southern Conference of the NCAA Division I. VMI competed in the SoCon for 79 years from 1924 to 2002, and moved to the Big South in 2003, but returned to the SoCon beginning in the 2014–2015 academic year.[1] The Keydets have played their home games out of 10,000-seat Alumni Memorial Field since 1962. Scott Wachenheim has been the head coach since 2015.
Though VMI played their first intercollegiate football game in 1873 against Washington and Lee University, the first official team was fielded in 1891 under coach Walter H. Taylor III. The program was successful early on, notching two undefeated seasons in 1894 and 1899, and another 9–0 campaign in 1920. VMI captured their first of seven conference titles in 1951 under head coach Tom Nugent with a 5–0 mark in SoCon play and a 7–3 record overall. The Keydets won 4 additional Southern Conference championships in a six-year span between 1957 and 1962 under the direction of John McKenna, who, to this day, is the all-time coaching wins leader at the Institute.
After playing as an independent, VMI joined the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1918. Following the league's disbandment in 1921, VMI joined the Southern Conference in 1924 where they would remain for 79 seasons until joining the Big South Conference in 2003. The Keydets will return to their roots in 2014, as it was announced they would rejoin the SoCon in May 2013.
VMI has yet to earn a trip to the FCS playoffs since the subdivision's inception in 1978. The Keydets have also not had a winning season since 1981, marking 38 consecutive non-winning seasons for the program (the 2002 and 2003 squads went 6–6 each).
Seasons
| Legend | |
|---|---|
|
† Conference champions | |
| Season | Team | Head coach[2] | Conference | Division | Regular season results[3][4] | Postseason results | Final ranking[5] | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Conference | Bowl game/Playoff result | TSN Poll | Coaches' Poll | |||||||||||
| Win | Loss | Tie | Win | Loss | Tie | Finish | |||||||||
| VMI Keydets | |||||||||||||||
| 1891 | 1891 | Walter Taylor | Independent | — | 3 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||
| 1892 | 1892 | No coach | 4 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1893 | 1893 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1894 | 1894 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1895 | 1895 | George W. Bryant | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1896 | 1896 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1897 | 1897 | R. N. Groner | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1898 | 1898 | Samuel Boyle, Jr. | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1899 | 1899[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1900 | 1900 | Sam Walker | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1901 | 1901 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1902 | 1902 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1903 | 1903 | William Roper | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1904 | 1904 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1905 | 1905 | Ira Johnson | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1906 | 1906 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1907 | 1907 | Charles Roller | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1908 | 1908 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1909 | 1909 | William C. Gloth | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1910 | 1910 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1911 | 1911 | Alpha Brummage | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1912 | 1912 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1913 | 1913 | Henry Poague | 7 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1914 | 1914 | Frank Gorton | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1915 | 1915 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1916 | 1916 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1917 | 1917 | Earl Abell | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1918 | 1918 | Earl Abell Mose Goodman |
SAIAA | — | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||
| 1919 | 1919 | Red Fleming | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1920 | 1920 | Blandy Clarkson | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1921 | 1921 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1922 | 1922 | Independent | — | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1923 | 1923 | 9 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1924 | 1924 | Southern | — | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 13 | — | — | — | ||
| 1925 | 1925 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 18 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1926 | 1926 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 15 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1927 | 1927 | W. C. Raftery | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 16 | — | — | — | |||
| 1928 | 1928 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1929 | 1929 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1930 | 1930 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 23 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1931 | 1931 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 17 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1932 | 1932 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 18 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1933 | 1933 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1934 | 1934 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1935 | 1935 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1936 | 1936 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1937 | 1937 | Allison Hubert | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | — | — | — | |||
| 1938 | 1938 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1939 | 1939 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1940 | 1940 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1941 | 1941 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1942 | 1942 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1943 | 1943 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1944 | 1944 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1945 | 1945 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1946 | 1946 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1947 | 1947 | Arthur Morton | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 | — | — | — | |||
| 1948 | 1948 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1949 | 1949 | Tom Nugent | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | Won Tobacco Bowl vs. Richmond 14–7 | — | — | |||
| 1950 | 1950 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1951 | 1951† | 7 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1952 | 1952 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | Lost Tobacco Bowl vs. Virginia 33–14 | — | — | ||||
| 1953 | 1953 | John McKenna | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | |||
| 1954 | 1954 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1955 | 1955 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 9 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1956 | 1956 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1957 | 1957† | 9 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | 20 | — | ||||
| 1958 | 1958 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1959 | 1959† | 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1960 | 1960† | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1961 | 1961 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1962 | 1962† | 6 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1963 | 1963 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Lost Oyster Bowl vs. Navy 21–12 | — | — | ||||
| 1964 | 1964 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 9 | Lost Tobacco Bowl vs. Virginia 20–19 | — | — | ||||
| 1965 | 1965 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1966 | 1966 | Vito Ragazzo | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | |||
| 1967 | 1967 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | Lost Tobacco Bowl vs. William & Mary 33–28 | — | — | ||||
| 1968 | 1968 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1969 | 1969 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | Lost Tobacco Bowl vs. Virginia 28–10 | — | — | ||||
| 1970 | 1970 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1971 | 1971 | Bob Thalman | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | |||
| 1972 | 1972 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1973 | 1973 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1974 | 1974† | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Won Tobacco Bowl vs. Virginia Tech 22–17 | — | — | ||||
| 1975 | 1975 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7 | Lost Tobacco Bowl vs. Richmond 24–19 | — | — | ||||
| 1976 | 1976 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7 | Lost Tobacco Bowl vs. Virginia Tech 37–7 Won Oyster Bowl vs. Virginia 13–7 |
— | — | ||||
| 1977 | 1977† | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1978 | 1978 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | Won Tobacco Bowl vs. Richmond 23–6 | — | — | ||||
| 1979 | 1979 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1980 | 1980 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | Lost Oyster Bowl vs. Virginia Tech 21–6 | — | — | ||||
| 1981 | 1981 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Won Oyster Bowl vs. The Citadel 14–0 | — | — | ||||
| 1982 | 1982 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | Won Tobacco Bowl vs. Richmond 14–0 Lost Oyster Bowl vs. Virginia Tech 14–3 |
— | — | ||||
| 1983 | 1983 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1984 | 1984 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 8 | Lost Oyster Bowl vs. Virginia Tech 54–7 | — | — | ||||
| 1985 | 1985 | Eddie Williamson | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | |||
| 1986 | 1986 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1987 | 1987 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 5 | Lost Oyster Bowl vs. William & Mary 17–6 | — | — | ||||
| 1988 | 1988 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | Lost Oyster Bowl vs. The Citadel 31–20 | — | — | ||||
| 1989 | 1989 | Jim Shuck | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | |||
| 1990 | 1990 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | Lost Oyster Bowl vs. William & Mary 59–47 | — | — | ||||
| 1991 | 1991 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 6 | Lost Oyster Bowl vs. The Citadel 17–14 | — | — | ||||
| 1992 | 1992 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7 | Lost Oyster Bowl vs. Richmond 41–18 | — | — | ||||
| 1993 | 1993 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 9 | Lost Oyster Bowl vs. William & Mary 49–6 | — | — | ||||
| 1994 | 1994 | Bill Stewart | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 9 | Lost Oyster Bowl vs. The Citadel 58–14 | — | — | |||
| 1995 | 1995 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6 | Lost Oyster Bowl vs. Georgia Southern 31–13 | — | — | ||||
| 1996[lower-alpha 2] | 1996 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 7 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1997 | 1997 | Ted Cain | 0 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 9 | — | — | — | |||||
| 1998 | 1998 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 9 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1999 | 1999 | Cal McCombs | 1 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 9 | — | — | — | |||||
| 2000 | 2000 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 9 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2001 | 2001 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 9 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2002 | 2002 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2003 | 2003 | Big South | — | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | ||||
| 2004 | 2004 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 5 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2005 | 2005 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2006 | 2006 | Jim Reid | 1 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 5 | — | — | — | |||||
| 2007 | 2007 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 5 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2008 | 2008 | Sparky Woods | 4 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | |||||
| 2009 | 2009 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2010 | 2010 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 5 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2011 | 2011 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2012 | 2012 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2013 | 2013 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2014 | 2014 | Southern | — | 2 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | ||||
| 2015 | 2015 | Scott Wachenheim | 2 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | |||||
| 2016 | 2016 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 9 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2017 | 2017 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 9 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2018 | 2018 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 9 | — | — | — | ||||||
| Totals | All-time: 473–705–42 (.405) |
Conference: 189–345–23 (.360) |
– | Bowl games: 6–18 (.250) |
– | – | |||||||||
Notes
- The season was cut short due to an outbreak of typhoid fever within the school, and all students were subsequently sent home.
- Overtime rules were added to college football in 1996, thereby eliminating ties.
References
- "VMI, ETSU, Mercer to join SoCon". ESPN. Associated Press. May 30, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
- "Virginia Military Institute Coaching Records". College Football Data Warehouse. 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
- "Virginia Military Institute Yearly Totals". College Football Data Warehouse. 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
- Southern Conference Annual Leaders & History
- "Virginia Military Institute In the Polls". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
Other References