The Capital Cup is awarded to the winner of the annual rivalry game between William & Mary and Richmond. The Tribe and Spiders’ rivalry dates back to 1898 and is the third most played rivalry in college football. The Tribe hold a slim 62-60-5 lead in the rivalry, and the Capital Cup is one of the best rivalries in the CAA, so don’t miss it when William & Mary takes on Richmond.

William & Mary Tribe vs James Madison Dukes

Rival Team: James Madison Dukes

The rivalry between James Madison and William & Mary dates back to 1978 and has been going strong ever since. There is no love lost between these two Virginia-based conference rivals, and every matchup is a can’t miss as conference supremacy and bragging rights are always on the line. The Dukes lead the all-time series 22-17, so come out and watch the Tribe try to close the gap.

William & Mary Tribe vs Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens

Rival Team: Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens

William & Mary and Delaware first met on the gridiron in 1915, but the rivalry didn’t become a regular thing until the late 1970s. The Tribe and Blue Hens have met 41 times with Delaware holding a 23-18 lead in the all-time series. Every matchup between these two CAA rivals is a must-see, so make sure to be in attendance when the Tribe and Blue Hens square off.

William & Mary Tribe vs VMI Keydets

Rival Team: VMI Keydets

While the Tribe and Keydets haven’t played since 2011, you won’t want to miss it when the longstanding rivalry between William & Mary and VMI is renewed. The rivalry dates back to 1905, and the two teams have 88 times over the years making it one of the Tribe’s oldest and longest running rivalries.

William & Mary Tribe Tailgate Guide

Atmosphere

You’ll find plenty of room to tailgate at a William & Mary football game as tailgating is permitted in all of the parking lots and grassy areas around campus. As a result of the university’s liberal tailgating policy, you’ll find Tribe fans all over campus tailgating and have a good time. Just about everywhere you look you’ll see fans in Tribe gear creating a fun and festive atmosphere.

The tailgates here at William & Mary feature your typical fare including hot dogs, burgers, and plenty of sides. You’ll also occasionally find some more local favorites such as crab cakes, pulled pork, and other southern favorites. If you’re looking to try some local fare bring something to share and you’ll likely make friends who are willing to share quickly.

Lastly, if you can only tailgate for one game, then make sure it’s the homecoming game. William & Mary alumni from all over the country come back to Williamsburg for the homecoming, and the parade is an excellent way to start off the game day festivities.

A trip to Williamsburg is an excellent way to spend a Saturday in the fall, so don’t hesitate to make plans to tailgate at a William & Mary football game.

Traditions

Homecoming Parade

If attending the homecoming game, then make sure to enjoy the homecoming parade the morning before the game. The parade is an excellent way to show off your William & Mary pride and is a great way to reconnect with old friends as well.

Where to tailgate

W&M Hall Lot

If you want to get in as much tailgating as possible before a Tribe game, then the W&M Hall Lot is the place for you. The W&M Hall Lot opens at 7 am for all games except for noon kickoffs when it opens at 5 am. All other reserved lots open three hours before kickoff, so if you want extra time to tailgate, the W&M Hall Lot is what you want.

School of Education Lot

Those of you taking an RV, bus, or any other oversized tailgate rig will want to park in the School of Education Lot. Even if you’re not bringing a large vehicle yourself, take a walk around the lot to see some of the bigger and more extravagant tailgate vehicles.

William & Mary Tribe Stadium Guide

In Game

Zable Stadium opened in 1935 and even after several renovations it still has an old school feel that you won’t find at too many other stadiums throughout the country. The throwback feel makes attending a Tribe game a feel special and helps create a fun atmosphere throughout the game.

The oldness of the stadium isn’t’ the only thing that makes it fun to attend a William & Mary football game. The fans, pep band, and spirit squad all do an excellent job of creating a festive game day atmosphere inside Zable Stadium.

The fans at the stadium are a mix of diehard and more casual fans. Although whoever you’re sitting next to will more than likely be willing to talk a bit about the team and how they’re doing this year. The friendly fans are one of the best parts of any William & Mary game, and if you come to the game as a neutral, you’ll without a doubt leave rooting for the Tribe.

The William & Mary Pep Band is unique in that it’s one of the only scramble bands in Division I football and they put on a memorable performance you won’t want to miss. Like at most college sporting events the band is a big part of the pageantry on display, so enjoy the show when attending a game at Zable Stadium.

Finally, the pep squad does a fantastic job of keeping the crowd’s spirits high even when the Tribe are struggling. The cheerleaders lead a bunch of cheers and chants you’ll want to join in on, and the William & Mary mascot is a must-see as well.

A William & Mary football game features just about everything you could want in an FCS football game making a trip to Zable Stadium an excellent way to spend a fall afternoon.

Things to check out

Team Store

If you’re looking to pick up a souvenir from your trip to Zable Stadium, then make sure to stop by the team store. The team store sells a wide selection of Tribe merchandise including t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, and much more.

50 Yard Line Entrance

One of the unique things about Zable Stadium is that the main entrance is at the 50-yard line. The location of the entrance gives means there are no seats at the 50-yard line one one side of the giving Zable Stadium a distinct feel.

William & Mary Pep Band

Rather than a traditional marching band, William & Mary has a student-run scramble band. The William & Mary Pep Band is a big part of any Tribe sporting event, especially football, so enjoy their performance when taking in a game at Zable Stadium.

Griffin

The Griffin has been William & Mary’s mascot since 2010, and you won’t want to miss him and his antics when attending a Tribe game. He gets into all kinds of shenanigans and is a can’t miss part of any William & Mary sporting event.

Cheerleaders

Join the cheers and chants lead by the William & Mary Tribe cheerleading squad. The cheerleaders help keep spirits high even when the Tribe are struggling, making them an essential part of any William & Mary sporting event.

‹ Western Illinois Leathernecks

Wofford Terriers ›