Capital Cup


Coined as the "Oldest Rivalry in the South", the Capital Cup is one of the longest-running college football rivalries in the United States. Contested yearly between the University of Richmond Spiders and College of William & Mary Tribe, only three rivalries in NCAA Division I have more games played: Lafayette–Lehigh, Princeton–Yale, and Harvard–Yale.

History

The Capital Cup is one of the oldest collegiate American football rivalries, played between the University of Richmond Spiders and College of William & Mary Tribe. The yearly contest is the fourth most played game in college football, and through the 2019 match-up has been played 130 times. Though starting six years later than what is more commonly called the South's Oldest Rivalry between Virginia and North Carolina, this rivalry between Richmond and William & Mary was more often played twice per year in its early days instead of just once. In 1905, it was played three times. Played nearly continuously since 1898, there have only been three years that the game did not occur: 1900, 1902 and 1943. The game had until recently been dubbed the I-64 Bowl, from 1984 though 2008. Beginning in 2009, however, the game was officially renamed the Capital Cup, for which a new trophy was created. The Capital Cup name was chosen to honor the entire 119-game history of the rivalry between the two schools and the status of the two cities as two of the historical capitals of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The match-up is typically played as the final regular season game for both teams, but for many years used to be played on Thanksgiving Day.
The November 21, 2009 game marked the 119th meeting between the schools. The Richmond win placed the all-time record at 59–55–5, remaining in favor of William & Mary. The Richmond Spiders won this inaugural Capital Cup by a final score of 13–10, simultaneously giving Richmond a share of the Colonial Athletic Association season championship. Place kicker Andrew Howard converted a game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired. Then, in 2010, William & Mary clinched a share of the conference with the Capital Cup win. The Tribe had to beat Richmond and have Villanova upset Delaware in order to share the championship with Delaware, and both of those results occurred.

Trophy

The I-64 Trophy was a college football trophy that went to the winner of the annual College of William & Mary versus University of Richmond football game from 1984 through 2008. Both Division I schools participate in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. The name for the trophy came from Interstate 64, which connects the schools through the short distance between Richmond and Williamsburg. The I-64 Trophy was replaced in 2009 with the Capital Cup, which honors the entire history of the rivalry between the two schools and the status of the two cities as the last two capitals of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Game results

Game MVPs

A Most Valuable Player Award was established 2009, coinciding with the rivalry's renaming to Capital Cup.
SeasonMVPTeamPositionNotes
2009RichmondQuarterbackCompleted 24 of 36 passes for 221 yards
2010William & MaryQuarterbackCompleted 17 of 22 passes for a career-high 331 yards and two touchdowns
2011William & MaryRunning backAttempted a then school-record 39 rushes for 205 yards and one touchdown
2012RichmondFullbackRushed for 73 yards and one touchdown and caught one 7-yard touchdown pass
2013RichmondFullbackRushed for a career-high 131 yards and two touchdowns
2014RichmondQuarterbackCompleted 29 of 40 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns
2015RichmondRunning backAttempted 36 rushes for 217 yards and one touchdown and caught one pass for 8 yards
2016William & MaryRunning backAttempted school-record 42 rushes for 219 yards and two touchdowns
2017RichmondRunning backAttempted 23 rushes for career-high 180 yards and two touchdowns
2018RichmondLinebackerConverted a 4th-and-4 on a fake punt; recorded an interception near the red zone
2019William & MaryLinebackerRecorded nine tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery