Originated 1898 Largest Victory 48 (twice)
1907, 1916 | Series W&M leads 62–60–5 | |
 | ||
Teams Richmond Spiders
William & Mary Tribe Highest Scoring Game W&M 59, RIC 21
November 22, 2003 Most Recent Game W&M 34, RIC 13
November 19, 2016 | ||
Coined as the "South's Oldest Rivalry," 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 have more games played.
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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 third most played game in college football, and through the 2016 match-up has been played 127 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.2 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 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.3 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 (formerly Division I-AA). 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 MVPs
A Capital Cup Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award was created beginning with the 2009 match-up, coinciding with its renaming to Capital Cup.