Washington University Bears football

American college football organization

For other Washington football teams, see Washington football (disambiguation).

Washington University Bears football

First season| 1887; 138 years ago (1887)
Athletic director| Anthony J. Azama
Head coach| Aaron Keen
5th season, 30–12 (.714)
Stadium| Francis Olympic Field
(capacity: 3,300)
Year built| 1903
Field surface| FieldTurf
Location| St. Louis, Missouri
NCAA division| Division III
Conference| CCIW
All-time record| 546–494–33 (.524)
Playoff appearances| 3 (Div. III)
1999, 2013, 2016
Playoff record| 0–3 (Div. III)
Conference titles| 19
Rivalries| Chicago Maroons[1]
Consensus All-Americans| 55
Colors| Red and green[2]

Fight song| Fight for Washington
Marching band| Bear Nation Varsity Band
Outfitter| Nike
Website| bearsports.wustl.edu

The Washington University Bears football team represents Washington University in St. Louis in college football. The team competes at the NCAA Division III level as an affiliate member of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). They are a primary member of the University Athletic Association, of which they were a founding member. They were previously a founding member of the Missouri Valley Conference whose bigger schools split into the Big Eight Conference and then added a few members to form the Big 12 Conference.[3]

On September 4, 2024, the Division III web outlet D3sports.com reported that the CCIW would expel Washington from football membership after the 2025 season, with the report soon confirmed by the conference office.[4] On October 18, 2024, the North Coast Athletic Conference announced that Washington would join as a football-only member, beginning in the 2026 season.[5]

The school's first football team was fielded in 1887. The team plays its home games at the 3,300 seat Francis Olympic Field.

Former Washington University Bears football player and head coach Jimmy Conzelman is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[6] Another former head coach, Weeb Ewbank, later coach of AFL, NFL, and Super Bowl champion teams is also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[7]

Two former Washington University head coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame: Bob Higgins in 1954[8] and Carl Snavely in 1965.[9]

Two former Washington University players have also been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame: Harvey Jablonsky in 1978[10] and Shelby Jordan in 2013.[11] Both Jablonsky and Jordan were All-Americans. Jordan went on to win Super Bowl XVIII with the Los Angeles Raiders.

Former Bears linebacker Brandon Roberts won the Vincent dePaul Draddy Trophy from the National Football Foundation as the nation's top football student-athlete in 2002. Roberts is the only non-FBS recipient of the award.[12]

## History

[edit]

### Conference memberships

[edit]

Years  | Conference

|

1887–1906  | Independent
1907–1942  | Missouri Valley Conference
1943–1946  | No team
1947–1962  | Independent
1963–1972  | College Athletic Conference
1973–1987  | Independent
1988–2017  | University Athletic Association[13]
2015–2016  | Southern Athletic Association
2018–2025  | College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin[14]

## Seasons

[edit]

Year  | Head coach  | Conference  | Overall record  | Conference record

|
|
|
|

1887 | Unknown | — | 1–0 | —
1888 | — | 1–0 | —
1889 | Arthur L. Tuttle
(player-coach) | — | 1–0 | —
1890 | — | 2–0 | —
1891 | — | 4–1–1 | —
1892 | — | 3–2 | —
1893 | Unknown | — | 1–1 | —
1894 | Unknown | — | 2–1 | —
1895 | Unknown | — | 2–0 | —
1896 | Unknown | — | 0–2 | —
1897 | Unknown | — | 0–2 | —
1898 | Edwin W. Lee | — | 6–0 | —
1899 | Arthur N. Sager | — | 5–1–0 | —
1900 | Edwin W. Lee | — | 3–2–1 | —
1901 | Gordon Clarke | — | 5–3–1 | —
1902 | Hugh White | — | 2–6–1 | —
1903 | L. W. Boynton | — | 4–4–2 | —
1904 | L. W. Boynton | — | 4–7 | —
1905 | Charles A. Fairweather | — | 7–3–2 | —
1906 | J. Merrill Blanchard | — | 2–2–2 | —
1907 | J. Merrill Blanchard | MVC | 1–5–1 | 0–1
1908 | Francis M. Cayou | MVC | 4–4–1 | 0–2
1909 | Francis M. Cayou | MVC | 3–4 | 0–2
1910 | Francis M. Cayou | MVC | 3–4 | 0–2
1911 | Francis M. Cayou | MVC | 4–2–2 | 0–0–2
1912 | Francis M. Cayou | MVC | 4–4 | 0–2
1913 | William P. Edmunds | MVC | 1–5 | 0–4
1914 | William P. Edmunds | MVC | 2–2–1 | 0–1–1
1915 | William P. Edmunds | MVC | 3–2 | 1–1
1916 | William P. Edmunds | MVC | 3–3–1 | 0–2
1917 | Dick Rutherford | MVC | 4–3 | 1–2
1918 | Dick Rutherford | MVC | 6–0 | — (WWI)
1919 | Dick Rutherford | MVC | 5–2 | 2–2
1920 | George Rider | MVC | 4–4 | 1–4
1921 | George Rider | MVC | 4–3–1 | 2–3
1922 | George Rider | MVC | 1–5–1 | 0–5–1
1923 | Byron Wimberly | MVC | 3–5 | 1–4
1924 | Byron Wimberly | MVC | 4–4 | 0–4
1925 | Bob Higgins | MVC | 2–5–1 | 1–4–1
1926 | Bob Higgins | MVC | 1–7 | 0–6
1927 | Bob Higgins | MVC | 5–2–2 | 2–2–1
1928 | Al Sharpe | MVC | 2–5–1 | 0–2
1929 | Al Sharpe | MVC | 3–4–1 | 0–1–1
1930 | Al Sharpe | MVC | 4–2–2 | 2–2
1931 | Al Sharpe | MVC | 2–7 | 0–3
1932 | Jimmy Conzelman | MVC | 4–4 | 1–2
1933 | Jimmy Conzelman | MVC | 4–5 | 1–2
1934 | Jimmy Conzelman | MVC | 7–3 | 1–0†
1935 | Jimmy Conzelman | MVC | 6–4 | 3–0‡
1936 | Jimmy Conzelman | MVC | 3–7 | 1–1
1937 | Jimmy Conzelman | MVC | 4–6 | 2–2
1938 | Jimmy Conzelman | MVC | 6–3–1 | 2–1–1
1939 | Jimmy Conzelman | MVC | 6–3–1 | 4–1†
1940 | Frank Loebs | MVC | 3–6 | 1–3
1941 | Frank Loebs | MVC | 4–5 | 1–3
1942 | Tom Gorman | MVC | 5–5 | 2–3
1943 | No Football |  |  |
1944 | No Football |  |  |
1945 | No Football |  |  |
1946 | No Football |  |  |
1947 | Weeb Ewbank | — | 5–3 | —
1948 | Weeb Ewbank | — | 9–1 | —
1949 | Irv Utz | — | 7–2 | —
1950 | Irv Utz | — | 2–7 | —
1951 | Irv Utz | — | 5–4 | —
1952 | Irv Utz | — | 4–5 | —
1953 | Carl Snavely | — | 7–2 | —
1954 | Carl Snavely | — | 6–3 | —
1955 | Carl Snavely | — | 5–4 | —
1956 | Carl Snavely | — | 6–3 | —
1957 | Carl Snavely | — | 5–3 | —
1958 | Carl Snavely | — | 4–4 | —
1959 | Lynn Hovland | — | 1–7 | —
1960 | Lynn Hovland | — | 2–7 | —
1961 | Lynn Hovland | — | 0–9 | —
1962 | Dave Puddington | — | 5–3 | —
1963 | Dave Puddington | CAC | 6–2–1 | 1–1
1964 | Dave Puddington | CAC | 6–3–1 | 3–1‡
1965 | Dave Puddington | CAC | 7–2 | 3–1
1966 | Dave Puddington | CAC | 7–2 | 4–0†
1967 | Dave Puddington | CAC | 5–4–1 | 2–2
1968 | Richard D. Martin | CAC | 2–8 | 0–4
1969 | Dick Martin | CAC | 2–7 | 1–3
1970 | Dick Martin | CAC | 5–4 | 3–1‡
1971 | Dick Martin | CAC | 4–5 | 1–3
1972 | Don McCright | CAC | 6–3 | 4–0†
1973 | Don McCright | — | 6–2–1 | —
1974 | Don McCright | — | 5–4 | —
1975 | Don McCright | — | 4–5 | —
1976 | Don McCright | — | 3–6 | —
1977 | Chris Gianoulakis | — | 5–4 | —
1978 | Chris Gianoulakis | — | 5–4 | —
1979 | Chris Gianoulakis | — | 2–7 | —
1980 | Ken Henderson | — | 2–7 | —
1981 | Ken Henderson | — | 2–7 | —
1982 | Ken Henderson | — | 2–7 | —
1983 | Fred Remmy | — | 2–6–1 | —
1984 | Fred Remmy | — | 4–5 | —
1985 | Fred Remmy | — | 3–7 | —
1986 | Fred Remmy | — | 2–7 | —
1987 | Ken Woody | — | 1–8 | —
1988 | Ken Woody | UAA | 2–8 | 1–3
1989 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 4–5 | 2–2
1990 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 7–3 | 2–2
1991 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 6–4 | 1–3
1992 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 4–6 | 1–3
1993 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 6–4 | 1–3
1994 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 7–3 | 3–1‡
1995 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 9–1 | 3–1‡
1996 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 7–3 | 3–1‡
1997 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 6–4 | 3–1
1998 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 6–4 | 2–2
1999 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 8–3 | 4–0†*
2000 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 6–4 | 3–1
2001 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 8–2 | 4–0†
2002 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 6–4 | 4–0†
2003 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 6–4 | 4–0†
2004 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 6–4 | 3–0†
2005 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 6–4 | 2–1
2006 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 6–4 | 2–1
2007 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 7–3 | 1–2
2008 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 5–5 | 1–2
2009 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 4–6 | 1–2
2010 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 7–3 | 2–1
2011 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 6–4 | 2–1
2012 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 5–5 | 3–0†
2013 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 8–3 | 3–0†*
2014 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 4–6 | 1–2
2015 | Larry Kindbom | SAA / UAA | 6–4 | 5–3 / 2–1‡
2016 | Larry Kindbom | SAA / UAA | 8–3 | 7–1‡ / 2–1‡*
2017 | Larry Kindbom | UAA | 3–6 | 0–2
2018 | Larry Kindbom | CCIW | 8–2 | 7–2
2019 | Larry Kindbom | CCIW | 7–3 | 6–3
2020 | Aaron Keen | CCIW | Did not play due to COVID-19[15] | DNP
2021 | Aaron Keen | CCIW | 7–4 | 7–2
2022 | Aaron Keen | CCIW | 8–3 | 7–2
2023 | Aaron Keen | CCIW | 7–3 | 6–3
2024 | Aaron Keen | CCIW | 8–2 | 7–2

†- Conference champions ‡- Conference co-champions *- Playoff Appearance[16]

## Postseason appearances

[edit]

### NCAA Division III playoffs

[edit]

The WashU Bears have made three appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs, with a combined record of 0–3.

Year  | Round  | Opponent  | Result

|
|
|

1999 | First Round  | Hardin–Simmons | L, 21–28
2013 | First Round  | Franklin | L, 10–17
2016 | First Round  | Wisconsin–Oshkosh | L, 13–49

### Bowl games

[edit]

The WashU Bears have made two NCAA Division III bowl appearances, with a combined record of 0–2.

Year  | Bowl  | Coach  | Opponent  | Result

|
|
|
|

2021 | Isthmus Bowl | Aaron Keen | Wisconsin–River Falls | L, 27–48
2022 | L, 24–31

## NFL draft picks

[edit]

1937 — 9th Round, 3rd Pick, 83rd Overall — Chicago Cardinals — Dwight Hafeli — End[17]
1938 — 3rd Round, 2nd Pick, 17th Overall — Philadelphia Eagles — Joe Bukant — FB[18]
1942 — 3rd Round, 4th Pick, 19th Overall — Chicago Cardinals — Bud Schwenk — QB[19]
1950 — 21st Round, 12th Pick, 273rd Overall — Cleveland Browns — Leroy Vogts — G[20]
1955 — 20th Round, 1st Pick, 230th Overall — Chicago Cardinals — Jim Burst — HB[21]
1973 — 7th Round, 1st Pick, 157th Overall — Houston Oilers — Shelby Jordan — T[22]

Source:[23][24]

## All-Americans

[edit]

1929 — Harvey Jablonsky
1933 — Glynn Clark (AP Honorable Mention)
1934 — Harry Brown (AP Honorable Mention)
1935 — Bob Hudgens (AAB Honorable Mention, NEA Honorable Mention); Joe Bukant (AP Honorable Mention)
1936 — Dwight Hafeli (AP Honorable Mention)
1937 — Raymond Hobbs (Colliers)
1941 — Wilson “Bud” Schwenk (AP Honorable Mention)
1956 — Ed Lind (AP Honorable Mention, Little All-America First Team)
1957 — Ed Lind (AP Honorable Mention, Little All-America Honorable Mention); Don Polkinghorne (Little All-America First Team)
1960 — Paul Isham (AP Little All-America Honorable Mention)
1962 — Paul Isham (AP Honorable Mention)
1963 — Arnie Edwards (AP Honorable Mention)
1964 — James Powers (AP Honorable Mention)
1970 — James Marx (AP Honorable Mention)
1971 — Stu Watkins (AP Little All-America Honorable Mention)
1972 — Shelby Jordan (Kodak First Team); Stu Watkins (AP Little All-America Honorable Mention)
1973 — Stu Watkins (Kodak First Team)
1974 — Marion Stallings (Kodak First Team)
1981 — Dave Bolton (Sporting News Honorable Mention)
1988 — Paul Matthews (Kodak First Team, AP Little AllAmerica Second Team, Pizza Hut Third Team, Football Gazette Honorable Mention)
1989 — Eric Nyhus (Pizza Hut First Team, Football Gazette Second Team); Stacey Hightower (Football Gazette Honorable Mention, Pizza Hut Honorable Mention)
1990 — Eric Nyhus (Football Gazette Second Team)
1991 — Michael Lauber (Champion U.S.A. Second Team, Football Gazette Third Team); Jeff Doyle (Football Gazette Third Team); Aaron Keen (Football Gazette Honorable Mention)
1992 — Michael Lauber (Champion U.S.A. Honorable Mention, Football Gazette Honorable Mention)
1993 — Jeff Doyle (Champion U.S.A. Third Team, Football Gazette Second Team); Aaron Keen (Football Gazette Honorable Mention)
1994 — Matt Gomric (Division III First Team, Football Gazette First Team)
1995 — Chris Nalley (Hewlett-Packard First Team, Football Gazette Second Team, American Football Quarterly First Team); Josh Haza (Hewlett-Packard Honorable Mention)
1996 — Chris Nalley (Hewlett-Packard First Team, Foot- ball Gazette First Team, American Football Quarterly First Team); Joe El-Etr (Hewlett-Packard Second Team, Football Gazette Second Team), Aaron Boehm (HewlettPackard Third Team).
1997 — Joe El-Etr (Hewlett-Packard Second Team), Brad Klein (Hewlett-Packard Second Team, Football Gazette Second Team).
1999 — Tim Runnalls (Hewlett-Packard First Team, Football Gazette Lineman of the Year and First Team, Burger King Coaches’ Association First Team, AFCA Aztec Bowl selection, D3football.com Second Team), Kevin Dym (D3football.com Third Team)
2000 — James Molnar (D3football.com Second Team), Jonathan Feig (D3football.com Third Team)
2001 — James Molnar (Hewlett-Packard Honorable Mention)
2003 — Rick Schmitz (CoSIDA Third Team)
2005 — Joe Rizzo (Associated Press Little Second Team, Football Gazette Second Team, D3football.com Honorable Mention), Brad Duesing (Football Gazette Honorable Mention)
2006 — Drew Wethington (Football Gazette Third Team)
2010 — Brandon Brown (D3football.com First Team)
2015 — Alex Hallwachs (D3football.com Third Team), Quincy Marting (D3football.com Honorable Mention)
2016 — Matt Page (AFCA First Team, D3football.com Second Team), Kevin Hammarlund (AFCA Second Team, D3football.com Honorable Mention)
2017 — Johnny Davidson (D3football.com Third Team)
2018 — Hank Michalski (AFCA Second Team) [25]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Washington University in St. Louis Football record Book (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on December 4, 2013, retrieved May 23, 2019
2. ^ "Color Palettes". Retrieved August 3, 2016.
3. ^ Big Eight Conference Football Championship History, retrieved May 23, 2019
4. ^ Coleman, Patrick; McHugh, Dave (September 4, 2024). "CCIW to cut Wash U loose". D3football.com. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
5. ^ Eisner, Matt (October 18, 2024). "Football to join North Coast Athletic Conference for 2026 season". studlife.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
6. ^ "Jimmy Conzelman – Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site".
7. ^ "Weeb Ewbank – Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site".
8. ^ Bob Higgins – NFF Hall of Fame, retrieved May 23, 2019
9. ^ Carl Snavely – NFF Hall of Fame, retrieved May 20, 2019
10. ^ Harvey Jablonsky – NFF Hall of Fame, retrieved May 23, 2019
11. ^ Shelby Jordan – NFF Hall of Fame, retrieved May 23, 2019
12. ^ William V. Campbell Trophy® Recipients, retrieved May 20, 2019
13. ^ UAA Football composite results (PDF), retrieved May 20, 2019
14. ^ Coleman, Patrick; McHugh, Dave (September 6, 2024). "CCIW to cut Wash U loose". d3football.com.
15. ^ WashU Announces Cancellation of Fall Sport Competitions, July 22, 2020, retrieved June 11, 2021
16. ^ "2017 Washington University Football Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved April 9, 2017.
17. ^ "Los Angeles Seeks Berth in National Grid League", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, p. 56, December 13, 1936
18. ^ "Detroit Draws Clint Frank, Pittsburgh Gets White in Draft; Bukant to Eagles", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, p. 17, December 12, 1937
19. ^ "Schwenk, Drafted by Cardinals, Does Not Intend to Join Pros", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, p. 9, December 23, 1941
20. ^ "Four St. Louis Area Athletes Picked in Pro Football Draft", St. Louis Star-Times, St. Louis, MO, p. 16, January 23, 1950
21. ^ "Four Mizzou Men Selected in Draft, But One is a Junior", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, p. 22, January 28, 1955
22. ^ "Bears' Jordan Picked by Oilers", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, p. 58, January 31, 1973
23. ^ NFL Draft History — Washington St. Louis, retrieved May 23, 2019
24. ^ DraftHistory.com Colleges Beginning with W, retrieved May 26, 2019
25. ^ Washington University in St. Louis Football record Book (PDF), retrieved May 20, 2019

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Washington University Bears football

Venues|

* Amateur Park (1887–1889)
* Forest Park (1889, 1896)
* Sportsman's Park (1890–1892, 1898–1901)
* De Hodiamont Park (1897–1900, 1902)
* New Sportsman's Park / League Park (1894, 1898, 1900, 1902–1903, 1906)
* Francis Olympic Field (1904–present)

People|

* Head coaches

Seasons|

* 1887
* 1888
* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943–1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

Washington University in St. Louis

* History
* William Greenleaf Eliot
* Wayman Crow
* Chancellor Andrew D. Martin
* Provost Beverly Wendland
* Library

Academics|

* Arts and Sciences
* George Warren Brown School of Social Work
* McKelvey School of Engineering
* Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts
* Olin Business School
* School of Law
* School of Medicine

Centers and institutes|

* Center for Social Development
* Central Institute for the Deaf
* Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement
* Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology
* McDonnell Genome Institute
* Tyson Research Center
* Whitney R. Harris World Law Institute

Danforth Campus|

* Brookings Hall
* Crow Observatory
* Francis Gymnasium
* Francis Olympic Field
* Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Medical Campus|

* Washington University School of Medicine
* Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center
* Barnes-Jewish Hospital
* St. Louis Children's Hospital

Athletics|

* Bears
* Football

People|

* Notable alumni
* Faculty and staff
* Affiliated Nobel laureates

Campus life|

* After Dark
* KWUR Radio
* Mosaic Whispers
* Residential colleges
* Student Life
* Thurtene Carnival
* Washington University Law Review
* WILD

Miscellaneous|

* Erythromer
* Lewis (robot)
* Queeny Tower
* St. Louis School of Fine Arts
* Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics
* Washington University School of Dental Medicine
* Historic District

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