1977 William & Mary Indians football team

1977 William & Mary Indians football
Conference	Independent
1977 record	6–5
Head coach	Jim Root (6th year)
Home stadium	Cary Field
Seasons

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result
September 3	Norfolk State	Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia	W 27–13
September 10	at Virginia Military Institute	Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, Virginia	L 13–23
September 17	at Pittsburgh	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	L 6–28
September 24	at Louisville	Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, Kentucky	W 21–7
October 1	Villanova	Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia	W 28–8
October 8	vs. Virginia Tech	City Stadium • Richmond, Virginia (Tobacco Bowl)	L 8–17
October 22	at Navy	Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland	L 17–42
October 29	Rutgers	Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia	L 21–22
November 5	at The Citadel	Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, South Carolina	W 14–13
November 12	vs. East Carolina	Foreman Field • Norfolk, Virginia (Oyster Bowl)	W 21–17
November 19	Richmond	Cary Field • Williamsburg, Virginia (I-64 Bowl)	W 29–13

"12th Man Tackle"

In October 1977, William & Mary met heavily-favored East Carolina in the Oyster Bowl. In the fourth quarter ECU led by three points. During the game's final seconds, William & Mary quarterback Tom Rozantz broke loose and ran for the end zone. Jim Johnson, a former head coach for the ECU football team, who was described by The Virginian Pilot as "a portly 65-year-old gentleman in a raincoat," ran from the sidelines and threw a block tackle on Rozantz before he could score the winning touchdown. The unusual turn of events silenced the screaming William & Mary fans, and the officials gathered to discuss their course of action. After deliberation, the play was ruled a touchdown.