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Template:Infobox sports award The Lambert Trophy is an annual award given to the best team in the East in Division I FBS (formerly I-A) college football. In affiliation with the Metropolitan New York Football Writers (founded 1935), the Lambert Trophy was established by brothers Victor and Henry Lambert in memory of their father, August. The Lamberts were the principals in a distinguished Madison Avenue jewelry house and were prominent college football boosters. The trophy, established in 1936 as the "Lambert Trophy" to recognize supremacy in Eastern college football, has since grown to recognize the best team in the East in Division I FBS. A set of parallel trophies collectively known as the Lambert Cup is awarded to teams in Division I FCS (formerly I-AA), Division II, and Division III. The Metropolitan New York Football Writers, owned and operated by American Football Networks, Inc., took the administration of the Lambert Meadowlands Awards back from the New Jersey Sports & Exhibition Authority in 2011.

Since 1936, there have been 19 different winners in Division I-A/FBS. To be eligible for the Lambert Award, a school must be located in the "East." Teams in the "East" include teams located in New York, New Jersey, New England, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia (although there are no FBS teams in Delaware nor Washington D.C., there are teams that compete at lower levels that can win the various Lambert Cup awards for their levels). Additionally, while the Big East Conference was a football conference, members of that conference outside of the "East" were also made eligible if at least half their schedule was against Lambert-eligible teams.

Lambert Trophy winners[]

By year[]

Year School Record Final AP Rank Bowl
1936 Pittsburgh 8–1–1 #3 Won Rose
1937 Pittsburgh 9–0–1 #1 No bowl
1938 Carnegie Tech 8–1–1 #6 Lost Sugar
1939 Cornell 8–0 #4 No bowl
1940 Boston College 11–0 #5 Won Sugar
1941 Fordham 8–1 #6 Won Sugar
1942 Boston College 8–2 #8 Lost Orange
1943 Navy 8–1 #4 No bowl
1944 Army 9–0 #1 No bowl
1945 Army 9–0 #1 No bowl
1946 Army 9–0–1 #2 No bowl
1947 Penn State 9–0–1 #4 Tied Cotton
1948 Army 8–0–1 #6 No bowl
1949 Army 9–0 #4 No bowl
1950 Princeton 9–0 #6 No bowl
1951 Princeton 9–0 #6 No bowl
1952 Syracuse 7–3 #14 Lost Orange
1953 Army 7–1–1 #14 No bowl
1954 Navy 8–2 #5 Won Sugar
1955 Pittsburgh 7–4 #11 Lost Sugar
1956 Syracuse 7–2 #8 Lost Cotton
1957 Navy 8–1–1 #5 Won Cotton
1958 Army 8–0–1 #3 No bowl
1959 Syracuse 11–0 #1 Won Cotton
1960 Navy 9–2 #4 Lost Orange
Yale 9–0 #14 No bowl
1961 Penn State 8–3 #17 Won Gator
1962 Penn State 9–2 #9 Lost Gator
1963 Navy 9–2 #2 Lost Cotton
1964 Penn State 6–4 NR No bowl

Year School Record Final AP Rank Bowl
1965 Dartmouth 9–0 NR No bowl
1966 Syracuse 8–3 NR Lost Gator
1967 Penn State 8–2–1 #10 Tied Gator
1968 Penn State 11–0 #2 Won Orange
1969 Penn State 11–0 #2 Won Orange
1970 Dartmouth 9–0 #14 No bowl
1971 Penn State 11–1 #5 Won Cotton
1972 Penn State 10–2 #10 Lost Sugar
1973 Penn State 12–0 #5 Won Orange
1974 Penn State 10–2 #7 Won Cotton
1975 Penn State 9–3 #10 Lost Sugar
1976 Pittsburgh 12–0 #1 Won Sugar
1977 Penn State 11–1 #5 Won Fiesta
1978 Penn State 11–1 #4 Lost Sugar
1979 Pittsburgh 11–1 #7 Won Fiesta
1980 Pittsburgh 11–1 #2 Won Gator
1981 Penn State 10–2 #3 Won Fiesta
1982 Penn State 11–1 #1 Won Sugar
1983 Boston College 9–3 #19 Lost Liberty
1984 Boston College 10–2 #5 Won Cotton
1985 Penn State 11–1 #3 Lost Orange
1986 Penn State 12–0 #1 Won Fiesta
1987 Syracuse 11–0–1 #4 Tied Sugar
1988 West Virginia 11–1 #5 Lost Fiesta
1989 Penn State 8–3–1 #15 Won Holiday
1990 Penn State 9–3 #11 Lost Blockbuster
1991 Penn State 11–2 #3 Won Fiesta
1992 Syracuse 10–2 #6 Won Fiesta
1993 West Virginia 11–1 #7 Lost Sugar
1994 Penn State 12–0 #2 Won Rose

Year School Record Final AP Rank Bowl
1995 Virginia Tech 10–2 #10 Won Sugar
1996 Penn State 11–2 #7 Won Fiesta
1997 Penn State 9–3 #16 Lost Citrus
1998 Penn State 9–3 #17 Won Outback
1999 Virginia Tech 11–1 #2 Lost Sugar
2000 Miami (FL) 11–1 #2 Won Sugar
2001 Miami (FL) 12–0 #1 Won Rose
2002 Miami (FL) 12–1 #2 Lost Fiesta
2003 Miami (FL) 11–2 #5 Won Orange
2004 Boston College 9–3 #21 Won Continental Tire
2005 Penn State 11–1 #3 Won Orange
2006 Louisville 12–1 #5 Won Orange
2007 West Virginia 11–2 #6 Won Fiesta
2008 Penn State 11–2 #8 Lost Rose
2009 Penn State[1] 11–2 #9 Won Capital One
2010 Connecticut 8–5 NR Lost Fiesta
2011 West Virginia 10–3 #17 Won Orange
2012 Cincinnati 10–3 NR Won Belk
2013 Penn State 7–5 NR No Bowl
2014 Rutgers 8–5 NR Won Quick Lane
2015 Navy 11–2 #18 Won Military
2016 Penn State 11–3 #7 Lost Rose
2017 Penn State 11–2 #8 Won Fiesta
2018 Army[2] 11–2 #19 Won Armed Forces

By team[]

School Total Years won
Penn State 31 1947, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2016, 2017
Army 8 1944, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1953, 1958, 2018
Syracuse 6 1952, 1956, 1959, 1966, 1987, 1992
Pittsburgh 6 1936, 1937, 1955, 1976, 1979, 1980
Navy 1943, 1954, 1957, 1960 (½), 1963, 2015
Boston College 5 1940, 1942, 1983, 1984, 2004
Miami (FL) 4 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
West Virginia 4 1988, 1993, 2007, 2011
Dartmouth^ 2 1965, 1970
Princeton^ 2 1950, 1951
Virginia Tech 2 1995, 1999
Carnegie Tech 1 1938
Cincinnati 1 2012
Connecticut 1 2010
Cornell^ 1 1939
Fordham^ 1 1941
Louisville 1 2006
Rutgers 1 2014
Yale^ ½ 1960 (½)

^ Now a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
† Now a member of NCAA Division III.

Lambert Cup[]

Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA)[]

Year School Record Playoff Results
1982 Delaware 12–2 Championship Game
1983 Holy Cross 9–2–1 First Round
1984 Rhode Island 10–3 Semifinals
1985 Rhode Island 10–3 Quarterfinals
1986 Holy Cross 10–1 Did not play (Patriot)
1987 Holy Cross 11–0 Did not play (Patriot)
1988 Holy Cross 9–2 Did not play (Patriot)
1989 Holy Cross 10–1 Did not play (Patriot)
1990 William & Mary 10–3 Quarterfinals
1991 Delaware 10–2 First Round
1992 Villanova 9–3 First Round
1993 Boston University 12–1 Quarterfinals
1994 James Madison 10–3 Quarterfinals
1995 Delaware 11–2 Quarterfinals
1996 William & Mary 10–3 Quarterfinals
1997 Delaware 12–2 Semifinals
1998 Massachusetts 12–3 National Champions
1999 Hofstra 11–2 Quarterfinals
2000 Delaware 12–2 Semifinals

Year School Record Playoff Results
2001 Lehigh 11–1 Quarterfinals
2002 Villanova 11–4 Semifinals
2003 Delaware 15–1 National Champions
2004 James Madison 13–2 National Champions
2005 New Hampshire 11–2 Quarterfinals
2006 Massachusetts 13–2 Championship Game
2007 Delaware 11–4 Championship Game
2008 James Madison 12–2 Semifinals
2009 Villanova 14–1 National Champions
2010 Delaware 12–3 Championship Game
2011 Lehigh 11–2 Quarterfinals
2012 Old Dominion 11–2 Quarterfinals
2013 Towson 13–3 Championship Game
2014 New Hampshire 12–2 Semifinals
2015 Dartmouth/Harvard/Penn 9–1/9–1/7–3 Did not play (Ivy)
2016 James Madison 14–1 National Champions
2017 James Madison 14–1 Championship Game
2018 Colgate[2] 10–2 Quarterfinals

NOTE: The Ivy League, and until 1997, the Patriot League, do/did not participate in the NCAA Division I Football Tournament.

[3]

Most FCS Lambert Cups[]

School Total Years won
Delaware 8 1982, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2010
Holy Cross 5 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
James Madison 5 1994, 2004, 2008, 2016, 2017
Villanova 3 1992, 2002, 2009
Lehigh 2 2001, 2011
Massachusetts † 2 1998, 2006
New Hampshire 2 2005, 2014
Rhode Island 2 1984, 1985
William & Mary 2 1990, 1996
Boston University ‡ 1 1993
Colgate 1 2018
Fordham 1 2015
Hofstra ‡ 1 1999
Old Dominion † 1 2012
Towson 1 2013

† Now a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
‡ Discontinued football

Division II[]

Year School Record Playoff Results (Start 1973)
1957 Lehigh 8–1 No Playoffs
1958 Buffalo 8–1 Tangerine Bowl (refused)
1959 Delaware 8–1 No Playoffs
1960 Bucknell 7–2 No Playoffs
1961 Lehigh 7–2 No Playoffs
1962 Delaware 7–2 No Playoffs
1963 Delaware 8–0 National Champions
1964 Bucknell 7–2 No Playoffs
1965 Maine 8–2 Tangerine Bowl (L)
1966 Gettysburg 7–2 Tangerine Bowl (refused)
1967 West Chester
1968 Delaware 8–3 Boardwalk Bowl
1969 Delaware 9–2 Boardwalk Bowl
Wesleyan
1970 Delaware 9–2 Boardwalk Bowl
1971 Delaware 10–1 National Champions
1972 Delaware 10–0 National Champions
1973 Delaware 8–4 Quarterfinals
Lehigh 7–4–1 Quarterfinals
1974 Delaware 12–2 Championship Game
1975 Lehigh 9–3 Quarterfinals
1976 Delaware 8–3–1 Quarterfinals
1977 Lehigh 12–2 National Champions
1978 Massachusetts 9–4 I-AA Championship Game
1979 Delaware 13–1 National Champions
1980 Lehigh 9–1–2 I-AA Semifinals
1981 Shippensburg 12–1 Div II Semifinals
1982 East Stroudsburg
1983 Towson State 10–2 Quarterfinals
1984 Towson State 9–4 Semifinals
1985 Bloomsburg 12–1 Semifinals
1986 Towson State 8–3–1 Quarterfinals

Year School Record Playoff Results
1987 Indiana (Pa.) 10–2 Quarterfinals
1988 Millersville
1989 Indiana (Pa.) 11–2 Semifinals
1990 Indiana (Pa.) 12–2 Championship Game
1991 Indiana (Pa.) 12–1 Semifinals
1992 New Haven 12–1 Semifinals
1993 Indiana (Pa.) 13–1 Championship Game
1994 Indiana (Pa.) 10–3 Semifinals
1995 New Haven 10–1–1 Quarterfinals
1996 Clarion
1997 New Haven 12–2 Championship Game
1998 Slippery Rock
1999 Indiana (Pa.) 9–4 Semifinals
2000 Bloomsburg 12–3 Championship Game
2001 Indiana (Pa.) 8–2 First Round
2002 Indiana (Pa.) 11–2 Quarterfinals
2003 Indiana (Pa.) 10–1 No Playoffs
2004 West Chester
2005 East Stroudsburg
2006 West Chester
2007 California (Pa.)
2008 West Chester
2009 California (Pa.)[1]
2010 Mercyhurst 10–3 Quarterfinals
2011 New Haven 11–2 Quarterfinals
2012 Indiana (Pa.) 12–2 Quarterfinals
2013 West Chester 13–2 Semifinals
2014 Bloomsburg 11–2 Quarterfinals
2015 Shepherd 13–1 Championship Game
2016 Shepherd 13–1 Semifinals
2017 Indiana (Pa.) 13–1 Semifinals
2018 LIU Post[2] 10–1 1st Round

Most D-II Lambert Cups[]

School Total Years won
Indiana (PA) 12 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2012, 2017
Delaware † 11 1959, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1969(½), 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973(½), 1974, 1976, 1979
Lehigh † 1957, 1961, 1973 (½), 1975, 1977, 1980
West Chester 5 1967, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2013
New Haven 4 1992, 1995, 1997, 2011
Bloomsburg 3 1985, 2000, 2014
Towson State † 3 1983, 1984, 1986
Bucknell † 2 1960, 1964
California (PA) 2 2007, 2009
East Stroudsburg 2 1982, 2005
Shepherd 2 2015, 2016
Buffalo ‡ 1 1958
Clarion 1 1996
Gettysburg ^ 1 1966
LIU Post 1 2018
Maine † 1 1965
Massachusetts ‡ 1 1978
Mercyhurst 1 2010
Millersville 1 1988
Shippensburg 1 1981
Slippery Rock 1 1998
Wesleyan ^ ½ 1969 (½)

‡ Now a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
† Now a member of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
^ Now a member of Division III.

Division III[]

Year School
1966 Wilkes
1967 Wagner
1968 Wilkes
1969 Merchant Marine
1970 Edinboro
1971 Alfred
1972 Franklin & Marshall
1973 C.W. Post
1974 Ithaca
1975 Ithaca
1976 C.W. Post
1977 Westminster
1978 Ithaca
1979 Carnegie Mellon
1980 Ithaca
1981 Widener
1982 Plymouth State

Year School
1983 Hofstra
1984 Union
Ithaca
1985 Ithaca
1986 Salisbury State
1987 Wagner
1988 Ithaca
1989 Union
1990 Allegheny
1991 Ithaca
1992 Washington & Jefferson
1993 Rowan
1994 Washington & Jefferson
1995 Rowan
1996 Rowan
1997 Lycoming
1998 Rowan

Year School
1999 Rowan
2000 Widener
2001 Rowan
2002 Brockport
2003 Rensselaer
2004 Rowan
2005 Rowan
2006 St. John Fisher
2007 Wesley
2008 Cortland State
2009 Wesley[1]
2010 Wesley
2011 Wesley
2012 Hobart
2013 St. John Fisher
2014 Wesley
2015 Wesley

Year School
2016 Alfred
2017 Brockport
2018 Johns Hopkins[2]

Most D-III Lambert Cups[]

School Total Years won
Rowan 8 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005
Ithaca 1974, 1975, 1978, 1980, 1984 (½), 1985, 1988, 1991
Wesley 6 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015
Alfred 2 1971, 2016
Brockport 2 2002, 2017
C.W. Post ‡ 2 1973, 1976
St. John Fisher 2 2006, 2013
Wagner † 2 1967, 1987
Washington & Jefferson 2 1992, 1994
Widener 2 1981, 2000
Wilkes 2 1966, 1968
Union 1984 (½), 1989
Allegheny 1 1990
Carnegie Mellon 1 1979
Cortland State 1 2008
Edinboro ‡ 1 1970
Franklin & Marshall 1 1972
Hobart 1 2012
Hofstra ^ 1 1983
Johns Hopkins 1 2018
Lycoming 1 1997
Merchant Marine 1 1969
Plymouth State 1 1982
Rensselaer 1 2003
Salisbury State 1 1986
Westminster 1 1977

† Now a member of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
‡ Now a member of Division II.
^ Discontinued football

References[]

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