1948 Richmond Spiders football team

The 1948 Richmond Spiders football team was an American football team that represented the University of Richmond as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1948 college football season. In their first season under head coach Karl Esleeck, Richmond compiled a 5–3–2 record, with a mark of 3–1–1 in conference play, finishing in eighth place in the SoCon.^[1]

1948 Richmond Spiders football
Conference	Southern Conference
Record	5–3–2 (3–1–1 SoCon)
Head coach	Karl Esleeck (1st season)
Captain	Edward Ralston, Harry Bode
Home stadium	City Stadium
Seasons ← 1947 1949 →

1948 Southern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 11 Clemson $	5	–	0	–	0			11	–	0	–	0
No. 3 North Carolina	4	–	0	–	1			9	–	1	–	1
VMI	5	–	1	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
No. 17 William & Mary	5	–	1	–	1			7	–	2	–	2
No. 20 Wake Forest	5	–	2	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Maryland	4	–	2	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Duke	3	–	2	–	1			4	–	3	–	2
Richmond	3	–	3	–	1			5	–	3	–	2
Washington and Lee	2	–	2	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Furman	2	–	4	–	0			2	–	6	–	1
George Washington	2	–	4	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Davidson	2	–	5	–	0			3	–	5	–	1
South Carolina	1	–	3	–	0			3	–	5	–	0
NC State	1	–	4	–	1			3	–	6	–	1
VPI	0	–	6	–	1			0	–	8	–	1
The Citadel	0	–	5	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

Richmond was ranked at No. 117 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System ratings for 1948.^[2]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 18	Randolph–Macon*	City Stadium Richmond, VA	W 35–0	8,000	[3]
September 25	Maryland	City Stadium Richmond, VA	L 0–19	12,000	[4]
October 9	at Furman	Sirrine Stadium Greenville, SC	W 7–0	8,000	[5]
October 16	VMI	City Stadium Richmond, VA (rivalry)	L 0–9	11,000	[6]
October 23	Hampden–Sydney*	City Stadium Richmond, VA	W 28–7	6,000	[7]
October 30	at William & Mary	Cary Field Williamsburg, VA (rivalry)	L 6–14	10,000	[8]
November 6	at Davidson	Richardson Stadium Davidson, NC	W 6–0	7,500	[9]
November 13	VPI	City Stadium Richmond, VA	T 7–7	12,000	[10]
November 25	Washington and Lee	City Stadium Richmond, VA	W 14–12		[11]
December 3	at Rollins*	Tangerine Bowl Orlando, FL	T 27–27		[12]
*Non-conference game

References

1. "1948 Richmond Spiders Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
2. "Michigan, Irish Finish 1-2 in Litkenhous Ratings". Wilmington Morning News. December 15, 1948. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Spiders roll over Jackets, 33 to 0". Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 19, 1948. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Hard-hitting Maryland drubs Richmond, 19–0". Evening Star. September 26, 1948. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Richmond turns back Furman, 7–0, on pass in 4th period". Norfolk Virginian-Pilot. October 9, 1948. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "VMI downs Richmond by 9 to 0". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 17, 1948. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Spiders break Tigers' record with 28–7 win". Daily Press. October 24, 1948. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Indians beat Spiders, 14–6". Durham Morning Herald. October 31, 1948. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Richmond tops Davidson". Norfolk Virginian-Pilot. November 7, 1948. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Richmond, Tech tie, 7–7". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 14, 1948. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "W. & L. beaten by Richmond". The Baltimore Sun. November 26, 1948. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Rollins gains 27–27 tie on last play". The Miami News. December 4, 1948. Retrieved November 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.