1977 VMI Keydets football team

The 1977 VMI Keydets football team was an American football team that represented the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. In their seventh year under head coach Bob Thalman, the team compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, and tied for the SoCon championship.^[1][2]

1977 VMI Keydets football
SoCon co-champion
Conference	Southern Conference
Record	7–4 (4–1 SoCon)
Head coach	Bob Thalman (7th season)
Home stadium	Alumni Memorial Field
Seasons ← 1976 1978 →

1977 Southern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Chattanooga +	4	–	1	–	0			9	–	1	–	1
VMI +	4	–	1	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
The Citadel	3	–	2	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Furman	3	–	2	–	1			4	–	5	–	2
Western Carolina	2	–	2	–	1			6	–	4	–	1
Appalachian State	1	–	4	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Marshall	0	–	5	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 10	William & Mary*	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	W 23–13	8,100	[3]
September 17	at Army*	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	L 14–27	26,664	[4]
September 24	at East Carolina*	Ficklen Stadium Greenville, NC	L 13–14	23,581	[5]
October 8	Richmond*	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	W 25–0	6,800	[6]
October 15	The Citadel	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	W 19–3	8,700	[7]
October 22	at Lehigh*	Taylor Stadium Bethlehem, PA	L 20–30	13,000	[8]
October 29	Davidson	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	W 21–0	4,700	[9]
November 5	at Virginia*	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	W 30–6	21,000	[10]
November 12	at Furman	Sirrine Stadium Greenville, SC	W 31–28	10,000	[11]
November 19	Rhode Island*	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	W 20–7	5,200	[12]
November 26	at Virginia Tech*	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	L 7–27	10,000	[13]
*Non-conference game

References

1. "1977 VMI Keydets football schedule". VMI Athletics. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
2. "1977 Virginia Military Institute Keydets Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
3. "Jones booms 5 field goals, VMI surprises W&M 23–13". Daily Press. September 11, 1977. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Hall directs Army attack past stubborn VMI". The El Paso Times. September 18, 1977. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Pirates nip VMI, 14–13". The Daily Times-News. September 25, 1977. Retrieved March 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "VMI 25, Richmond 0". The Tampa Times. October 9, 1977. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "McNeal's return lifts VMI". The State. October 16, 1977. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Larimer, Terry (October 23, 1977). "Lehigh turns tables on VMI". Sunday Call-Chronicle. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "VMI, Gibson thrash Cats". The Charlotte Observer. October 30, 1977. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "VMI trounces Virginia for 'Big Five' crown". The Herald-Sun. November 6, 1977. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "VMI outlasts Furman". The Danville Register. November 13, 1977. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "VMI rips URI, 20–7". The Boston Globe. November 20, 1977. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Virginia Tech clobbers VMI behind Fitzgerald". Hattiesburg American. November 27, 1977. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.