Tribe Star Corley Signs With CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Corley holds 16 school-records

04/08/03

WILLIAMSBURG, VA - William and Mary football standout Dave Corley, Jr. (Columbia, SC) signed a contract with the Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats, it was announced today. The Tribe’s all-time leader in numerous passing categories, Corley was a four-year starter at quarterback from 1999-2002.

Corley holds the Tribe’s all-time record for passing yards (9,805), touchdown passes (72) and total offense (10,948) among his 16 school-record marks. He also set the Atlantic 10 conference record for total offense. A very durable player, the 5-foot-10 signal-caller started 42 consecutive games at QB, another school-record.

The strong-armed Corley led the Tribe to a conference title and a NCAA Division I-AA playoff berth in 2001, and led the squad to a winning ledger in three of his four seasons under center.

“Corley’s got a great attitude, which is a great attribute for a young guy” Hamilton head coach Ron Lancaster said in a release issued by the team. “He’s proven, at the college level, that he can run and throw. Now he’ll be able to display his talents at the professional level.”

On the Tiger-Cats, Corley will compete with a pair of returning players for a chance to play. Hamilton’s incumbent starter is Danny McManus, a 12-year veteran from Florida State. McManus threw for 4,465 yards and 19 touchdowns last year. In addition, the Tiger-Cats also have quarterback Pete Gonzalez. A University of Pittsburgh product, Gonzalez spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills before joining the Tiger-Cats last season.

Corley will try to duplicate the success of another Tribe player. Former W&M star Michael Clemons was an all-purpose star for the Toronto Argonauts and is now the coach of the franchise.

Corley’s final season with the Tribe saw him complete 200 of 329 passes for 2,672 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was a finalist for the 2002 Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top player in Division I-AA.

William and Mary is currently running in its first spring practice without Corley in nearly five years, and it will conclude this Saturday with the annual Spring Game, which will be held at Zable Stadium at 1 p.m.