UMass Minutemen football | |||
---|---|---|---|
Current season: 2024 Massachusetts Minutemen | |||
| |||
First season | 1879 | ||
Athletic director | Ryan Bamford | ||
Head coach | Don Brown | ||
2nd year, 4–20 (.167) | |||
Home stadium | McGuirk Alumni Stadium | ||
Stadium capacity | 17,000 | ||
Stadium surface | FieldTurf | ||
Location | Hadley, Massachusetts | ||
Conference | [[ConferenceDisplay|Independent
MAC in 2025]] | ||
All-time history | |||
All-time record | 577–624–50 (.481) | ||
Postseason bowl record | 0–0 (.000) | ||
Claimed national titles | 1 (Div. I FCS): 1998 | ||
Conference titles | 21 | ||
Rivalries | Boston College (rivalry) UConn (rivalry) | ||
Heisman winners | 0 | ||
Consensus All-Americans | 1 | ||
Current uniform | |||
Colors | Maroon and White
| ||
Fight song | Fight Mass | ||
Mascot | Sam the Minuteman | ||
Marching band | The Power and Class of New England | ||
Outfitter | Adidas | ||
Website | UMassAthletics.com |
The Massachusetts Minutemen football team, also known as the UMass Minutemen, represents the University of Massachusetts at Amherst located in Amherst, Massachusetts.
The Minutemen are currently part of the NCAA FBS Independents. Previously UMass was a member of the NCAA FBS Mid-American Conference from 2012 to 2015. Prior to that, the Minutemen were a member of the NCAA FCS Colonial Athletic Association. UMass will rejoin the Mid-American Conference in 2025.
The Minutemen play their home games at McGuirk Alumni Stadium (capacity 17,000) in Hadley, Massachusetts. The Minutemen also play some home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts - which also serves as the home field for the New England Patriots of the NFL. UMass is currently coached by Walt Bell.
UMass began play in 1879[1] and have since appeared in three FCS National Championship games, winning the title in 1998. The Minutemen began a two-year Football Bowl Subdivision transition period in 2011, becoming bowl eligible in 2013. In March 2014, the Mid-American Conference and UMass announced an agreement for the Minutemen to leave the conference after the 2015 season due to UMass declining an offer to become a full member of the conference.
The Minutemen have subsequently played as an independent through the 2019 season. Template:Asof, the program's 12-game schedules through the 2022 season are fixed, 10 of 12 games are fixed for both 2023 and 2024, and at least three games per season are fixed out to 2028.[2]
Affiliations[]
- 2016-present - NCAA FBS independent
- 2012-2015 - Mid-American Conference (NCAA FBS)
- 2007-2011 - Colonial Athletic Association (NCAA FCS)
- 1997-2006 - Atlantic 10 Conference (NCAA FCS/1-AA)
Seasons[]
2020s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
2024 | Don Brown | |
2023 | Don Brown | 3-9 |
2022 | Don Brown | 1-11 |
2021 | Walt Bell; Alex Miller | 1-11 |
2020 | Walt Bell | 0-4 |
2010s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
2019 | Walt Bell | 1-11 |
2018 | Mark Whipple | 4-8 |
2017 | Mark Whipple | 4-8 |
2016 | Mark Whipple | 2-10 |
2015 | Mark Whipple | 3-9 |
2014 | Mark Whipple | 3-9 |
2013 | Charley Molnar | 1-11 |
2012 | Charley Molnar | 1-11 |
2011 | Kevin Morris | 5-6 |
2010 | Kevin Morris | 6-5 |
2000s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
2009 | Kevin Morris | 5-6 |
2008 | Don Brown | 7-5 |
2007 | Don Brown | 10-3 |
2006 | Don Brown | 13-2 |
2005 | Don Brown | 7-4 |
2004 | Don Brown | 6-5 |
2003 | Mark Whipple | 10-3 |
2002 | Mark Whipple | 8-4 |
2001 | Mark Whipple | 3-8 |
2000 | Mark Whipple | 7-4 |
1990s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1999 | Mark Whipple | 9-4 |
1998 | Mark Whipple | 12-3 |
1997 | Mike Hodges | 2-9 |
1996 | Mike Hodges | 6-5 |
1995 | Mike Hodges | 6-5 |
1994 | Mike Hodges | 5-6 |
1993 | Mike Hodges | 9-2 |
1992 | Mike Hodges | 7-3 |
1991 | Jim Reid | 7-3 |
1990 | Jim Reid | 8-2-1 |
1980s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1989 | Jim Reid | 5-5-1 |
1988 | Jim Reid | 8-4 |
1987 | Jim Reid | 3-8 |
1986 | Jim Reid | 8-3 |
1985 | Bob Stull | 7-4 |
1984 | Bob Stull | 3-8 |
1983 | Bob Pickett | 3-8 |
1982 | Bob Pickett | 5-6 |
1981 | Bob Pickett | 6-3 |
1980 | Bob Pickett | 7-3 |
1970s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1979 | Bob Pickett | 6-4 |
1978 | Bob Pickett | 9-4 |
1977 | Dick MacPherson | 8-3 |
1976 | Dick MacPherson | 5-5 |
1975 | Dick MacPherson | 8-2 |
1974 | Dick MacPherson | 5-6 |
1973 | Dick MacPherson | 6-5 |
1972 | Dick MacPherson | 9-2 |
1971 | Dick MacPherson | 4-4-1 |
1970 | Vic Fusia | 4-5-1 |
History[]
Early history (1879–1977)[]
UMass began playing football on November 22, 1879, when the school was known as Massachusetts Agricultural College, and the team was known as the "Aggies." They were first organized the previous fall by Francis Codman, but did not play their first game until November 22, 1879, defeating the Amherst College freshman team 4–0. As this was their only game that year, 1879 is noted as their first undefeated season, matched only by the 1889 season (2–0) and the 1963 season (8–0–1). Massachusetts later teamed up with Storrs Agricultural College (now the University of Connecticut) and Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now the University of Rhode Island) to form the Athletic League of New England State Colleges for the purpose of scheduling football matchups between the schools. The first meeting between the Aggies and each of the other schools resulted in a shutout win for Massachusetts, as they defeated Connecticut, 36–0, in 1897 and Rhode Island, 46–0, in 1903. Massachusetts won their 100th game on October 2, 1920, topping rival Connecticut in a 28–0 shutout. The team played their 1000th game on November 11, 2000, losing to conference foe Delaware, 19–31. The team's nickname has endured several changes throughout the years. Though the official nickname remained "Aggies", "Statesmen" was also used interchangeably beginning when the school was renamed to Massachusetts State College in 1931. The nickname was officially changed to the "Redmen" when the name of the college became the University of Massachusetts in 1947.
Pittsburgh assistant coach Vic Fusia took over the Redmen football program in 1961 and under his tutelage, UMass compiled a record of 59–32–2.[3][4] The Fusia era included an undefeated 8–0–1 campaign in 1963 as well as records of 8–2, 7–2, 6–3 and 7–2 in the following years. However, two losing records in three seasons led to Fusia's dismissal after the 1970 season.[5] Denver Broncos linebackers and defensive backs coach Dick MacPherson, a former UMass assistant from 1959–1960, took over after Fusia's firing.[6] Under MacPherson, the Redmen compiled a record of 45–27–1.[7] In response to changing attitudes regarding the use of Native American-themed mascots, they changed their mascot in 1972 to the Minuteman, based on the historical "minuteman" relationship with Massachusetts; women's teams and athletes are known as Minutewomen.[8]
Mark Whipple era (1998–2003)[]
In his first stint as coach of UMass from 1998 to 2003,[9] Mark Whipple won the NCAA Division I-AA national title.[9] His UMass teams rewrote the record books, setting more than 40 team records.[10] The 1998 national championship team posted school records in points scored (524), touchdowns (73), total yards (7,074), passing yards (4,050), completions (306), and first downs (354).[10]
Whipple left college football for a position as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL in 2004.[11]
Don Brown era (2004–2008)[]
In 2004, Northeastern head coach Don Brown returned to UMass, where he'd served as defensive coordinator from 1998–1999 to take over as head coach.[12] During his tenure as head coach from 2004 to 2008, UMass posted the best five-year record in school history, 43–19. In his first year, he led the Minutemen to a 6–5 record, including victories over fourth-ranked Colgate, seventh-ranked New Hampshire, and ninth-ranked Maine. During 2005, Brown helped UMass to a 7–2 start and a final ranking of No. 19. That year, the Minutemen defeated fourth-ranked James Madison and handed Delaware their worst home loss in two decades, 35–7.[13]
Logos/Uniforms[]
- Image gallery
</gallery>
Postseason appearances[]
Division II playoffs[]
Season | Date | Round | Opponent | Result | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | November 26 | Quarterfinal | Lehigh | L 23–30 | Amherst, Massachusetts |
Division I-AA playoffs[]
Season | Date | Round | Opponent | Result | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | December 9 | Semifinal | Nevada | W 44–21 | Reno, Nevada |
December 16 | Championship | Florida A&M | L 28–35 | Wichita Falls, Texas | |
1988 | November 26 | First Round | Eastern Kentucky | L 17–28 | Richmond, Kentucky |
1990 | November 24 | First Round | William & Mary | L 0–38 | Williamsburg, Virginia |
1998 | November 28 | First Round | McNeese State | W 21–19 | Lake Charles, Louisiana |
December 5 | Quarterfinal | Lehigh | W 27–21 | Amherst, Massachusetts | |
December 12 | Semifinal | Northwestern State | W 41–31 | Natchitoches, Louisiana | |
December 19 | Championship | Georgia Southern | W 55–43 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | |
1999 | November 27 | First Round | Furman | W 30–23 OT | Greenville, South Carolina |
December 4 | Quarterfinal | Georgia Southern | L 21–38 | Statesboro, Georgia | |
2003 | November 29 | First Round | Colgate | L 7–19 | Hamilton, New York |
2006 | November 25 | First Round | Lafayette | W 35–14 | Amherst, Massachusetts |
December 2 | Quarterfinal | New Hampshire | W 24–17 | Amherst, Massachusetts | |
December 12 | Semifinal | Montana | W 19–17 | Missoula, Montana | |
December 15 | Championship | Appalachian State | L 17–28 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | |
2007 | November 24 | First Round | Fordham | W 49–35 | Amherst, Massachusetts |
December 1 | Quarterfinal | Southern Illinois | L 27–34 | Carbondale, Illinois |
Head coaches[]
Years | Coach | Games | W | L | T | Pct. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1879–1897 | No coach | 94 | 30 | 58 | 6 | .351 |
1898 | David F. Weeks | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | .250 |
1899–1900 | Fred W. Murphy | 20 | 12 | 8 | 0 | .600 |
1901–1903 | James Halligan | 26 | 16 | 8 | 2 | .653 |
1904, 1907–1908 | Matthew Bullock | 26 | 13 | 8 | 5 | .596 |
1905 | Walter Craig | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 |
1906 | George E. O'Hearn | 9 | 1 | 7 | 1 | .167 |
1909 | J. W. Gage | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | .222 |
1910 | Willard Gildersleeve | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | .222 |
1911 | Jack Hubbard | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 |
1912–1915 | Arthur Brides | 31 | 12 | 15 | 4 | .452 |
1916 | George Melican | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | .375 |
1919–1927 | Harold Gore | 70 | 33 | 32 | 5 | .507 |
1928–1930 | Charles McGeoch | 25 | 6 | 17 | 2 | .280 |
1931–1935 | Mel Taube | 44 | 29 | 13 | 2 | .682 |
1936–1940 | Elbert Carraway | 44 | 9 | 32 | 3 | .239 |
1941–1942, 1946 | Walter Hargesheimer | 23 | 11 | 11 | 1 | .500 |
1945, 1947–1951 | Thomas Eck | 44 | 17 | 23 | 4 | .432 |
1952–1959 | Charlie O'Rourke | 64 | 21 | 39 | 4 | .359 |
1960 | Chuck Studley | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 |
1961–1970 | Vic Fusia | 93 | 59 | 32 | 2 | .645 |
1971–1977 | Dick MacPherson | 73 | 45 | 27 | 1 | .623 |
1978–1983 | Bob Pickett | 64 | 36 | 28 | 0 | .563 |
1984–1985 | Bob Stull | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | .455 |
1986–1991 | Jim Reid | 67 | 36 | 29 | 2 | .552 |
1992–1997 | Mike Hodges | 65 | 35 | 30 | 0 | .538 |
1998–2003 | Mark Whipple | 75 | 49 | 26 | 0 | .629 |
2004–2008 | Don Brown | 62 | 43 | 19 | 0 | .693 |
2009–2011 | Kevin Morris | 33 | 16 | 17 | 0 | .485 |
2012–2013 | Charley Molnar | 24 | 2 | 22 | 0 | .083 |
2014–2018 | Mark Whipple | 60 | 16 | 44 | 0 | .280 |
2019–present | Walt Bell | 16 | 1 | 15 | 0 | .063 |
References[]
- ↑ UMass Football History. University of Massachusetts Amherst.
- ↑ Future UMass Football Schedules.
- ↑ University of Massachusetts Amherst - Steven R. Sullivan - Google Books,University of Massachusetts Amherst - Steven R. Sullivan - Google Books (2004). ISBN 9780738535302.
- ↑ UMass Athletics. UMass Athletics.
- ↑ Credo | SCUA UMASS: subject:'Fusia, Vic'. Credo.library.umass.edu.
- ↑ Syracuse University Athletics - Dick MacPherson, 1981-1990. Cuse.com (February 21, 2008).
- ↑ Joshua Valley (November 30, 2009). 15 Minutes with Syracuse Coach Dick MacPherson. Bleacher Report.
- ↑ Controversy has surrounded Minuteman before (May 18, 2003).
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 [1][dead link]
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 UMass Football wins 1998 Division I-AA National Championship. Umasshoops.com.
- ↑ Mark Whipple introduced as Massachusetts' coach. NFL.com (January 14, 2014).
- ↑ 2016 Football Roster &No. 124; University of Michigan Official Athletic Site. Mgoblue.com.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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