UMass Minutemen football
Encyclopedia
The UMass Minutemen football team is a collegiate football team that has finished its last season in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision and the Colonial Athletic Association
in 2011. UMass began play in 1879 and have since appeared in three National Championship games, winning the title in 1998. The Minutemen began a two-year Football Bowl Subdivision transition period in 2011. UMass is scheduled to play in the Mid-American Conference
beginning in the 2012 season, becoming bowl eligible in 2013.
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. In a 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.
UMass has enjoyed various levels of success over the years. As a founding member of the Yankee Conference
, Massachusetts won 17 Yankee Conference Championships, appearing in one National Championship game during that timespan. They fell to Florida A&M
in this inaugural Division 1-AA Championship, 35–28. UMass' success continued as they began competition in the Atlantic 10 Conference in 1997. They went on to win four more conference titles while playing in the A-10 and make two more appearances in the National Championship game, winning it all in 1998. In 2006 the Minutemen took home the last A-10 title (the conference discontinued football after the season) and made their most recent Championship game appearance. Their most recent conference championship came in 2007, the inaugural season of the CAA.
, where the Minutemen will play their home games beginning in 2012. UMass will play a full FBS and MAC schedule beginning with the 2012 football season and by 2013 be eligible for the MAC championship and bowl participation. In 2011, UMass completed their last season in the Colonial Athletic Association, and were not eligible for NCAA postseason play.
UMass is now in the middle of two years as a transitional member of FBS. The NCAA would make a formal announcement of UMass' admission to FBS in the Summer of 2013 after the program successfully meets the specified measures over its two transitioning years. The primary criteria center around average attendance, an increase in scholarships from 63 to 85 and specific scheduling requirements. Along with joining the Mid-American Conference the men's and women's basketball teams will play four non conference games against MAC teams.
† The 1978 Pioneer Bowl was also used as the inaugural Division 1-AA National Championship.
Conference affiliations:
UMass will begin play in the Mid-American Conference
in 2012
. The inaugural game took place on September 25, 1965 when UMass defeated the AIC Yellow Jackets, 41–0. Since the opening, UMass has enjoyed a decided home field advantage, posting a 182–79–2 record when playing at McGuirk. The attendance record at McGuirk was set during a UMass football game against Boston College
on November 25, 1972; 20,000 fans were in attendance. In 2012, UMass will play all their home games at Gillette Stadium.
on October 23, 2010. This game was renewed for the 2011 season as UMass played New Hampshire there again. Beginning in 2012 Gillette Stadium will become the home of the UMass Minutemen football team continuing through at least 2013. After that, UMass will play a minimum of four home games at Gillette Stadium through the 2016 season. Following that five-year agreement, there will be an option for additional home games to be played at Gillette.
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
in 2011. UMass began play in 1879 and have since appeared in three National Championship games, winning the title in 1998. The Minutemen began a two-year Football Bowl Subdivision transition period in 2011. UMass is scheduled to play in the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
beginning in the 2012 season, becoming bowl eligible in 2013.
Early years
UMass began playing football in 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 CollegeAmherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
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
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
) and Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
) 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
UConn–UMass football rivalry
The UConn-UMass football rivalry was an annual college football rivalry game played between two New England universities: the University of Connecticut and the University of Massachusetts. The rivalry has been dormant since UConn transitioned to FBS following the 1999 season...
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. In a 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.
UMass has enjoyed various levels of success over the years. As a founding member of the Yankee Conference
Yankee Conference
The Yankee Conference was a collegiate sports conference in the eastern United States. It once sponsored competition in many sports, but eventually became a football-only league...
, Massachusetts won 17 Yankee Conference Championships, appearing in one National Championship game during that timespan. They fell to Florida A&M
Florida A&M Rattlers football
The Florida A&M Rattlers are the college football team representing the Florida A&M University. The Rattlers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.-National championships:*1938*1942*1950...
in this inaugural Division 1-AA Championship, 35–28. UMass' success continued as they began competition in the Atlantic 10 Conference in 1997. They went on to win four more conference titles while playing in the A-10 and make two more appearances in the National Championship game, winning it all in 1998. In 2006 the Minutemen took home the last A-10 title (the conference discontinued football after the season) and made their most recent Championship game appearance. Their most recent conference championship came in 2007, the inaugural season of the CAA.
Transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision
On April 20, 2011, after decades of studies and speculation, the UMass Minutemen formally announced they will be elevating their football program to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and will become a member of the Mid-American Conference. The announcement was made at Gillette StadiumGillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston and from downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution...
, where the Minutemen will play their home games beginning in 2012. UMass will play a full FBS and MAC schedule beginning with the 2012 football season and by 2013 be eligible for the MAC championship and bowl participation. In 2011, UMass completed their last season in the Colonial Athletic Association, and were not eligible for NCAA postseason play.
UMass is now in the middle of two years as a transitional member of FBS. The NCAA would make a formal announcement of UMass' admission to FBS in the Summer of 2013 after the program successfully meets the specified measures over its two transitioning years. The primary criteria center around average attendance, an increase in scholarships from 63 to 85 and specific scheduling requirements. Along with joining the Mid-American Conference the men's and women's basketball teams will play four non conference games against MAC teams.
Division I-AA playoffs
| Season | Date | Round | Opponent | Result | Location |
| 1978 | December 9 | Semifinal | Nevada Nevada Wolf Pack football The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA... |
W 44–21 | Reno, NV |
| December 16 | Championship | Florida A&M Florida A&M Rattlers football The Florida A&M Rattlers are the college football team representing the Florida A&M University. The Rattlers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.-National championships:*1938*1942*1950... |
L 28–35 | Wichita Falls, TX | |
| 1988 | November 26 | First Round | Eastern Kentucky Eastern Kentucky Colonels football The Eastern Kentucky University Colonels football team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
L 17–28 | Richmond, KY |
| 1990 | November 24 | First Round | William & Mary William & Mary Tribe football The William & Mary Tribe are a college football team representing the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. William & Mary currently competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision. As of 2010, Jimmye Laycock is in his 31st... |
L 0–38 | Williamsburg, VA |
| 1998 | November 28 | First Round | McNeese State | W 21–19 | Lake Charles, LA |
| December 5 | Quarterfinal | Lehigh Lehigh Mountain Hawks football The Lehigh Mountain Hawks football program represents Lehigh University in college football. Lehigh competes as the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Patriot League. The Mountain Hawks play their home games at Goodman Stadium in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania... |
W 27–21 | Amherst, MA | |
| December 12 | Semifinal | Northwestern State | W 41–31 | Natchitoches, LA | |
| December 19 | Championship | Georgia Southern Georgia Southern Eagles football The Georgia Southern Eagles represent Georgia Southern University in football as part of the Southern Conference under head coach Jeff Monken. The Eagles have won an unprecedented six FCS national championships and eight Southern Conference championships and have produced two Walter Payton Award... |
W 55–43 | Chattanooga, TN | |
| 1999 | November 27 | First Round | Furman | W 30–23 (OT) | Greensville, SC |
| December 4 | Quarterfinal | Georgia Southern | L 21–38 | Statesboro, GA | |
| 2003 | November 29 | First Round | Colgate Colgate Raiders football The Colgate Raiders football team represents Colgate University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Patriot League.-History:... |
L 7–19 | Hamilton, NY |
| 2006 | November 25 | First Round | Lafayette Lafayette Leopards football The Lafayette Leopards football program represents Lafayette College in college football. One of the oldest college football programs in the United States, Lafayette currently plays in the Patriot League at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level... |
W 35–14 | Amherst, MA |
| December 2 | Quarterfinal | New Hampshire | W 24–17 | Amherst, MA | |
| December 12 | Semifinal | Montana Montana Grizzlies football The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963... |
W 19–17 | Missoula, MT | |
| December 15 | Championship | Appalachian State Appalachian State Mountaineers football The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the college football team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National... |
L 17–28 | Chattanooga, TN | |
| 2007 | November 24 | First Round | Fordham | W 49–35 | Amherst, MA |
| December 1 | Quarterfinal | Southern Illinois Southern Illinois Salukis football The Southern Illinois Salukis football team represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in football. The Salukis are a member of the NCAA and compete at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level... |
L 27–34 | Carbondale, IL |
Bowl games
| Season | Date | Bowl Game | Opponent | Result | Location |
| 1964 | December 12 | Tangerine Bowl Capital One Bowl The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl... |
East Carolina East Carolina Pirates football The East Carolina Pirates is a college football team that represents East Carolina University . The team is currently a member of the Conference USA, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association .The Pirates have won seven conference championships and... |
L 13–14 | Orlando, FL |
| 1972 | December 9 | Boardwalk Bowl Boardwalk Bowl The Boardwalk Bowl is a post-season college football game held at the former Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The game featured an annual matchup between Pennsylvania Military College and the United States Merchant Marine Academy, known as the "Little Army–Navy Game"... |
UC Davis UC Davis Aggies The UC Davis Aggies compete in NCAA Division I sports in the Big West Conference. For football, the Aggies compete in Division I FCS , and are members of the Great West Conference, granting UC Davis the distinction of being one of only three UC campuses to field a football team... |
W 35–14 | Atlantic City, NJ |
| 1978 | December 16 | Pioneer Bowl† | Florida A&M | L 28–35 | Wichita Falls, TX |
† The 1978 Pioneer Bowl was also used as the inaugural Division 1-AA National Championship.
Conference championships
UMass has won a total of 22 conference championships. Following is a list of the years, affiliations, and records for those Championship seasons.Conference affiliations:
- 1897–1922: Athletic League of New England State Colleges
- 1923–1946: New England ConferenceNew England ConferenceThe New England Conference was a collegiate sports conference in the eastern United States, more specifically in New England, that operated from 1938 to 1947...
- 1947–1996: Yankee ConferenceYankee ConferenceThe Yankee Conference was a collegiate sports conference in the eastern United States. It once sponsored competition in many sports, but eventually became a football-only league...
- 1997–2006: Atlantic 10 Conference
- 2007–2011: Colonial Athletic AssociationColonial Athletic AssociationThe Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
UMass will begin play in the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
in 2012
| Year | Conference | Overall Record | Conf. Record |
| 1960 | Yankee Conference | 7–2 | 3–1 |
| 1963 | Yankee Conference | 8–0–1 | 5–0 |
| 1964 | Yankee Conference | 8–2 | 5–0 |
| 1966 | Yankee Conference | 6–3 | 5–0 |
| 1967 | Yankee Conference | 7–2 | 5–0 |
| 1969 | Yankee Conference | 6–3 | 5–0 |
| 1971 | Yankee Conference | 4–4–1 | 3–1–1 |
| 1972 | Yankee Conference | 9–2 | 5–0 |
| 1974 | Yankee Conference | 5–6 | 4–2 |
| 1977 | Yankee Conference | 8–3 | 5–0 |
| 1978 | Yankee Conference | 9–4 | 5–0 |
| 1979 | Yankee Conference | 6–4 | 4–1 |
| 1981 | Yankee Conference | 6–3 | 4–1 |
| 1982 | Yankee Conference | 5–6 | 3–2 |
| 1986 | Yankee Conference | 8–3 | 5–2 |
| 1988 | Yankee Conference | 8–4 | 6–2 |
| 1990 | Yankee Conference | 8–2–1 | 7–1 |
| 1998 | Atlantic 10 Conference | 12–3 | 6–2 |
| 1999 | Atlantic 10 Conference | 9–4 | 7–1 |
| 2003 | Atlantic 10 Conference | 10–3 | 8–1 |
| 2006 | Atlantic 10 Conference | 13–2 | 8–0 |
| 2007 | Colonial Athletic Association | 10–3 | 7–1 |
McGuirk Alumni Stadium
The Minutemen played their last home football games at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, a 17,000 seat stadium on the UMass Amherst campus in 2011. The stadium itself sits just over the town line in neighboring Hadley, MassachusettsHadley, Massachusetts
Hadley is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The population was 4,793 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The area around Hampshire Mall and Mountain Farms Mall along Route 9 is a major shopping destination for the surrounding...
. The inaugural game took place on September 25, 1965 when UMass defeated the AIC Yellow Jackets, 41–0. Since the opening, UMass has enjoyed a decided home field advantage, posting a 182–79–2 record when playing at McGuirk. The attendance record at McGuirk was set during a UMass football game against Boston College
Boston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
on November 25, 1972; 20,000 fans were in attendance. In 2012, UMass will play all their home games at Gillette Stadium.
Gillette Stadium
UMass first played at Gillette Stadium in the "Colonial Clash" against the University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
on October 23, 2010. This game was renewed for the 2011 season as UMass played New Hampshire there again. Beginning in 2012 Gillette Stadium will become the home of the UMass Minutemen football team continuing through at least 2013. After that, UMass will play a minimum of four home games at Gillette Stadium through the 2016 season. Following that five-year agreement, there will be an option for additional home games to be played at Gillette.
Coaching history
| Years | Coach | Games | W | L | T | Pct. |
| 1879–1897 | No coach | 94 | 30 | 58 | 6 | .351 |
| 1898 | Doctor Weeks | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | .250 |
| 1899–1900 | Fred Murphy Brown | 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 Willard Gildersleeve -References:... |
9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | .222 |
| 1911 | Jack Hubbard Jack Hubbard John H. "Jack" Hubbard was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966.-External links:*... |
9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 |
| 1912–1915 | Arthur Brides Arthur Brides -External links:... |
21 | 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 Charles McGeoch -External links:... |
25 | 6 | 17 | 2 | .280 |
| 1931–1935 | Mel Taube Mel Taube -External links:* at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com... |
44 | 29 | 13 | 2 | .682 |
| 1936–1940 | Elbert Carraway Elbert Carraway -External links:... |
44 | 9 | 32 | 3 | .239 |
| 1941–1942, 1946 | Walter Hargesheimer Walter Hargesheimer -External links:* at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com*... |
23 | 11 | 11 | 1 | .500 |
| 1945, 1947–1951 | Thomas Eck Thomas Eck -External links:... |
44 | 17 | 23 | 4 | .432 |
| 1952–1959 | Charlie O'Rourke Charlie O'Rourke Charles C. O'Rourke also known as Chuckin' Charlie is a former quarterback and defensive back for the Boston College Eagles, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Dons, and Baltimore Colts. He quarterbacked the BC football team to one of its most famous wins... |
64 | 21 | 39 | 4 | .359 |
| 1960 | Chuck Studley Chuck Studley Charles B. "Chuck" Studley is a former American football coach. He served as interim head coach of the Houston Oilers in 1983. Studley would finish with a 2-8 record in his only job as an NFL head coach.... |
9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 |
| 1961–1970 | Vic Fusia Vic Fusia -External links:... |
93 | 59 | 32 | 2 | .645 |
| 1971–1977 | Dick MacPherson Dick MacPherson Richard F. MacPherson is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1971 to 1977 and at Syracuse University from 1981 to 1990, compiling a career college football record of 111–73–5... |
73 | 45 | 27 | 1 | .623 |
| 1978–1983 | Bob Pickett Bob Pickett (American football) -External links:*... |
64 | 36 | 28 | 0 | .563 |
| 1984–1985 | Bob Stull Bob Stull -External links:*... |
22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | .455 |
| 1986–1991 | Jim Reid | 67 | 36 | 29 | 2 | .552 |
| 1992–1997 | Mike Hodges Mike Hodges (American football) -External links:*... |
65 | 35 | 30 | 0 | .538 |
| 1998–2003 | Mark Whipple Mark Whipple Mark Whipple is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League . Whipple served as the head football coach at University of New Haven , Brown University , and the University of Massachusetts Amherst... |
75 | 49 | 26 | 0 | .629 |
| 2004–2008 | Don Brown Don Brown (American football coach) Don Brown is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently the defensive coordinator at the University of Connecticut, a position he has held since February 2011... |
62 | 43 | 19 | 0 | .693 |
| 2009–2011 | Kevin Morris Kevin Morris (American football) -External links:*... |
22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | .500 |
| 1879–present | Totals | 1122 | 551 | 520 | 51 | .514 |
Current NFL players
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, linebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Victor CruzVictor Cruz (American football)Victor Cruz is an American football wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was an undrafted free agent signed by the Giants in the offseason...
, wide receiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Vladimir DucasseVladimir Ducasse-New York Jets:Immediately after the Jets selected Ducasse, they released Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca. Ducasse and Matt Slauson, a second-year backup, will compete for Faneca's old job in training camp....
, offensive guard, New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Jeremy HorneJeremy HorneJeremy Roger Horne is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs after going undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft...
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, defensive backDefensive backIn American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... - Matt LawrenceMatt LawrenceMatthew Nashid Lawrence is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He has also been a member of the Seattle Seahawks...
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Other alumni
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, current running back for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the UFL - Shannon James, current linebacker for the Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-CatsThe Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
of the CFLCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football.... - Greg LandryGreg LandryGregory Paul Landry is a former American football player and coach who played quarterback in the National Football League from 1968 to 1981 and again in 1984...
, former All-ProAll-ProAll-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
quarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
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of the CFL - Ed McAleneyEd McAleneyEdward P. "Ed" McAleney is a former American football defensive lineman who played one season in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers....
, former All-Star defensive tackle for the Calgary StampedersCalgary StampedersThe Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
of the CFL - John McCormickJohn McCormick (American football)John McCormick is a former professional American football player who played quarterback and punter for with the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos from 1962-1968.-References:...
, former quarterback for the Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Milt MorinMilt MorinMilton Denis Morin was a professional American football tight end in the National Football League. After college at the University of Massachusetts, he played for the Cleveland Browns for ten seasons...
, former All-Pro tight endTight endThe tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for the Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Marcel ShippMarcel ShippMarcel Cornelius Shipp is an American football running back for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He played in the NFL from 2001-2008 for the Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2001, and played with them...
, current running back for the Las Vegas LocomotivesLas Vegas LocomotivesThe Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
of the UFL (formerly played for the Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
) - Terry Swanson, former punter for the Boston Patriots
- Sean Smalls, current cornerback for the Toronto ArgonautsToronto ArgonautsThe Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
of the CFL
Individual awards
UMass has had 63 players named to various All-American teams since Tony Chambers garnered the first selection for the Minutemen (then called the Redmen) in 1952. Following is a list of UMass football players and coaches who have been named either Offensive, Defensive, or Special Teams Player of the Year or Coach of the Year for their respective conference.| Year | Winner | Position |
| 1988 | John McKeown | LB |
| 1988 | Jim Reid | HC |
| 1990 | Gary Wilkos | QB |
| 1990 | Jim Reid | HC |
| 1994 | Brian Corcoran | DL |
| 1998 | Khari Samuel Khari Samuel Khari Iman Mitchell Samuel is a former American football linebacker who played with the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions in the National Football League. He played college football at Massachusetts.-College career:... |
LB |
| 2003 | Mark Whipple | HC |
| 2004 | Shannon James | DB |
| 2005 | Christian Koegel | P |
| 2006 | Steve Baylark | RB |
| 2006 | Don Brown | HC |