1979 UMass Minutemen football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1979 UMass Minutemen football Yankee Conference Yankee 6–4 4–1 Bob Pickett 2nd Jim Reid 2nd Alumni Stadium Yankee Conference co-champion The 1979 UMass Minutemen football team represented the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the 1979 NCAA Division I-AA football season as a member of the Yankee Conference. The team was coached by Bob Pickett and played its home games at Alumni Stadium in Hadley, Massachusetts. The Minutemen came into the 1979 season on the heels of an appearance in the inaugural I-AA National Championship Game. Despite the high expectations, the team was still able to repeat as Yankee Conference Champions, though they did not earn a postseason berth. UMass finished the season with a record of 6–4 overall and 4–1 in conference play. Schedule 1979 NCAA Division I-AA AP Eastern September 15 l y y Villanova Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA 7–35 8,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-villanova-roll/155211358/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Villanova rolls, 35–7 September 16, 1979 September 13, 2024 Newspapers.com September 22 w Maine Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA 38–14 3,990 https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-umass-rips-maine-pears/155211432/ The Hartford Courant UMass rips Maine; Pearson scores September 23, 1979 September 13, 2024 Newspapers.com September 29 w y y Harvard Harvard Stadium Boston, MA 20–7 15,000 UMass Zings Crimson, 20-7 Joe Concannon September 30, 1979 70 Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56456816/1979-harvard-umass October 6 w y North Carolina Central Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA 48–7 7,400 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-union-umass-rolls-487-aga/153994776/ The Sunday Republican UMass rolls, 48–7, against Central October 7, 1979 September 13, 2024 Newspapers.com October 13 w y 10 Boston University 3 Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA 20–6 10,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-mass-shuts-down-naja/155205516/ The Courier-Journal Mass shuts down Najarian, rolls past Boston U. 20–6 October 14, 1979 September 13, 2024 Newspapers.com October 20 w 4 Rhode Island Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA 24–0 13,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-union-um-handcuffs-rhode-isl/155211538/ The Morning Republican UM handcuffs Rhode Island, 24–0 October 21, 1979 September 13, 2024 Newspapers.com October 27 l y 3 Connecticut Memorial Stadium Storrs, CT rivalry 0–24 10,677 https://www.newspapers.com/article/rutland-daily-herald-uconn-blanks-umass/155211658/ Rutland Daily Herald UConn blanks UMass October 28, 1979 September 13, 2024 Newspapers.com November 10 l y 9 Holy Cross Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA 18–20 6,300 Solomon Strikes Again: HC Stuns UMass John Ahern November 11, 1979 51 Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56465267/1979-holy-cross-umass November 17 w y New Hampshire Cowell Stadium Durham, NH rivalry 29–0 8,750 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-umass-grabs-a-share-of/155211797/ Boston Sunday Globe UMass grabs a share of crown November 18, 1979 September 13, 2024 Newspapers.com November 24 l y y Boston College Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA rivalry 3–41 28,475 Boston College 41, Massachusetts 3 The Akron Beacon Journal November 25, 1979 D5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17522006/boston_college_41_massachusetts_3/ Newspapers.com References UMass Category:UMass Minutemen football seasons Category:Yankee Conference football champion seasons Umass Minutemen football