1978 UMass Minutemen football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1978 UMass Minutemen football Yankee Conference Yankee T–4 9–4 5–0 Bob Pickett 1st Jim Reid 1st Alumni Stadium Yankee Conference championLambert Cup winner NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game L 28–35 vs. Florida A&M The 1978 UMass Minutemen football team represented the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the 1978 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 1978 season was the first after the NCAA split Division I football into two subdivisions, and the first that featured a postseason playoff for Division I-AA. The Minutemen reached this inaugural championship game, losing to Florida A&M, 35–28. UMass finished the season with a record of 9–4 overall and 5–0 in conference play. Schedule 1978 NCAA Division I-AA Associated Press Eastern September 16 l y Villanova Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA 21–25 8,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-union-umass-falls-in-final-s/155059483/ The Sunday Republican UMass falls in final seconds, 25–21 September 17, 1978 September 10, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 w y Maine Alumni Stadium Orono, ME 40–6 7,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-umass-crushes-maine-40/155059967/ The Boston Globe UMass crushes Maine, 40–6 September 24, 1978 September 10, 2024 Newspapers.com September 30 l y y Harvard Harvard Stadium Boston, MA 0–10 12,200 Harvard Beats UMass at Own Game, 10–0 Ernie Roberts October 1, 1978 50 Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56389036/1978-ivy-sept-23 October 7 w y Morgan State Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA 38–6 6,700 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-union-um-mauls-morgan-state/153944217/ The Sunday Republican UM mauls Morgan State, 38–6 October 8, 1978 September 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 w y Boston University 5 Nickerson Field Boston, MA 31–7 3,570 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-patriot-news-boston-u-loses-first/155060096/ The Patriot-News Boston U. loses first October 15, 1978 September 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 w y 10 Rhode Island 8 Meade Stadium Kingston, RI 19–17 7,995 https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-umass-nips-rhody-on-def/155060187/ The Hartford Courant UMass nips Rhody on deflected pass October 22, 1978 September 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 w 6 Connecticut Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA rivalry 17–10 14,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-union-um-subdues-uconn-171/155060296/ The Sunday Republican UM subdues UConn, 17–10 October 29, 1978 September 10, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 l 4 y Rutgers Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA 11–21 9,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-dorn-scores-twice-to-l/155060421/ Asbury Park Press Dorn scores twice to lead Rutgers past Massachusetts November 5, 1978 September 10, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 w y y Holy Cross Fitton Field Worcester, MA 33–8 20,614 UMass' Tailback Attack Slaps Holy Cross Joe Concannon November 12, 1978 50 Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56412368/1978-holy-cross-umass November 18 w 9 New Hampshire Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA rivalry 34–7 11,300 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-massach/155060593/ The Sunday Home News Massachusetts rips New Hampshire, 34–7 November 19, 1978 September 10, 2024 Newspapers.com November 25 w y T–4 Boston College Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA rivalry 27–0 7,950 Massachusetts 27, Boston College 0 Palm Beach Post-Times November 26, 1978 E2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17533775/massachusetts_27_boston_college_0/ Newspapers.com December 9 w y y T–4 Nevada 1 Mackay Stadium Reno, NV NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 44–21 14,026 https://www.newspapers.com/article/nevada-state-journal-massachusetts-keeps/155060746/ Nevada State Journal Massachusetts keeps UNR at home December 10, 1978 September 10, 2024 Newspapers.com December 16 l y y T–4 Florida A&M 3 Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, TX NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game—Pioneer Bowl ABC 28–35 13,604 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31547045/famu_captures_a_national_title/ FAMU captures a national title Barry Cooper Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 1A December 17, 1978 May 13, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/31547114/famu_contd/ FAMU (cont'd) Barry Cooper Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 7A December 17, 1978 May 13, 2019 newspapers.comhttp://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_champs_records/2012/d1/2012FCSfbchamp.pdf Division I Championship NCAA 2013 14 May 11, 2019 ncaa.org References UMass Category:UMass Minutemen football seasons Category:Yankee Conference football champion seasons Umass Minutemen football UMass