1998 UMass Minutemen football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1998 UMass Minutemen football UMass logo.gif 150px Atlantic 10 Conference New England Division A-10 12–3 6–2 Mark Whipple 1st Pro-style Don Brown 1st 4–3 Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium NCAA Division I-AA national championA-10 New England Division co-championLambert Cup winner Division I-AA Championship Game W 55–43 vs. Georgia Southern 1 The 1998 UMass Minutemen football team represented the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football season as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The team was coached by Mark Whipple and played its home games at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Hadley, Massachusetts. 1998 was the most successful season in Minutemen history, as UMass won their first national championship in the NCAA DI-AA playoffs in Whipple's first year with the team. UMass entered the postseason as champions of the A-10, but were not expected to make a serious run for the title. They reached the final game ranked 12th in the nation, and were matched up with perennial powerhouse Georgia Southern, the top ranked team in the country. The Minutemen rushed out of the gates, scoring three touchdowns in the opening quarter, and won the shootout by a final score of 55–43. UMass finished the season with a record of 12–3 overall and 6–2 in conference play. Schedule 1998 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network Eastern September 3, 1998 7:00 p.m. l y Delaware 3 Delaware Stadium Newark, DE 30–33 20,744 September 12 1:00 p.m. w y Richmond UR Stadium Richmond, VA 22–17 10,219 September 26 1:00 p.m. w y Buffalo McGuirk Stadium Hadley, MA rivalry 51–27 11,672 October 3 12:00 p.m. w y y 1998 Hofstra Flying Dutchmen Hofstra 5 Hofstra Stadium Hempstead, NY 40–35 5,308 October 10 1:00 p.m. w 24 James Madison McGuirk Stadium Hadley, MA 28–26 14,202 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87669407/smith-tip-top-in-umass-win/ The Boston Globe Smith tip-top in UMass win October 11, 1998 October 24, 2021 Newspapers.com October 17 1:30 p.m. l y 18 Connecticut 15 Memorial Stadium Storrs, CT rivalry 41–44 8,581 October 24 1:00 p.m. w y 19 Villanova 22 McGuirk Stadium Hadley, MA 36–26 12,135 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100309038/umass-able-to-hold-on/ The Boston Globe UMass able to hold on October 25, 1998 April 23, 2022 Newspapers.com October 31 12:30 p.m. w y 16 New Hampshire rivalry Cowell Stadium Durham, NH 27–26 3,578 November 7 12:00 p.m. w y 12 Rhode Island Meade Stadium Kingston, RI 23–13 5,036 November 14 12:30 p.m. w 10 Maine McGuirk Stadium Hadley, MA 55–34 10,355 November 21 12:30 p.m. l y 7 Connecticut 9 McGuirk Stadium Hadley, MA 27–28 16,392 November 28 7:00 p.m. w y y 12 McNeese State 6 Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA NCAA Division I-AA First Round 21–19 11,349 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120243728/umass-holds-on-for-its-playoff-life/ The Boston Globe UMass holds on for its playoff life November 29, 1998 March 5, 2023 Newspapers.com December 5 12:00 p.m. w y 12 Lehigh 13 McGuirk Stadium Hadley, MA NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 27–21 12,108 UMass Is One of Four Still Moving Forward Joe Burris December 6, 1998 C13 Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59563072/1998-lehigh-umass/ December 12 2:00 p.m. w y y 12 Northwestern State 2 Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 41–31 10,424 https://www.newspapers.com/image/212899650 The Town Talk 06 Dec 1998, page Page 16 https://umassathletics.com/sports/football/stats/1998/northwestern-state/boxscore/11090 Football vs Northwestern State on 12/12/1998 - Box Score December 19 2:00 p.m. w y y 12 Georgia Southern 1 Finley Stadium Chattanooga, TN NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game ESPN 55–43 17,501 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-umass-caps-magical-season/176242127/ The Tennessean UMass caps magical season December 20, 1998 July 8, 2025 Newspapers.com Rankings 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football rankings The Sports Network 0 13 NR NR NR NR RV 24 18 19 16 12 10 7 12 1 (63) Game summaries At No. 3 Delaware 1998 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse UMass Minutemen at No. 3 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens – Game summary September 3, 1998 7:00 p.m. EDT Minutemen 13 10 0 7 No. 3 Fightin' Blue Hens 13 10 0 7 Delaware Stadium • Newark, Delaware 20,744 Overcast, 81 F C K. Payne Box score Statistics MASSDEL First downs 23 21 Plays–yards 75–438 69–372 Rushes–yards 30–115 53–267 Passing yards 323 105 Passing: comp–att–int 26–45–0 8–16–0 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 27:58 32:02 Team Category Player Statistics UMass Passing Todd Bankhead 26/45, 323 yards, 4 TD Rushing Marcel Shipp 17 rushes, 73 yards Receiving Adrian Zullo 2 receptions, 83 yards, TD Delaware Passing Brian Ginn 5/12, 55 yards, 2 TD Rushing Craig Cummings 15 rushes, 100 yards, 2 TD Receiving Eddie Conti 6 receptions, 94 yards, TD At Richmond 1998 Richmond Spiders football team UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse UMass Minutemen at Richmond Spiders – Game summary September 12 1:00 p.m. EDT Minutemen 7 6 0 9 Spiders 0 3 7 7 UR Stadium • Richmond, Virginia 10,219 Sunny and hot, 88 F C J. Gleason Box score Statistics MASSRICH First downs 22 19 Plays–yards 82–417 77–379 Rushes–yards 38–94 37–172 Passing yards 323 207 Passing: comp–att–int 26–44–1 18–40–2 Turnovers 4 3 Time of possession 30:33 29:27 Team Category Player Statistics UMass Passing Todd Bankhead 26/43, 323 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Marcel Shipp 21 rushes, 99 yards Receiving Kerry Taylor 9 receptions, 98 yards Richmond Passing Jimmie Miles 18/39, 207 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tyronne Turner 18 rushes, 75 yards Receiving Muneer Moore 9 receptions, 120 yards Buffalo 1998 Buffalo Bulls football team UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse Buffalo Bulls at UMass Minutemen – Game summary September 26 1:00 p.m. EDT Bulls 6 14 7 0 Minutemen 14 21 6 10 Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium • Hadley, Massachusetts 11,672 Mostly sunny, 71 F C L. Nazzarro Box score Statistics BUFFMASS First downs 29 29 Plays–yards 76–529 84–591 Rushes–yards 32–124 53–339 Passing yards 405 252 Passing: comp–att–int 30–44–2 14–31–0 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 28:29 31:31 Team Category Player Statistics Buffalo Passing Chad Salisbury 27/40, 375 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Joshua Roth 12 rushes, 64 yards, TD Receiving Drew Haddad 11 receptions, 173 yards, TD UMass Passing Todd Bankhead 13/30, 192 yards, 3 TD Rushing Marcel Shipp 26 rushes, 221 yards, TD Receiving Jimmy Moore 3 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TD At No. 5 Hofstra UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse UMass Minutemen at No. 5 Hofstra Flying Dutchmen – Game summary October 3 12:00 p.m. EDT Minutemen 0 0 21 19 No. 5 Flying Dutchmen 5 7 13 10 Hofstra Stadium • Hempstead, New York 5,308 Cloudy, 59 F C C. Picardo Box score Statistics MASSHOF First downs 26 24 Plays–yards 80–489 79–527 Rushes–yards 36–141 30–204 Passing yards 348 323 Passing: comp–att–int 27–44–0 25–49–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 30:12 29:48 Team Category Player Statistics UMass Passing Todd Bankhead 27/44, 348 yards, 3 TD Rushing Marcel Shipp 27 rushes, 146 yards Receiving Jimmy Moore 11 receptions, 164 yards Hofstra Passing Giovanni Carmazzi 25/49, 323 yards, 2 TD Rushing Giovanni Carmazzi 14 rushes, 139 yards, TD Receiving Steve Jackson 10 receptions, 114 yards James Madison 1998 James Madison Dukes football team UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse James Madison Dukes at No. 24 UMass Minutemen – Game summary October 10 1:00 p.m. EDT Dukes 3 9 0 14 No. 24 Minutemen 0 7 14 7 Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium • Hadley, Massachusetts 14,202 Light rain, 57 F C K. Payne Box score First quarter JMU – Alan Haston 25-yard field goal, 3:01. Dukes 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 5:09. Second quarter MASS – Todd Bankhead 1-yard run (Matt Murphy kick), 14:58. Minutemen 7–3. Drive: 10 plays, 55 yards, 3:03. JMU – Delvin Joyce 4-yard run (kick failed), 9:33. Dukes 9–7. Drive: 10 plays, 69 yards, 5:25. JMU – Alan Haston 25-yard field goal, 2:32. Dukes 12–7. Drive: 6 plays, 23 yards, 2:36. Third quarter MASS – Steve Ley 0-yard fumble return (Matt Murphy kick), 13:45. Minutemen 14–12. MASS – Jimmy Moore 16-yard pass from Todd Bankhead (Matt Murphy kick), 5:19. Minutemen 21–12. Drive: 2 plays, 54 yards, 0:33. Fourth quarter MASS – Marcel Shipp 12-yard run (Matt Murphy kick), 14:48. Minutemen 28–12. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 3:12. JMU – Craig Akins 4-yard pass from Greg Maddox (Greg Maddox pass to Craig Akins), 5:36. Minutemen 28–20. Drive: 5 plays, 54 yards, 1:59. JMU – Delvin Joyce 9-yard run (pass failed), 0:58. Minutemen 28–26. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 1:57. Statistics JMUMASS First downs 23 16 Plays–yards 81–432 60–359 Rushes–yards 45–167 36–172 Passing yards 265 187 Passing: comp–att–int 21–36–1 11–24–1 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 36:56 23:04 Team Category Player Statistics James Madison Passing Greg Maddox 21/36, 265 yards, TD, INT Rushing Delvin Joyce 20 rushes, 104 yards, 2 TD Receiving Earnest Payton 13 receptions, 155 yards UMass Passing Todd Bankhead 11/23, 187 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Marcel Shipp 24 rushes, 190 yards, TD Receiving Jimmy Moore 5 receptions, 109 yards, TD At No. 15 Connecticut 1998 Connecticut Huskies football team UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 18 UMass Minutemen at No. 15 Connecticut Huskies – Game summary October 17 1:30 p.m. EDT No. 18 Minutemen No. 15 Huskies Memorial Stadium • Storrs, Connecticut 8,581 Statistics MASSCONN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UMass Passing Rushing Receiving Connecticut Passing Rushing Receiving No. 22 Villanova 1998 Villanova Wildcats football team UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 22 Villanova Wildcats at No. 19 UMass Minutemen – Game summary October 24 1:00 p.m. EDT No. 22 Wildcats No. 19 Minutemen Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium • Hadley, Massachusetts 12,135 Statistics VILLMASS First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Villanova Passing Rushing Receiving UMass Passing Rushing Receiving At New Hampshire 1998 New Hampshire Wildcats football team UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 16 UMass Minutemen at New Hampshire Wildcats – Game summary October 31 12:30 p.m. EST No. 16 Minutemen Wildcats Cowell Stadium • Durham, New Hampshire 3,578 Statistics MASSNH First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UMass Passing Rushing Receiving New Hampshire Passing Rushing Receiving At Rhode Island 1998 Rhode Island Rams football team UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 12 UMass Minutemen at Rhode Island Rams – Game summary November 7 12:00 p.m. EST No. 12 Minutemen Rams Meade Stadium • Kingston, Rhode Island 5,036 Statistics MASSURI First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UMass Passing Rushing Receiving Rhode Island Passing Rushing Receiving Maine 1998 Maine Black Bears football team UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse Maine Black Bears at No. 10 UMass Minutemen – Game summary November 14 12:30 p.m. EDT Black Bears No. 10 Minutemen Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium • Hadley, Massachusetts 10,355 Statistics MEMASS First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Maine Passing Rushing Receiving UMass Passing Rushing Receiving No. 9 Connecticut UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 9 Connecticut Huskies at No. 7 UMass Minutemen – Game summary November 21 12:30 p.m. EDT No. 9 Connecticut No. 7 Minutemen Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium • Hadley, Massachusetts 16,392 Statistics CONNMASS First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Connecticut Passing Rushing Receiving UMass Passing Rushing Receiving At No. 6 McNesse State (Division I-AA First Round) 1998 McNeese State Cowboys football team UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse 1998 Division I-AA Playoffs First RoundNo. 12 UMass Minutemen at No. 6 McNeese State Cowboys – Game summary November 28 7:00 p.m. EST No. 12 Minutemen No. 6 Cowboys Cowboy Stadium • Lake Charles, Louisiana 11,349 Statistics MASSMCN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UMass Passing Rushing Receiving McNeese State Passing Rushing Receiving No. 13 Lehigh (Division I-AA Quarterfinal) 1998 Lehigh Mountain Hawks football team UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse 1998 Division I-AA QuarterfinalNo. 13 Lehigh Mountain Hawks at No. 12 UMass Minutemen – Game summary December 5 12:00 p.m. EST No. 13 Mountain Hawks No. 12 Minutemen Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium • Hadley, Massachusetts 12,108 Statistics LEHMASS First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Lehigh Passing Rushing Receiving UMass Passing Rushing Receiving At No. 2 Northwestern State (Division I-AA Semifinal) 1998 Northwestern State Demons football team UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse 1998 Division I-AA Playoffs SemifianlNo. 12 UMass Minutemen at No. 2 Northwestern State Demons – Game summary December 12 2:00 p.m. EST / 1:00 p.m. CST No. 12 Minutemen No. 2 Demons Harry Turpin Stadium • Natchitoches, Louisiana 10,424 Statistics MASSNWST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UMass Passing Rushing Receiving Northwestern State Passing Rushing Receiving Vs. No. 1 Georgia Southern (Division I-AA Championship Game) 1998 Georgia Southern Eagles football team 1998 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game UMass Minutemen white;text-align:center; autocollapse 1998 Division I-AA Championship GameNo. 1 Georgia Southern Eagles vs. No. 12 UMass Minutemen – Game summary December 19 2:00 p.m. EST No. 1 Eagles 7 14 12 10 No. 12 Minutemen 21 17 0 17 Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, Tennessee 17,501 John W. Keys ESPN First quarter MASS – Marcel Shipp 25-yard run (Jason Cherry kick), 12:56. Minutemen 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 2:04. MASS – Kole Ayi 9-yard fumble return (Jason Cherry kick), 8:29. Minutemen 14–0. GASO – Greg Hill 40-yard run (Chris Chambers kick), 7:25. Minutemen 14–7. Drive: 2 plays, 48 yards, 1:08. MASS – Adrian Zullo 7-yard pass from Jamie Holston (Jason Cherry kick), 5:04. Minutemen 21–7. Drive: 1 play, 7 yards, 0:07. Second quarter MASS – Jason Cherry 22-yard field goal, 14:46. Minutemen 24–7. Drive: 11 plays, 63 yards, 3:34. GASO – Corey Joyner 6-yard pass from Greg Hill (Chris Chambers kick), 10:54. Minutemen 24–14. Drive: 6 plays, 36 yards, 2:11. MASS – Todd Bankhead 1-yard run (Jason Cherry kick), 7:17. Minutemen 31–14. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 3:37. MASS – Marcel Shipp 4-yard run (Jason Cherry kick), 4:09. Minutemen 38–14. Drive: 5 plays, 26 yards, 1:35. GASO – Adrian Peterson 1-yard run (Chris Chambers kick), 2:01. Minutemen 38–21. Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards, 2:08. Third quarter GASO – Adrian Peterson 5-yard run (kick failed), 8:54. Minutemen 38–27. Drive: 13 plays, 78 yards, 6:06. GASO – Greg Hill 2-yard run (run failed), 0:41. Minutemen 38–33. Drive: 14 plays, 98 yards, 6:07. Fourth quarter MASS – Kevin Quinlan 2-yard run (Jason Cherry kick), 13:42. Minutemen 45–33. Drive: 5 plays, 72 yards, 1:59. MASS – Marcel Shipp 2-yard run (Jason Cherry kick), 11:51. Minutemen 52–33. Drive: 5 plays, 42 yards, 1:35. GASO – Chris Chambers 38-yard field goal, 8:39. Minutemen 52–36. Drive: 12 plays, 58 yards, 3:12. MASS – Jason Cherry 25-yard field goal, 2:21. Minutemen 55–36. Drive: 7 plays, 13 yards, 3:04. GASO – J. R. Revere 29-yard run (Chris Chambers kick), 1:04. Minutemen 55–43. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 1:17. Statistics GASOMASS First downs 26 23 Plays–yards 86–595 77–462 Rushes–yards 65–457 51–303 Passing yards 138 159 Passing: comp–att–int 10–21–1 18–26–0 Turnovers 7 2 Time of possession 30:48 29:12 Team Category Player Statistics Georgia Southern Passing Greg Hill 8/16, 111 yards, TD, INT Rushing Greg Hill 29 rushes, 228 yards, 2 TD Receiving Corey Joyner 6 receptions, 94 yards, TD UMass Passing Todd Bankhead 17/25, 152 yards Rushing Marcel Shipp 35 rushes, 244 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jimmy Moore 6 receptions, 63 yards Notable team members Offense QB: Todd Bankhead RB: Marcel Shipp Defense LB: Kole Ayi, Khari Samuel DB: Brian Smith Roster References UMass Category:UMass Minutemen football seasons Category:NCAA Division I Football Champions UMass Minutemen football Category:Long stubs with short prose UMass