1972 UMass Minutemen football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1972 UMass Minutemen football Yankee Conference Yankee 9–2 5–0 Dick MacPherson 2nd Alumni Stadium Yankee Conference championBoardwalk Bowl champion Boardwalk Bowl W 35–14 vs. UC Davis 1971 The 1972 UMass Minutemen football team represented the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the 1972 NCAA College Division football season as a member of the Yankee Conference. The team was coached by Dick MacPherson and played its home games at Alumni Stadium in Hadley, Massachusetts. The 1972 season was the first in which Massachusetts was named the "Minutemen," as the university had changed their nickname from the "Redmen" due to changing attitudes regarding the use of Native American-themed mascots in sports. It was also the last season of the NCAA's University and College Division setup, as they would split athletics into three numbered divisions in 1973, with UMass moving into Division II. Massachusetts performed strongly enough in the regular season to earn a spot in the 1972 Boardwalk Bowl, which at the time served as the NCAA College Division East championship game. The team defeated UC Davis by a score of 35–14 and finished the season with a record of 9–2 overall and 5–0 in conference play. Schedule 1972 small college AP Eastern September 23 Maine Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA w 37–0 8,500–9,500 Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Maine) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/380/stats/13168 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 25, 2022 September 30 y y Harvard Harvard Stadium Boston, MA w 28–19 13,000–13,500 Massachusetts downs Harvard Associated Press October 1, 1972 S6 The New York Times October 7 y Vermont Centennial Field Burlington, VT w 33–14 4,700 UMass storms to 33–14 comeback at Vermont October 8, 1972 The Boston Globe Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78842054/umass-storms-to-3314-comeback-at-vermon/ June 2, 2021 October 14 y Boston University Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA w 44–15 12,500 October 21 y Rhode Island Meade Stadium Kingston, RI w 42–7 4,621–5,857 Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Rhode Island) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/572/stats/13168 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 29, 2022 October 28 Connecticut Alumni Stadium rivalry Hadley, MA w 49–16 17,500 November 4 y y 10 Bucknell Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA l 15–28 6,800 Bucknell lines cut UMass string, 28–15 Peter Gammons Peter Gammons November 5, 1972 76 The Boston Globe Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71270832/1972-bucknell-umass/ November 11 y y Holy Cross Fitton Field Worcester, MA l 16–28 16,321–16,700 Vaas, Wilson spark 25–16 HC upset of UMass Jerry Nason November 12, 1972 93 The Boston Globe Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71272274/1972-umass-hc/ November 18 New Hampshire Alumni Stadium rivalry Hadley, MA w 42–7 11,700 November 25 y Boston College Alumni Stadium rivalry Hadley, MA w 28–7 20,000 December 9 2:00 p.m. y y UC Davis Atlantic City Convention Center Boardwalk Bowl Atlantic City, NJ w 35–14 2,857 Dunning Bob Aggies, Minutemen Will Clash Today https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101718719/the-sacramento-bee/ The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California December 9, 1972 B1 May 12, 2022 Newspapers.com Dunning Bob Aggies, Minutemen Will Clash (continued) https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101718833/the-sacramento-bee/ The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California December 9, 1972 B4 May 12, 2022 Newspapers.com Dunning Bob Massachusetts Nips USD Rally https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101718923/the-sacramento-bee/ The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California December 10, 1972 F1 May 12, 2022 Newspapers.com Dunning Bob Massachusetts Blunts USD Rally, Wins 35-14 (continued) https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101718977/the-sacramento-bee/ The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California December 10, 1972 F4 May 12, 2022 Newspapers.com Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (UMass) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/400/stats/13168 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 24, 2022 References UMass Category:UMass Minutemen football seasons Category:Yankee Conference football champion seasons UMass Minutemen football