1978 UMass Minutemen football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1978
| team = UMass Minutemen
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Yankee Conference
| short_conf = Yankee
| APRank = T–4
| record = 9–4
| conf_record = 5–0
| head_coach = Bob Pickett
| hc_year = 1st
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Jim Reid
| dc_year = 1st
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Alumni Stadium
| champion = Yankee Conference champion
Lambert Cup winner
| bowl = NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game
| bowl_result = L 28–35 vs. Florida A&M
}}
{{1978 Yankee Conference football standings}}
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
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1978
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I-AA
| poll = Associated Press
| timezone = Eastern
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 16
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Villanova
| site_stadium = Alumni Stadium
| site_cityst = Hadley, MA
| score = 21–25
| attend = 8,800
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-union-umass-falls-in-final-s/155059483/|work=The Sunday Republican|title=UMass falls in final seconds, 25–21|date=September 17, 1978|accessdate=September 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 23
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Maine
| site_stadium = Alumni Stadium
| site_cityst = Orono, ME
| score = 40–6
| attend = 7,200
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-umass-crushes-maine-40/155059967/|work=The Boston Globe|title=UMass crushes Maine, 40–6|date=September 24, 1978|accessdate=September 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 30
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Harvard
| site_stadium = Harvard Stadium
| site_cityst = Boston, MA
| score = 0–10
| attend = 12,200
| source = {{cite news |title=Harvard Beats UMass at Own Game, 10–0 |first=Ernie |last=Roberts |date=October 1, 1978 |page=50 |newspaper=Boston Sunday Globe |location=Boston, Mass.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56389036/1978-ivy-sept-23}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 7
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Morgan State
| site_stadium = Alumni Stadium
| site_cityst = Hadley, MA
| score = 38–6
| attend = 6,700
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-union-um-mauls-morgan-state/153944217/|work=The Sunday Republican|title=UM mauls Morgan State, 38–6|date=October 8, 1978|accessdate=September 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 14
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Boston University
| opprank = 5
| site_stadium = Nickerson Field
| site_cityst = Boston, MA
| score = 31–7
| attend = 3,570
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-patriot-news-boston-u-loses-first/155060096/|work=The Patriot-News|title=Boston U. loses first|date=October 15, 1978|accessdate=September 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 21
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 10
| opponent = Rhode Island
| opprank = 8
| site_stadium = Meade Stadium
| site_cityst = Kingston, RI
| score = 19–17
| attend = 7,995
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-umass-nips-rhody-on-def/155060187/|work=The Hartford Courant|title=UMass nips Rhody on deflected pass|date=October 22, 1978|accessdate=September 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 28
| w/l = w
| rank = 6
| opponent = Connecticut
| site_stadium = Alumni Stadium
| site_cityst = Hadley, MA
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 17–10
| attend = 14,200
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-union-um-subdues-uconn-171/155060296/|work=The Sunday Republican|title=UM subdues UConn, 17–10|date=October 29, 1978|accessdate=September 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 4
| w/l = l
| rank = 4
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Rutgers
| site_stadium = Alumni Stadium
| site_cityst = Hadley, MA
| score = 11–21
| attend = 9,800
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-dorn-scores-twice-to-l/155060421/|work=Asbury Park Press|title=Dorn scores twice to lead Rutgers past Massachusetts|date=November 5, 1978|accessdate=September 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 11
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Holy Cross
| site_stadium = Fitton Field
| site_cityst = Worcester, MA
| score = 33–8
| attend = 20,614
| source = {{cite news |title=UMass' Tailback Attack Slaps Holy Cross |first=Joe |last=Concannon |date=November 12, 1978 |page=50 |newspaper=Boston Sunday Globe |location=Boston, Mass.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56412368/1978-holy-cross-umass}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 18
| w/l = w
| rank = 9
| opponent = New Hampshire
| site_stadium = Alumni Stadium
| site_cityst = Hadley, MA
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 34–7
| attend = 11,300
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-massach/155060593/|work=The Sunday Home News|title=Massachusetts rips New Hampshire, 34–7|date=November 19, 1978|accessdate=September 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 25
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = T–4
| opponent = Boston College
| site_stadium = Alumni Stadium
| site_cityst = Hadley, MA
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 27–0
| attend = 7,950
| source = {{cite news|title=Massachusetts 27, Boston College 0|newspaper=Palm Beach Post-Times|date=November 26, 1978|page=E2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17533775/massachusetts_27_boston_college_0/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 9
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = T–4
| opponent = Nevada
| opprank = 1
| site_stadium = Mackay Stadium
| site_cityst = Reno, NV
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
| score = 44–21
| attend = 14,026
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nevada-state-journal-massachusetts-keeps/155060746/|work=Nevada State Journal|title=Massachusetts keeps UNR at home|date=December 10, 1978|accessdate=September 10, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 16
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| rank = T–4
| opponent = Florida A&M
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Wichita Falls, TX
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game—Pioneer Bowl
| tv = ABC
| score = 28–35
| attend = 13,604
| source = {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31547045/famu_captures_a_national_title/ |title=FAMU captures a national title |first=Barry |last=Cooper |newspaper=Tallahassee Democrat |location=Tallahassee, Florida |page=1A |date=December 17, 1978 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31547114/famu_contd/ |title=FAMU (cont'd) |first=Barry |last=Cooper |newspaper=Tallahassee Democrat |location=Tallahassee, Florida |page=7A |date=December 17, 1978 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_champs_records/2012/d1/2012FCSfbchamp.pdf |title=Division I Championship |publisher=NCAA |date=2013 |page=14 |access-date=May 11, 2019 |via=ncaa.org}}
}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{UMass Minutemen football navbox}}
{{Yankee Conference football champions}}
Category:UMass Minutemen football seasons
Category:Yankee Conference football champion seasons
{{collegefootball-1978-season-stub}}