University of Massachusets Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2013
- Class:
- 1977
A native of Western Massachusetts, Ned Deane was a three-sport star at Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, Mass. Deane was a three-year letterwinner for the UMass football program and played for College Football Hall of Famer and UMass Athletics Hall of Famer Dick MacPherson.
He was considered one of the top offensive linemen in the Northeast in 1974 and 1975. In 1974 he earned All-Yankee Conference First Team honors as well as All-New England First Team and All-East First Team while helping UMass win the Yankee Conference.
Deane was a team captain in 1975 and helped lead the team to an 8-0 start before losing to New Hampshire 14-11 in a battle up in Durham. The Minutemen finished the season 8-2 losing to Boston College 24-14 at Chestnut Hill. In addition to being named all-Yankee Conference, all-New England, and all-East again in 1975, Deane was also named to the AP and Kodak All-America first teams. In 1975 Ned was voted MVP by his teammates - an honor he is most proud of.
After college Deane signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks. At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Deane was an undersized NFL offensive guard and was cut by the Seahawks. He ended up playing for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1976. During the off season, Deane was contacted by the New York Giants for a tryout as a linebacker. He signed a free agent contract with the Giants in 1977.
After a very good rookie camp, Giants linebacker coach Marty Schottenheimer put Deane on the first unit with Harry Carson and Dan Lloyd at the start of training camp. A serious ankle injury curtailed his camp with the Giants. Deane returned to the Canadian Football League and finished up the 1977 season with the Ottawa Rough Riders. In 1978 Deane was the last man cut by the Rough Riders and decided it was time to enter the professional work force.
Deane remains an active and ardent supporter of UMass Football for many years and could not be more proud of his association with the University of Massachusetts.
Deane was inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2013.
