University of Massachusets Athletics
Football Ranked Second In ESPN/USA Today Top 25
August 22, 2000 | Football
Aug. 22, 2000
AMHERST, Mass. -- The University of Massachusetts football team is ranked second in the nation in the ESPN/USA Today Division I-AA Preseason Top 25 Division I-AA college football poll. Defending national champion Georgia Southern was voted first, followed by UMass, Youngstown State, Troy State and Illinois State. Montana placed sixth, with Florida A&M, Appalachian State, Furman and Hofstra rounding out the top 10.
2000 UMass opponents ranked in the poll are No. 10 Hofstra, No. 13 Delaware and No. 17 Villanova. Atlantic 10 member James Madison, which does not play the Minutemen this season, is ranked No. 12. UMass opens up the season when it hosts William & Mary on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 7:00 p.m., in the first-ever night game at Warren P. McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
Last season, UMass had a 9-4 overall record and a 7-1 mark in the Atlantic 10 to finish first. The Minutemen are returning 14 out of 24 starters from a team which advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Team PTS PVS
1. Georgia Southern (30) (13-2) 862 2
2. Massachusetts (9-4) 754 11
3. Youngstown State (12-3) 698 9
4. Troy State (1) (11-2) 694 6
5. Illinois State (11-3) 661 5
6. Montana (1) (9-3) 654 7
7. Florida A&M (10-4) 638 15
8. Appalachian State (1) (9-3) 635 3
9. Furman (2) (9-3) 569 8
10. Hofstra (11-2) 473 4
11. Northern Iowa (8-3) 425 17
12. James Madison (8-4) 332 12
13. Delaware (7-4) 314 NR
14. Southern (11-2) 300 10
15. Jackson St. (9-3) 272 14
16. Tennessee State (11-1) 268 1
17. Villanova (7-4) 263 25
18. North Carolina A&T (11-2) 257 16
19. Stephen Austin (8-3) 244 22
20. Eastern Kentucky (7-4) 216 NR
21. Portland State (8-3) 214 20
22. Lehigh (10-2) 179 13
23. Northern Arizona (8-4) 177 19
24. South Florida (7-4) 155 23
25. Hampton (8-4) 142 NR 
