University of Massachusets Athletics
It's Better To Give Than To Receive
August 16, 2004 | Football
By Michael Coyne
The Maroon & White
To question his dedication to football is to question his heart and very soul. After more than 30 years since he last suited up for the University of Massachusetts football team, former wide receiver Steve Schubert continues to bleed football, with a heavy dosage of Maroon & White mixed in.
A 1972 UMass graduate with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant & Travel Administration, Schubert was a first team All-Conference and All-America selection his senior year, helping lead the Minutemen to a 9-2 record and a perfect 5-0 mark in Yankee Conference play. That season also marked UMass' first under the moniker `Minutemen,' as the old `Redmen' term was swept away in the spring of 1972, thus making Schubert one of a select few UMass student-athletes to have held both nicknames.
The 1972 season was a tremendous success as the newly-named Minutemen posted a victory at Harvard (28-19), and were undefeated at home with wins over Boston University (44-15) and Connecticut (49-16). UMass also won its regular season-finale against Boston College (28-7), in a game that ranked as one of the biggest non-conference victories in school history at the time. UMass went 5-0 at home that season, marking the first time it went undefeated at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, a feat since accomplished just three times since (most recently by the 2003 Minutemen who went 7-0 en route to the highest home win total ever).
There are additional similarities though between the first Minutemen, and today's current squad. Under the direction of second-year head coach Dick MacPherson, Schubert set a school-record averaging 20.0 yards per catch for the entire year. That record stood for more than 20 years until current senior Jason Peebler eclipsed his mark with 20.1 yards per catch in 2003.
"Records are made to be broken" said Schubert. "For me to put any records in the books, it is nice to see. I think I it is also a reflection of the type of team I played on, but for Peebler to break those records, he must be an outstanding player."
Schubert still ranks among the top 10 in UMass history in almost every receiving category. Totaling 45 catches for 901 yards with nine touchdowns in 1972, Schubert finished his collegiate career with 81 catches for 1435 yards (17.7 yards per catch average) and 11 scores, and still ranks second all-time in average yards per catch for his career.
After being slowed by a hamstring injury as a sophomore, Schubert rebounded to total 31 catches as a junior in 1971, setting up a spectacular season campaign, capped by a memorable performance against Boston College on November 25, 1972. Wrapping up UMass' eighth Yankee Conference title a week earlier with a 42-7 whipping of New Hampshire, a casual observer might have thought the regular-season finale against the Eagles would be overlooked. But there is nothing casual about Steve Schubert.
"When we had played Boston College the year before and lost, I felt responsible," said Schubert. " But in 1972 we thought the potential was there. Coach Mac brought in a more pass-oriented offense, there were a lot of young defensive players who stepped up to the table, and I had a bunch of great teammates like Peil Pennington, Ed McAleney and Timmy Berra.
"We caught Boston College at the right time, and I felt like we were a better team than them," Schubert said. "There was a buzz around campus, you had people coming out from Boston, and I think other people knew we had a shot to beat this team."
A McGuirk Stadium-record 20,000 fans showed up to watch Schubert total nine catches in the victory. "We beat them up physically and it was certainly the biggest crowd I had ever playing in front of," said Schubert. Earlier that season, Schubert and the Minutemen played in front 17,500 fans, defeating Connecticut in a game that ranks as the fifth-largest crowd at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. It was certainly a memorable year in UMass Football history.
Following its defeat of the Eagles, UMass was invited to play in the Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Played inside Convention Hall, Schubert recalls the venue more readily than the opponent. "We were the second or third game on the field so the turf was really chewed up. It was inside the convention center, with an eight-yard end zone at one end. The other end zone was 10 yards, but there was a balcony that had an overhang, and that made it less. Also the sidelines were bare concrete."
You can't fault Schubert for focusing on the "arena" as UMass rolled over its opponent, the University of California at Davis, 35-14. UMass took the opening drive 60-yards on nine-plays for a touchdown capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Pennington to Berra. A UMass interception later in the quarter set up the second score as Schubert scored on a 10-yard end around to make it 14-0, Minutemen, at the end of the first quarter.
UC Davis would show some life in the third quarter scoring its second touchdown to cut the UMass lead to 20-14, but that would be as close as the Aggies would get as UMass back up quarterback Mark Tripucka tossed two additional scores in the fourth frame. The Minutemen out-gained UC Davis 184-61 on the ground, while Schubert turned in UMass' top receiving effort with six catches totaling 69 yards. The victory marked UMass' first post-season win ever.
Following his graduation, Schubert married his high school sweetheart from Manchester (N.H.) Central High School, Sandy, and began life away from UMass. "An understanding wife is the most important thing you can have," Schubert said. Following a six-year professional career with the New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears, he returned to the Manchester area.
Today, Schubert has taken his UMass degree and used it to become a Senior Vice President for UBS, a wealth management firm. His newest venture sees him as the lead partner of the Manchester Wolves in the Arena Football League. Having just wrapped up their first season of competition, Schubert was very pleased with the support the franchise received, both on the off the field, from the community. Playing its home games at Verizon Wireless Arena, the team went 5-10 in its inaugural season, and looks to be around for many more years to come.
Additionally, Schubert has remained active in the New Hampshire community, serving as a State Crusade Chairman for the New Hampshire Division of the American Cancer Society, an honorary head coach for the New Hampshire Special Olympics state track, field and swim meets, and chairing numerous drives for Easter Seals.
Over the years, Schubert has also raised thousands of dollars for youths in the New Hampshire area through the Panteli-Kotrotsios Memorial Charity Golf Tournament, and has also served as chairman of The Manchester Union Leader Board of Judges for the Athlete of the Month Program. Most recently, he was chosen as one of New Hampshire's top Athletes of the 20th Century by the Union Leader, and was named Honorary Chairman of the Granite Gala to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. A Granite state resident for more than 50 years, he also has three children, Stacie, Stephanie and Scott, and three grandchildren, Cailey, Keira and Grace.
Through it all though, Schubert has kept the UMass Football program squarely in his sights. In looking ahead to this season's schedule, the October 2 contest at Boston College will undoubtedly have significant meaning for many, and Steve Schubert will be among the Minuteman supporters you can count on seeing at the game. Who knows, he might be just the trick UMass would need to post its second victory over Boston College since his miraculous game in 1972. "You never know what can happen on any given day," Schubert said. "Hopefully, October 2 will be that given day for UMass."
This story was originally published in July 2004 issue of The Maroon & White. For subscription information please call the Athletic Development Office at (413) 545-4290.
