University of Massachusets Athletics
2005 UMass Football Schedule Released
January 18, 2005 | Football
Jan. 18, 2005
AMHERST, Mass. - The Atlantic 10 Football Conference released the 2005 football schedule this afternoon. The University of Massachusetts plays one of the most competitive schedules once again, as a member of the premier Division I-AA football conference, which featured four NCAA Tournament teams in 2004 including national champion James Madison.
The Minutemen open the season with a Thursday night game at Richmond on Sept. 1. That will be followed by a road game at Colgate on Sept. 10. UMass then returns to the friendly confines of McGuirk Stadium for the first of five home games in a seven-week span, which features the team's bye week.
The Minutemen open the home slate with the first-ever game against Albany on Sept. 17. That will be followed by a visit from Rhode Island on Sept. 24. After an open date on Oct. 1, UMass hosts Northeastern on Oct. 8 and national champion James Madison on Oct. 15. After a road game on Oct. 22 at Maine, UMass hosts NCAA quarterfinalist New Hampshire on Oct. 29 to close out the home schedule.
UMass closes the regular-season with three straight road games. They travel to national quarterfinalist Delaware on Nov. 5. That is followed by a trip to Division I-A Army on Nov. 12. UMass' only other game with the Black Knights came in 1977. The season wraps up at Hofstra on Nov. 19.
"Obviously we have another challenging schedule for the second year in a row with just five home games," said head coach Don Brown, who begins his second season at the helm of UMass this coming fall. "Hopefully we have gathered some momentum from the end of last season, when we won four of the last five games, as we head into 2005. Playing a Division I-A school such as Army in November, is a great challenge for our players to face some of the best competition in the country late in the season as we prepare to make a run at the playoffs."
All game times and special festivities such as Homecoming, Band Day, Fan Appreciation Day and Hall of Fame Day will be announced at a later date.
2005 UMass Football Schedule
Thursday Sept. 1 at Richmond* Saturday Sept. 10 at Colgate Saturday Sept. 17 ALBANY Saturday Sept. 24 RHODE ISLAND* Saturday Oct. 1 Open Date Saturday Oct. 8 NORTHEASTERN* Saturday Oct. 15 JAMES MADISON* Saturday Oct. 22 at Maine* Saturday Oct. 29 NEW HAMPSHIRE* Saturday Nov. 5 at Delaware* Saturday Nov. 12 at Army Saturday Nov. 19 at Hofstra* HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS; Atlantic 10 Games denoted with asterisk.
