University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass' Football History Vs. FBS Teams
September 13, 2010 | Football
Sept. 13, 2010
The UMass football team is prepping to play in front of what may be the largest college football crowd in modern history on Saturday. The Minutemen will leave for Michigan on Friday morning to take on the 2-0 Wolverines at newly-refurbished Michigan Stadium. Michigan drew a record 113,090 to its season opener on Sept. 4 and could surpass that on Saturday. Here is a look at UMass' history vs. FBS teams and the largest crowds UMass has played before.
UMass Vs. FBS Teams
• The game marks the 11th time in 12 years UMass has taken on a Football Bowl Subdivision (former Division I-A) team. In four of the last five years, UMass played narrow games with FBS teams, losing by 10 points or fewer in four of the five games including last season's narrow 21-17 loss at Kansas State. UMass has played a ranked FBS team in two of the last four years having playing then-No. 10 Texas Tech in 2008 and then-No. 12 Boston College in 2007.
• Since FCS (Division I-AA) was formed in 1978, UMass has a record of 8-21 against I-A foes, with the last victory being a 26-10 triumph over Ball State on Sept. 1, 1984, at home at McGuirk Stadium. Every game the Minutemen have played against Division I-A schools since the beginning of the 1978 season is listed in the chart. (Note: Dartmouth, Harvard, Holy Cross and Villanova are former Division I-A/FBS members which now compete in Division I-AA/FCS).
• UMass battled hard scoring back-to-back touchdowns in the second half after trailing by 18 at halftime, but lost 21-17 at Big 12 foe Kansas State before 50,750 fans at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Tony Nelson led UMass with 107 yards on the ground, while Kyle Havens made his first start in the Maroon & White at quarterback going 10-of-34 with one touchdown.
• Two years ago the Minutemen suffered a 56-14 loss to Texas Tech in Lubbock on Sept. 20, 2008. The Red Raiders came into the game No. 10 in FBS on the way to being ranked as high as No. 2 later in the season.
• Three seasons ago, UMass battled No. 12 Boston College to the end in a 24-14 loss at Chestnut Hill on Sept. 29, 2007. UMass trailed by just three points late in the third quarter at 17-14.
• Prior to that game, UMass played a service academy two years in a row, losing close games on both occasions. The Minutemen dropped a narrow, 21-20 game at Navy on Sept. 9, 2006. In 2005, the Minutemen battled Army to the very end before they dropped a 34-27 decision to the Cadets on Nov. 12. In 2004, UMass traveled across state to face Boston College and fell to the Eagles, 29-7 on Oct. 2, 2004.
• The Minutemen traveled to then-No. 7 Kansas State and lost 38-7 on Sept. 13, 2003. In 2002, UMass dropped a 56-24 decision at No. 17 NC State, while in 2001 it played at Marshall, falling 49-20. In 1999, the Minutemen played at Toledo, when they lost 24-3. Prior to that, UMass had not played a I-A school since Sept. 17, 1988, when it dropped a 44-17 decision to Ball State in Muncie, Ind.
UMass vs. FBS Teams
Year Opponent Score
1978 Villanova L, 21-25
at Harvard L, 0-10
Rutgers L, 11-21
at Holy Cross W, 33-8
Boston College W, 27-0
1979 at Villanova L, 7-35
at Harvard W, 20-7
Holy Cross L, 18-20
at Boston College L, 3-41
1980 Villanova W, 24-12
at Holy Cross W, 17-13
Boston College L, 12-13
1981 Holy Cross W, 13-10
Dartmouth W, 10-8
at Boston College L, 22-52
1982 Boston College L, 21-34
1983 at Toledo L, 13-45
1984 Ball State W, 26-10
1988 at BallState L,17-44
1999 at Toledo L, 3-24
2001 at Marshall L, 20-49
2003 at #7 Kansas State L, 7-38
2004 at Boston College L, 7-29
2005 at Army L, 27-34
2006 at Navy L, 20-21
2007 at #12 Boston College L, 14-24
2008 at #10 Texas Tech L, 14-56
* Note: Dartmouth, Harvard, Holy Cross and Villanova are former Division I-A/FBS members which now compete in Division I-AA/FCS
Big Crowds Watch UMass
• UMass will play before the largest crowd ever to watch a school sporting event on Saturday at Michigan -- and by more than double the highest previous crowd. The record to watch UMass play was 53,190 at Texas Tech in 2008.
• Last season, a crowd of 50,750 watched UMass play at Kansas State. It was the third 50,000-plus crowd to watch UMass. Prior to Texas Tech in 2008, the biggest mark of 51,221, was set on Sept. 28, 2002, at NC State.
• The three crowds of more than 50,000 are the largest to watch any UMass team play. Fourth on the list came in the 2006 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships in Philadelphia when 49,562 watch UMass beat Maryland in the Semifinals. The fourth largest crowd all-time to see the football Minutemen play came in 2003 when 46,102 watched the game at Kansas State.
Largest Crowds To Watch UMass Sporting Events
Sept. 20, 2008 at Texas Tech 53,190
Sept 28, 2002 at NC State 51,221
Sept. 5, 2009 at Kansas State 50,750
May 27, 2006 NCAA Lacrosse Semfinals vs. Maryland 49,562
at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
May 27, 2006 NCAA Lacrosse Championship vs. Virginia 47,062
at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
Sept. 13, 2003 at Kansas State 46,102
Sept. 27, 2007 at Boston College 44,111
Oct. 2, 2004 at Boston College 42,262
* Note: All Football Games, unless in italics
