Wednesday, June 08, 2011

UMass Football History ---1988


Click on the image for a larger view. I've added 14 scans to my UMass historical scans folder in Picassa. The album is here. Scroll to the new 1988 images. The inconspicuous magnifying glass image allows a zoom-in feature to make reading  print easier.

Included is a scan of the cover of the 1988 UMass Press Guide, somewhat the worse for having being soaked when my cellar flooded...

In 1988 UMass went 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the Yankee Conference to finish as conference champions.

UMass lost to Eastern Kentucky 17-28 in the first round of the FCS playoffs in a driving rain that hampered UMass' passing attack.

Notable game was UMass' 64-42 shootout win at UNH to finish the season on November 19th. I was there and I distinctly remember at the end of the game it was so dark that the field was lit by the glow of the Wildcats scoreboard showing the 64-42 total. The UMass players were jumping up and down and pumping their fists in gathering twilight.

The following players were All-Yankee Conference
  • John McKeon (set UMass  single season TT record with 49-128 177 TT.
  • Dave Palazzi (144-262 2,403 yards 14 TD's)
  • Bill Butler
  • Matt Tulley
Chip Mitchell was leading receiver with 33-638 19.4 AVE.

Kevin Smellie was leading rusher 188-807 8 TD's.

Other notables from that team were Gary Wilkos (who went on to have perhaps the best freshman UMass QB season ever), Thorr Bjorn, Paul Mayberry, Ron Villone and Joe Cullen.

A number of players from that squad continue to support UMass football in Friends of Football.