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
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.
