30 year celebration of football program at the Corsair Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Homecoming football game
The founding members of the UMass Dartmouth’s football program were honored as part of this year’s Corsair Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on September 25 and as part of the pregame festivities at September 26's Homecoming football game.
The 1985 Corsair Club Football Team achieved the unimaginable to those outside of Ring Road with its success. The hopes, dreams and accomplishments of the 1985 team created opportunities for football student athletes over the next 29 years to experience academic and athletic success at the college level. Had the 1985 team, and subsequently ’86 and ’87 teams, not achieved success it is highly possible football would not have been elevated to Division III status after the three year trial period initially approved by the Board of Trustees.
In December 1984 a group of students led by Student Senator Gavin Curley approached then University President Dr. John Brazil about the idea of starting a football program. Dr. Brazil was open to the idea, having been a former football player at Stanford University. The student body and the Board of Trustees overwhelmingly approved the addition of club football on a three year trial basis in a non-binding referendum.
For their first game, after only having one week of spring testing, two weeks of summer camp and two weeks of practice during the school semester the Corsair Club Football Team upset defending champion and #6 nationally ranked Providence College in the university’s first football game in school history.
Success on & off the field
The team went on to post an unprecedented 3-0 start, defeating #1 nationally ranked Stonehill College and finishing the season Co-New England Collegiate Football Conference Champions with a record of 5 wins and 2 losses. The only thing stopping the Corsairs that inaugural year was Hurricane Gloria which caused a cancellation of the Roger Williams game leaving the team one win shy of qualifying for the playoffs.
A number of the players from the 1985 championship team have combined their education and football experiences to achieve success in their professional and personal lives going on to become CEOs, business owners, attorneys, military leaders, teachers, and public servants.
About UMass Dartmouth
UMass Dartmouth distinguishes itself as a vibrant public university actively engaged in personalized teaching and innovative research, and acting as an intellectual catalyst for regional economic, social, and cultural development. UMass Dartmouth's mandate to serve its community is realized through countless partnerships, programs, and other outreach efforts to engage the community, and apply its knowledge to help address local issues and empower others to facilitate change for all.