Colonial Clash

Colonial Clash
History
First meeting Massachusetts 10, New Hampshire 4 (1897)[1]
Last meeting New Hampshire 27, Massachusetts 21 (2011)
Next meeting None scheduled
Number of meetings 74
All-time series UMass leads, 43–28–3[1]
Largest victory New Hampshire, 56–7 (1921)
Current streak New Hampshire, 2
Longest UMass win streak 6 (1969–74, 1977–82)
Longest UNH win streak 4 (1953–56, 1994–97)
MVP Trophy: Bill Knight Trophy
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Locations of UMASS and UNH

The Colonial Clash was an annual college football rivalry game played between the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) and the University of New Hampshire (UNH). The two teams first played each other in 1897, and met annually from 1952 through 2011. The rivalry was branded as the Colonial Clash beginning in 2010. However, the new branding didn't last for long. In 2012, UMass transitioned to the Football Bowl subdivision (FBS) of NCAA Division I, discontinuing the rivalry. In 74 playings, UMass has won 43 games, UNH has won 28 games, and there have been three ties. Beginning with the 1986 playing, the MVP of the game was awarded the Bill Knight Trophy.

History

The first game played between the two schools took place on October 2, 1897, in Amherst, Massachusetts. Massachusetts won the game by a score of 10–4.[2][3] At the time, UMass was known as Massachusetts Agricultural College and New Hampshire was officially New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. They had formed a loose association with other public colleges in New England such as present day UConn and Rhode Island for the purpose of scheduling football matchups between the schools.[dubious – discuss]

The colleges continued to schedule matches intermittently through 1922, but then had a 30-year hiatus until next meeting in 1952.[1] They then met annually through the 2011 season, along with one playoff game as part of the 2006 postseason.[1]

In August 2010, the matchup was branded as the "Colonial Clash", coincident with an arrangement to have the game played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.[4] The 2010 matchup, a 39–13 win by New Hampshire,[5] was the first college football game played at Gillette,[6] the home stadium of the NFL's New England Patriots. The 2011 game, the second (and to date, most recent) playing under the Colonial Clash branding, was also won by UNH, 27–21.[7]

UMass leads the all-time series, 43–27–3, a winning percentage of .610, although UNH has the edge in games played since 1990, 14–9.[1] From 1958 through 1989, UMass won 26 of the meetings, losing only six times, including only one instance of back-to-back losses to their rival (1975 and 1976). The most successful run for New Hampshire occurred from 1990 to 2002, when the Wildcats won 10 matchups and lost only three.

In 2012, UMass moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the NCAA's highest level of college football. The Minutemen joined the Mid-American Conference (MAC) at that time, then in 2016 became an independent. UNH remained in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). No meetings between the programs have been scheduled since 2011, leaving the future of the rivalry in doubt.

Game results

Massachusetts victoriesNew Hampshire victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 October 2, 1897 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 10–4
2 October 14, 1905 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 15–0
3 October 6, 1906 Amherst, MA Tie0–0
4 November 7, 1908 Manchester, NH Massachusetts 13–9
5 November 6, 1909 Manchester, NH New Hampshire 17–0
6 October 29, 1910 Manchester, NH Tie0–0
7 November 4, 1911 Manchester, NH Massachusetts 8–0
8 November 9, 1912 Manchester, NH Massachusetts 21–3
9 November 8, 1913 Manchester, NH Massachusetts 34–0
10 November 1, 1919 Durham, NH New Hampshire 9–7
11 October 30, 1920 Amherst, MA New Hampshire 9–0
12 November 12, 1921 Durham, NH New Hampshire 56–7
13 October 28, 1922 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 12–10
14 November 8, 1952 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 26–13
15 November 21, 1953 Durham, NH New Hampshire 32–12
16 November 6, 1954 Amherst, MA New Hampshire 32–12
17 November 12, 1955 Durham, NH New Hampshire 21–7
18 November 17, 1956 Amherst, MA New Hampshire 28–7
19 November 16, 1957 Durham, NH Tie7–7
20 November 15, 1958 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 25–24
21 November 14, 1959 Durham, NH Massachusetts 19–6
22 November 12, 1960 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 35–15
23 November 18, 1961 Durham, NH Massachusetts 9–7
24 November 17, 1962 Amherst, MA New Hampshire 16–14
25 November 16, 1963 Durham, NH Massachusetts 48–2
26 November 14, 1964 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 47–0
27 November 13, 1965 Durham, NH Massachusetts 46–0
28 November 12, 1966 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 14–7
29 November 18, 1967 Durham, NH Massachusetts 14–13
30 November 16, 1968 Amherst, MA New Hampshire 16–0
31 November 15, 1969 Durham, NH Massachusetts 48–7
32 November 14, 1970 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 24–14
33 November 13, 1971 Durham, NH Massachusetts 38–20
34 November 18, 1972 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 42–7
35 November 17, 1973 Durham, NH Massachusetts 28–7
36 November 16, 1974 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 27–17
37 November 15, 1975 Durham, NH New Hampshire 14–11
38 November 13, 1976 Amherst, MA New Hampshire 23–0
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
39 November 12, 1977 Durham, NH Massachusetts 19–6
40 November 18, 1978 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 34–0
41 November 17, 1979 Durham, NH Massachusetts 29–0
42 November 15, 1980 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 17–0
43 November 14, 1981 Durham, NH Massachusetts 20–9
44 November 13, 1982 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 27–0
45 November 12, 1983 Durham, NH New Hampshire 35–10
46 November 17, 1984 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 14–10
47 November 16, 1985 Durham, NH Massachusetts 21–17
48 November 15, 1986 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 38–31
49 November 14, 1987 Durham, NH New Hampshire 17–10
50 November 19, 1988 Durham, NH Massachusetts 64–42
51 November 18, 1989 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 34–28
52 November 17, 1990 Durham, NH New Hampshire 36–18
53 November 23, 1991 Amherst, MA New Hampshire 35–28
54 November 21, 1992 Durham, NH New Hampshire 20–13
55 November 20, 1993 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 15–13
56 October 8, 1994 Durham, NH New Hampshire 14–11
57 October 7, 1995 Amherst, MA New Hampshire 32–29
58 October 26, 1996 Durham, NH New Hampshire 40–7
59 October 4, 1997 Amherst, MA New Hampshire 28–10
60 October 31, 1998 Durham, NH Massachusetts 27–26
61 September 11, 1999 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 34–19
62 October 28, 2000 Durham, NH New Hampshire 24–16
63 October 13, 2001 Amherst, MA New Hampshire 35–24
64 November 9, 2002 Durham, NH New Hampshire 31–14
65 October 4, 2003 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 44–30
66 October 16, 2004 Durham, NH Massachusetts 38–21
67 October 29, 2005 Amherst, MA New Hampshire 34–28
68 November 4, 2006 Durham, NH Massachusetts 28–20
69 December 2, 2006 † Amherst, MA Massachusetts 24–17
70 November 10, 2007 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 27–7
71 November 15, 2008 Durham, NH New Hampshire 52–21
72 October 17, 2009 Amherst, MA Massachusetts 23–17
73 October 23, 2010 Foxboro, MA New Hampshire 39–13
74 October 22, 2011 Foxboro, MA New Hampshire 27–21
Series: Massachusetts leads 43–28–3[1]
† = NCAA FCS Playoffs

Trophy

The Bill Knight Trophy is annually given to the Most Outstanding Player of the Colonial Clash. A new trophy is cast each year, therefore allowing the honoree to keep his award permanently.

History

The award is named after Bill Knight, long-time Sports Information Director at the University of New Hampshire, who died in November 1985. In addition to his duties at UNH, Knight was a past President of the New England Sports Information Directors Association, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee at the 1984 Winter Games, and a recipient of the Irving T. Marsh ECAC Service Bureau Award. He also served as the Information Officer of the Yankee Conference. Knight was inducted into the University of New Hampshire 100 Club Hall of Fame on October 2, 1987.[8] First awarded to Tim Bryant of UMass in 1986, the Bill Knight Trophy has been given to the most outstanding player of each playing of the Colonial Clash since then.

Recipients

Year Winner Position Team Result Location
1986 Tim Bryant QB UMass UMass, 38–31 Amherst, MA
1987 Bob Jean QB UNH UNH, 17–10 Durham, NH
1988 Dave Palazzi QB UMass UMass, 64–42 Durham, NH
1989 Gary Wilkos QB UMass UMass, 34–28 Amherst, MA
1990 Matt Griffin QB UNH UNH, 36–18 Durham, NH
1991 Matt Griffin QB UNH UNH, 35–28 Amherst, MA
1992 Jim Stayer QB UNH UNH, 20–13 Durham, NH
1993 John Johnson FB UMass UMass, 15–13 Amherst, MA
1994 Mike Foley DE UNH UNH, 14–11 Durham, NH
1995 Jerry Azumah TB UNH UNH, 32–29 Amherst, MA
1996 Jerry Azumah TB UNH UNH, 40–7 Durham, NH
1997 Jerry Azumah TB UNH UNH, 28–10 Amherst, MA
1998 Marcel Shipp TB UMass UMass, 27–26 Durham, NH
1999 Adrian Zullo WR UMass UMass, 34–19 Amherst, MA
2000 Stephan Lewis TB UNH UNH, 24–16 Durham, NH
2001 Stephan Lewis TB UNH UNH, 35–24 Amherst, MA
2002 Stephan Lewis TB UNH UNH, 31–14 Durham, NH
2003 Jason Peebler WR UMass UMass, 44–30 Amherst, MA
2004 Steve Baylark TB UMass UMass, 38–21 Durham, NH
2005 David Ball WR UNH UNH, 34–28 Amherst, MA
2006 Jason Hatchell DE UMass UMass, 28–20 Durham, NH
2007 Matt Lawrence TB UMass UMass, 27–7 Amherst, MA
2008 Matt Parent LB UNH UNH, 52–21 Durham, NH
2009 Jon Hernandez TB UMass UMass, 23–17 Amherst, MA
2010 Matt Evans LB UNH UNH, 39–13 Foxboro, MA
2011 Dontra Peters TB UNH UNH, 27–21 Foxboro, MA

Notes

  • Quarterbacks won the first seven awards. No quarterback has won since.
  • No player from the losing team has been awarded the trophy.
  • Four Bill Knight Trophy winners have gone on to play in the NFL: Jerry Azumah, Marcel Shipp, Steve Baylark, and Matt Lawrence.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "New Hampshire vs Massachusetts". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ "M. A. C., 10; N. H. C., 4". The New Hampshire College Monthly. Vol. 5, no. 2. November 1897. pp. 44–45. Retrieved February 29, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  3. ^ "Football Season Opened". The Berkshire Eagle. Pittsfield, Massachusetts. October 4, 1897. p. 1. Retrieved March 1, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "UMass, UNH rivalry game rebranded 'Colonial Clash'". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. August 19, 2010. p. 26. Retrieved March 3, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Larson, Craig (October 24, 2010). "Wildcats are the class of the Clash". The Boston Globe. p. C17. Retrieved March 3, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Larson, Craig (October 23, 2010). "Evans hitting stride at UNH". The Boston Globe. p. C6. Retrieved March 3, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Vega, Michael (October 23, 2011). "UNH bids adieu to UMass with win". The Boston Globe. p. C15. Retrieved March 3, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "The Bill Knight Award". Newenglandfootball.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.