The UMass Amherst Libraries host an exhibit, “Saturday’s Rivals: Football Memories from the ‘Aggie Eleven of 1879’ to the MAC of 2011,” September 15, 2011 to January 3, 2012, on the Lower Level, Du Bois Library, UMass Amherst. The exhibit highlights posters, programs, brochures, artifacts, and photos of the team in action. An online exhibit will include additional programs, photos, listings of games and scores for the first several decades, and written histories. A reception will be held on Thursday, October 6, 2011, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Football began on campus in 1878 at what was then known as Massachusetts Agricultural College (M.A.C.). In 1947, the Yankee Conference was formed by the six land grant institutions in New England; University of Connecticut, University of Maine, Massachusetts State College (later UMass Amherst), Rhode Island State College, University of New Hampshire, and the University of Vermont. In 1997 the Yankee Conference was taken over by the Atlantic 10 Football Conference, with UMass Amherst having won more league titles (17) and games (160) than any other conference member.
In the 1990s the Yankee Conference was split in two, placing UMass Amherst in the New England Division. Beginning in 2012 the team will be playing in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
