Boston University Terriers football
First season1884[1][2]
Last season1997
StadiumNickerson Field
(capacity: 10,412)
Field surfaceFieldTurf
LocationBoston, Massachusetts
NCAA divisionDivision I-AA
ConferenceAtlantic 10 Conference
All-time record323–390–34 (.455)
Bowl record0–1 (.000)
Conference titles5 (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1993)
RivalriesBoston College Eagles
UMass Minutemen
Northeastern Huskies
ColorsScarlet and white[3]
   
Fight songGO B.U.
MascotRhett the Boston Terrier

The Boston University Terriers football team was the American football team for Boston University located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school's first football team was fielded in 1884, and the program was discontinued in 1997. The Terriers football team compiled an all-time record of 323–390–34.[4] The team competed in NCAA Division I-AA from its formation in 1978, as members of the Yankee Conference and later the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Boston University terminated the varsity football program on homecoming weekend in 1997, during a one-win season in the Atlantic 10. Players were allowed to keep their four-year scholarships or transfer without NCAA penalties. At the time of its termination the program ran at an annual loss of $2.91 million. Boston University has used the former football scholarships to comply with Title IX requirements. Boston University still fields a club football squad in the modern Yankee Conference.

Notable former players

Notable alumni include:

Championships

Year Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record
1980 Yankee Conference Rick Taylor 9–2 5-0
1982† Yankee Conference Rick Taylor 5–6 3-2
1983† Yankee Conference Rick Taylor 9–4 4-1
1984† Yankee Conference Rick Taylor 9–3 4-1
1993 Yankee Conference Dan Allen 12–1 8-0
Total conference championships 5

† denotes co-championship.

Division I-AA Playoffs results

The Terriers appeared in the I-AA playoffs five times with a record of 2–5.

Year Round Opponent Result
1982 First Round Colgate L 7–21
1983 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Eastern Kentucky
Furman		 W 24–20
L 16–35
1984 First Round Richmond L 33–35
1993 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Northern Iowa
Idaho		 W 27–21 2OT
L 14–21
1994 First Round Eastern Kentucky L 23–30

Bowl games

The Terriers had a record of 0–1 in bowl games. Boston University appeared in one bowl game during their tenure. As a member of the College Division, they played against a member of the University Division in the Pasadena Bowl.

Year Coach Bowl Opponent Result
December 6, 1969 Larry Naviaux Pasadena Bowl San Diego State L 7–28

References

  1. ^ Thompson, Rich (2 Aug 2020). "When football lost its way at Boston University and Northeastern". Boston Herald. Retrieved 23 June 2022.(subscription required)
  2. ^ Moran, Malcolm. "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Banned in Boston: One Football Team; At B.U., a Century of Pigskin History Is Coming to a Sudden, and Painful, End". New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Boston University Master Logo". Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  4. ^ "Boston Historical Data". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
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