A Legacy of Rams: The History of Framingham State University Football

The Framingham State Rams football team represents Framingham State University in college football at the NCAA Division III level. The Rams are members of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC), having joined in 2013. Their journey is marked by periods of dominance, coaching transitions, and a strong connection to the Framingham community.

Early Years and Formation

The Framingham State University football program was founded in 1972 as a club sport under head coach Dennis Golden. Golden, who also served as the university's dean of students, sought to introduce the sport to campus to build student interest and participation. In the inaugural 1972 club season, the Rams compiled an undefeated 5-0 record, demonstrating early promise and engaging a core group of student players, including freshman lineman Tom Kelley, who later became a key figure in the program's history.

Transition to Varsity Status and NEFC Years

The Framingham State Rams football program elevated to varsity status in 1974 within the New England Football Conference (NEFC) at the NCAA Division III level, led by head coach Dennis Golden, who had guided the club teams since 1972. Golden’s tenure through 1981 produced an overall record of 47-35, including multiple winning seasons in the mid-1970s, such as 6-2 in 1975 and 5-4 in 1976 and 1978.

Subsequent coaching transitions reflected the program's inconsistencies during the NEFC years. Tom Raeke coached from 1985 to 1994, compiling a 31-50 record with a high point of 6-4 in 1986. Michael Strachan led the team from 1995 to 2001, achieving a 16-58-1 mark amid ongoing difficulties in securing victories. The era was characterized by key struggles, including persistent sub-.400 winning percentages in later decades and constraints from the aging Bowditch Field facilities, which limited training and game-day resources compared to peer programs.

The Tom Kelley Era: A Turning Point

In 2007, Tom Kelley returned to coach the Framingham State Rams football program, marking a turning point after years of inconsistency in the New England Football Conference (NEFC). Under Kelley's leadership, the team achieved progressive improvements, posting a 5-5 record in his first season and building toward stronger performances, including multiple playoff appearances. This resurgence laid the groundwork for the program's transition to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) in 2013, which aligned Framingham State with other state institutions and fostered greater regional competition.

Read also: The History of FSU

Kelley stands as the most accomplished coach in program history, amassing a 135-97-2 record across three stints (1982-1984, 2007-2019, and 2021-present, as of end of 2025), including 7 MASCAC championships (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 shared, 2018, 2019, 2021) and one NEFC title in 2012. Under his leadership, the Rams secured six NCAA Division III Tournament appearances (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) up to 2024 and a seventh in 2025, along with four bowl victories: the ECAC Northeast Bowl in 2010, ECAC North Atlantic Bowl in 2014, and New England Bowl in 2016 and 2017, while overcoming significant challenges such as injuries and quarterback instability to post multiple comeback seasons, including a 7-4 mark in 2011. In 2025, the Rams shared the MASCAC title with a 7-2 conference record, capped by a 28-27 comeback victory over Worcester State, before a first-round NCAA loss (7-4 overall).

Joining the MASCAC

In 2013, the Framingham State Rams football team transitioned from the New England Football Conference to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC), joining alongside other Massachusetts public institutions such as Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Westfield State, and Worcester State to establish football as an official MASCAC championship sport. This move aligned the program with a regional focus on in-state competition, fostering stronger ties among state university systems.

The MASCAC operates as a ten-team league without divisions, featuring a round-robin schedule that emphasizes geographic proximity and in-state rivalries among primarily Massachusetts-based schools, including affiliates like Western Connecticut State and Plymouth State. This structure promotes balanced competition and regular matchups that enhance regional recruiting and fan engagement, while the conference champion receives an automatic qualification for the NCAA Division III postseason tournament.

Conference Dominance and Championships

The MASCAC era brought sustained success, highlighted by undefeated conference records in 2013 (8-0 in MASCAC), 2014 (8-0 in MASCAC), and 2015 (8-0 in MASCAC), establishing the Rams as a dominant force. Further triumphs included 10-win seasons in 2012 (10-2 overall), 2014 (10-1 overall), and 2017 (10-1 overall), with the team advancing to NCAA Division III playoffs multiple times during this period, including first-round appearances in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2019. The program maintained this momentum with additional undefeated conference campaigns in 2019 (8-0 in MASCAC) and 2021 (8-0 in MASCAC), despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the cancellation of the 2020 season (recorded as 0-0). More recently, the 2022 season ended 5-5 overall (4-4 MASCAC), followed by 5-4 overall (5-3 MASCAC) in 2023 and 3-7 overall (3-6 MASCAC) in 2024. In 2025, the Rams finished 7-4 overall (7-2 MASCAC), clinching a share of the conference title and earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs, where they lost in the first round.

The Framingham State Rams football program has won nine conference championships, marking periods of dominance in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) and the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). The Rams' first conference title came in 2012 under the NEFC banner, where they finished with a perfect 8-0 record in league play, clinching the outright championship and advancing to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history.

Read also: FSU Notable Alumni

Following the transition to the MASCAC in 2013, Framingham State embarked on a remarkable run of success, capturing three consecutive titles from 2013 to 2015, all with undefeated 8-0 conference records. In 2013, the Rams went 9-2 overall, using the championship to earn their second straight NCAA playoff appearance. The 2014 season saw them improve to 10-1, again perfect in MASCAC play, which boosted program momentum and led to a postseason bowl opportunity. After a brief pause in 2016, the Rams resumed their dominance in 2017, sharing the MASCAC title with Plymouth State at 7-1 in conference play during a 10-1 overall campaign. This co-championship qualified them for a postseason bowl game and underscored the program's sustained competitiveness. Framingham State then claimed outright titles in 2018 (7-1, 8-3 overall) and 2019 (8-0, 8-3 overall), with the latter marking another perfect conference season that propelled them into the NCAA tournament. The Rams closed out their championship era with an outright title in 2021, going 8-0 in conference play en route to an 8-3 record. This undefeated league performance during a COVID-impacted season reinforced the program's resilience and provided a foundation for future success, including enhanced national rankings and alumni support. In 2025, Framingham State shared the MASCAC title with Anna Maria and Plymouth State at 7-2 in conference play (7-3 overall), earning the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs, where they lost in the first round to LaGrange, 24-21.

NEFC Bogan Division Titles

The Framingham State Rams football program secured three New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division titles between 2010 and 2012, during the period when the NEFC operated with Bogan and Boyd divisions to determine postseason participants. These victories highlighted the team's competitive edge in the division, which consisted of four to five teams and featured a round-robin schedule contributing to overall conference standings. In 2010, the Rams posted a 7-1 conference record to claim the Bogan Division title but lost a tiebreaker that prevented advancement to the NEFC championship game. The 2011 season brought co-championship honors in the Bogan Division with a 6-2 conference mark, tying the Rams for the top spot and qualifying them to host the NEFC championship game. Framingham State's 2012 campaign culminated in an undefeated 8-0 conference record and the Bogan Division crown, propelling them to the NEFC championship game where they defeated Western New England 34-27 to win the overall conference title.

NCAA Division III Playoffs

The Framingham State Rams football team has made seven appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs, compiling an 0-7 record, with all games resulting in first-round defeats. These postseason berths have typically come via automatic bids earned through Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championships or strong regular-season finishes, highlighting the program's consistent success at the conference level despite challenges in national competition.

The Rams' playoff debut came in 2012, when they traveled to SUNY Cortland for a tightly contested first-round matchup that ended in a 19-20 loss. Despite a strong rushing performance from running back John Van Alstyne, who gained 227 yards and two touchdowns, Framingham State fell short after a failed extra-point attempt on their final score. This close game marked the program's first venture into the national tournament following a 10-1 regular season and New England Football Conference title. In 2013, Framingham State traveled to Ithaca College and led at halftime before a second-half comeback led to a 17-20 defeat; the Bombers scored 17 unanswered points, capitalizing on defensive stands to advance. Subsequent appearances followed a similar pattern of competitive but ultimately unsuccessful efforts. In 2018, the third-seeded Brockport Golden Eagles defeated the Rams 40-27 in a high-scoring affair, with Brockport's balanced attack securing a spot in the second round. The 2019 matchup against Wesley again proved daunting, resulting in a 21-58 lopsided loss, as the Wolverines' quarterback Drew Fry threw for five touchdowns in a dominant display. Framingham State's most recent prior appearance in 2021 ended in a 0-45 shutout by Muhlenberg College, where the Mules' defense held the Rams scoreless while their offense racked up 45 points in efficient fashion. Across these games, notable highlights include the Rams' resilience in close contests, such as the 2012 and 2025 one-point and three-point margins, which demonstrated their ability to compete with top regional foes. Defensive efforts have occasionally shone through, as in the 2021 shutout attempt against Muhlenberg, though offensive struggles against playoff-caliber defenses have been a recurring theme.

Bowl Game Success

The Framingham State Rams football program has a perfect 4-0 record in non-NCAA invitational bowl games, all of which were victories achieved as postseason rewards for strong regular-season performances without qualifying for the NCAA Division III playoffs. These bowls, organized by conferences like the ECAC and independent entities, provided opportunities for competitive teams from the Northeast to extend their seasons and gain exposure beyond their primary leagues.

In the 2010 ECAC Northeast Bowl, held on November 20 at Bowditch Field in Framingham, Massachusetts, the Rams defeated the Norwich University Cadets 27-21 in overtime. Trailing late in regulation, Framingham State mounted a comeback drive capped by a touchdown pass from quarterback Kurt Leone, securing their first-ever bowl victory and capping a 7-4 season that included a MASCAC co-championship. The Rams returned to the ECAC postseason in 2014, winning the North Atlantic Bowl 42-36 against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on November 22 in Framingham. This overtime thriller saw Framingham State rally from a halftime deficit, with quarterback Matt Silva throwing for multiple scores and the defense forcing turnovers to seal the win, finishing the year at 10-1 after a MASCAC title. Framingham State claimed the inaugural New England Bowl in 2016, edging the Salve Regina University Seahawks 37-34 on November 19 at Gaudet Middle School Field in Middletown, Rhode Island. The Rams' offense exploded for over 500 yards, led by running back Jordan Thomas, while a goal-line stand on the final play preserved the victory in a 8-3 season marked by a share of the MASCAC crown. The program repeated as New England Bowl champions in 2017, dominating Curry College 48-14 on November 18 at Bowditch Field. Quarterback Julian Williams threw for four touchdowns in a balanced offensive display, overwhelming Curry's defense in a 10-1 campaign that included a MASCAC co-championship.

Home Field and Traditions

Bowditch Field, located at 475 Union Avenue in Framingham, Massachusetts, serves as the primary home venue for the Framingham State Rams football team. Beyond Rams football, the field strengthens program identity through its deep community connections, accommodating events for Framingham High School, local youth leagues, and other collegiate teams, which enhances local support and accessibility.

The mascot is the Ram, personified as Sam the Ram, which originated in the late 1960s through a student-led initiative at Framingham State College to foster school spirit amid the launch of varsity athletics, including the inaugural men's basketball team. Traditions surrounding Rams football emphasize community engagement, such as fans donning gold and black attire during homecoming and family weekend events to support the team. Pre-game rituals include standard marching band performances, though a dedicated fight song is not prominently detailed in official records; the university's anthem is occasionally played at athletic gatherings. The traditional final game of the season and plays for the Route 9 Cup (the only state route that links Framingham directly with Worcester).

Coaching History and Overall Record

The Framingham State Rams football program has had seven head coaching tenures since its inception as a club team in 1972, with the team achieving varsity status in 1974. Overall program record as of end of 2025 season: 235-266-2 (.469).

tags: #framingham #state #university #football #history