Rhode Island Rams football

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Rhode Island Rams football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2024 Rhode Island Rams football team
Rhode Island Rams logo.svg
First season 1895; 130 years ago
Athletic directorThorr Bjorn
Head coach Jim Fleming
11th season, 47–69 (.405)
Stadium Meade Stadium
(capacity: 6,555)
Field surface FieldTurf
Location Kingston, Rhode Island
NCAA division Division I FCS
Conference CAA Football
All-time record38554343 (.419)
Rivalries Brown (rivalry)
UConn (rivalry)
ColorsKeaney blue, navy blue, and white [1]
     
Website GoRhody.com

The Rhode Island Rams football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Rhode Island located in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference (CAA Football). [2] Rhode Island's first football team was fielded in 1895. The team plays its home games at the 6,555 seat Meade Stadium in Kingston, Rhode Island.

Contents

Conference affiliations

Rhode Island has played as both an independent and conference-affiliated team. [3] [ page needed ][ better source needed ]

Playoffs

The Rams have appeared in the Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs four times with a combined playoff record of 3–4.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1981 QuarterfinalsIdaho StateL 0–51
1984 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Richmond
Montana State
W 23–17
L 20–32
1985 First Round
Quarterfinals
Akron
Furman
W 35–27
L 15–59
2024 First Round
Second Round
Central Connecticut
Mercer
W 21–17
L 10–17

Championships

Conference championships

The Rams have won eight conference championships, seven in the Yankee Conference and one in the Coastal Athletic Association.

The Yankee Conference titles were highlighted by two separate runs of numerous championships (four in five years during the 1950s and three in four years during the 1980s) and respective droughts between those run: a 24-year drought between titles in 1957 and 1981 and a 39-year drought between Rhode Island's final Yankee title in 1985 and their first CAA title in 2024.

YearConferenceCoachOverall recordConference record
1952 Yankee Conference (7) Hal Kopp (3)7–13–1
19536–23–1
1955 6–1–24–0
1957 Herb Maack (1)5–2–13–0–1
1981 Bob Griffin (3)6–64–1
198410–34–1
1985 10–35–0
2024 Coastal Athletic Association (1) Jim Fleming 10–27–1

Divisional championships

The Rams have won one division title, in 1995: the Yankee Conference's New England Division.

YearDivision championshipOpponentResult
1995 Yankee New England Division Delaware L 19–24

Rivalries

Brown

UConn

Retired numbers

Rhode Island Rams retired numbers
No.PlayerPos.TenureNo. ret.Ref.
12 Tom Ehrhardt 1983–1985 QB 1996 [4]

Notable former players

Current NFL players

As of August 30, 2023, there are no former Rhode Island Rams players listed on team rosters in the National Football League (NFL). [5]

Most recently two players were released prior to the 2023 NFL season.

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of December 9, 2022. [6]

20242025202620272028
Bryant at Minnesota at Western Michigan at Bryant at Boston College
at Brown Brown at Holy Cross Brown at Brown
at Bryant at Brown

References

  1. "Color Palette". 2023 Rhode Island Rams Brand Guide (PDF). May 2, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  2. "THE CAA & CAA FOOTBALL". Coastal Athletic Association. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  3. "Record Book (PDF)" (PDF). University of Rhode Island. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  4. "Thomas E. Ehrhardt (1996) - Hall of Fame". gorhody.com. University of Rhode Island. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  5. "Rhode Island Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  6. "Rhode Island Rams Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 9, 2022.