1988 Cornell Big Red football team explained

Year:1988
Team:Cornell Big Red
Sport:football
Conference:Ivy League
Short Conf:Ivy
Record:7–2–1
Conf Record:6–1
Head Coach:Maxie Baughan
Hc Year:6th
Off Coach:Eddie Wilson
Oc Year:6th
Def Coach:Pete Noyes
Dc Year:8th
Captain:Doug Langan, Scott Malaga, Mike McGrann
Stadium:Schoellkopf Field
Champion:Ivy League co-champion

The 1988 Cornell Big Red football team represented Cornell University in the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season as a member of the Ivy League. The Big Red were led by sixth-year head coach Maxie Baughan and played their home games at Schoellkopf Field. The Big Red finished the season 7–2–1 overall and 6–1 in Ivy League play to win Cornell's second Ivy League championship, sharing the title with Penn.[1]

Cornell began the season dubbed by sports analysts to have Ivy League championship potential[2] and coach Maxie Baughan described his team as "the sleeping giant of the Ivy League."[3] The Big Red eventually entered the final week of the season, in which they would face their undefeated rival Penn, having lost two games and tied one; Penn was the last remaining undefeated Division I-AA football team in 1988 and had won or shared the Ivy League title five times in the previous six seasons. During the game, which Cornell would have to win to share the conference title with Penn, nine personal fouls were assessed between the two teams. Cornell eventually broke a 3–3 halftime tie to deliver Penn's first defeat of the season and win a share of the Ivy League title for the first time since 1971.[4]

The 1988 season was Maxie Baughan's sixth and final season as head coach of the Cornell Big Red; he resigned in early 1989 after allegations surfaced that the married Baughan had a romantic relationship with top assistant coach Peter Noyes' wife. Baughan cited "personal tensions" as the rationale for his decision.[5] Assistant coach Jack Fouts was appointed head coach shortly thereafter.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1988 Football Schedule. Cornell Athletics. October 11, 2017. October 12, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171012045212/http://www.cornellbigred.com/mobile/schedule.aspx?schedule=652. dead.
  2. News: College Football: Ivy League; Princeton Stops Cornell by 26-17. The New York Times. September 18, 1988. October 12, 2017.
  3. News: Wallace. William N.. College Football; Cornell and Penn Share Ivy Title. The New York Times. November 20, 1988. October 12, 2017.
  4. News: Lieber. Jill. A Big Win for Big Red. Sports Illustrated. November 28, 1988. October 12, 2017.
  5. News: Head Coach Maxie Baughan Quits Cornell, Cites 'Tension'. Los Angeles Times. . April 26, 1989. October 12, 2017.
  6. News: Cornell Closes Book on Baughan. The Washington Post. April 27, 1989. October 12, 2017.