Montie Quinn's Record-Breaking Performance: A Highlight in Curry College Football History

Curry College, a private institution in Milton, Massachusetts, has a rich history dating back to its founding as the School of Elocution and Expression in 1879. While the college has evolved significantly since its early days, maintaining a strong emphasis on communication and self-development, its athletic programs, particularly football, have also contributed to the school's identity. One recent event has etched itself into the annals of Curry College football history: a record-breaking performance by senior running back Montie Quinn.

A Historic Homecoming

During Curry College’s Homecoming and Family Weekend, Montie Quinn delivered an unforgettable performance against Nichols College. The 2024 All-American achieved a feat that placed him in the NCAA record books. Quinn rushed for an astounding 522 yards and scored a program-record seven touchdowns on just 20 carries.

Dominating Performance

Quinn's performance was characterized by explosive plays and consistent dominance. He had eight rushes of over 25 yards, including touchdown runs of 85, 84, 76, 64, 58, and 30 yards. This display of speed and agility left Nichols College struggling to contain him.

Breaking NCAA Records

Quinn's 522 rushing yards surpassed the previous NCAA Division III record of 465 yards, set by Cartel Brooks of Heidelberg (OH) in 2013. Brooks achieved his record on 38 attempts. Quinn's performance also exceeded the DII record of 425 yards, held by Connor Silveria of South Dakota Mines (46 attempts, 2018) and the DI FCS record of 437 yards, held by Maurice Hicks of North Carolina A&T (34 attempts, 2001).

Coach and Player Reactions

After the game, head coach Todd Parsons, who has been with Quinn since his freshman year, praised Quinn's accomplishment. "What Montie did today was nothing short of amazing. Breaking the NCAA rushing record is a monumental achievement," Parsons said. Quinn, echoing his coach's sentiments, attributed his success to his teammates and coaches. "I'm just humbled and grateful. Breaking the record is something I never imagined coming into today," Quinn said. "The O-Line was dominating all game; receivers were blocking like crazy, and coaches put us in position to make plays."

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Quinn's Career at Curry College

With his seven touchdowns, Quinn tied Raphael Zammit for the most career total touchdowns in program history. To date, Quinn has 53 rushing touchdowns (a program record), a receiving TD, and a kickoff return TD.

Curry College: A Brief Overview

Curry College was founded as the School of Elocution and Expression in 1879 on Boston's Beacon Street by Anna Baright. Among the school's early board members were prominent Bostonians such as Alexander Graham Bell, Alexander Melville Bell, Charles W. Eliot, and William Dean Howells. In 1885, it became the School of Expression, and in 1888, it was chartered by the state. Silas Curry became the head of the school, and Anna Baright Curry became a professor. Alexander Graham Bell served as the school's first chancellor from 1907 to 1922.

In 1932, Curry College relocated to the Bigelow Mansion at 251 Commonwealth Avenue in the Back Bay. That same year, Curry began a radio broadcasting major, which is still considered the oldest of its kind in the country. In 1938, the Massachusetts Legislature authorized the institution to confer the degrees of Bachelor of Science of Oratory and Master of Science of Oratory. In 1952, the college moved to its current suburban location in Milton, Massachusetts.

Today, Curry College offers bachelor's degrees in 25 majors and master's degrees in four majors. Its main campus in Milton spans 131 acres (53 ha), located near the Blue Hills Reservation and approximately seven miles (11 km) from downtown Boston. The campus includes 19 residence halls, and the Student Center, which opened in 2009, houses a fitness center, gymnasium, dining marketplace, game room, chapel, and meeting rooms.

Curry College has an enrollment of approximately 4,250 students, including traditional undergraduate students, continuing education students, and graduate students. Students can participate in over 36 clubs and organizations.

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Curry College Athletics

Curry College's athletic teams are known as the Colonels. The college offers a variety of sports for men and women, including baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, cross country, softball, and volleyball. Curry also has numerous intramural and club sports, such as the men's rugby club and the Bowling team and Billiards Club.

Notably, the Boston Patriots, now the New England Patriots, used the Curry College football field for their in-season practice facility in 1967 while playing their home games in Fenway Park.

In 2020, Curry announced that they would no longer be using the colonel mascot on uniforms or merchandise.