Bradley To Be Inducted Into UMass-Lowell Athletic Hall of Fame

A lot of water has flowed under the University Avenue bridge since the days when Tewksbury's Tom Bradley ran wild on the University of Lowell football fields.

For openers, the school is now known as the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, and it doesn't even have a football program any more. And if it did, the football team would be known as the River Hawks, not the Chieftains, as they were in Bradley's day.

In spite of all the changes, Bradley's record-setting career at ULowell, and the highly successful era he played in, will not be forgotten. Bradley will be among five people inducted into the UMass-Lowell Athletic Hall of Fame when it honors its Class of 2011 on September 30th at the UML Inn and Conference Center in downtown Lowell.

 "It's quite an honor," said Bradley, who graduated from in 1989 and played football at U-Lowell from 1989 to 1993. "I wish they still had the football program there, but at least they haven't forgotten us."

Budget problems caused the school to eliminate its football program in 2003, after the program had moved up to the Division II level and found limited success. Bradley played wide receiver for U-Lowell when they played in the NCAA's Division 3.

One of the most prolific receivers in U-Lowell history, Bradley led his team to a 31-7-1 record from 1989-93. He still holds 11 school records.

Bradley finished his career with 2,627 receiving yards and 23 touchdown receptions. He set records for passes caught in a season (59) and career (163), longest reception (83 yards) and most yards on punt returns in a season (221).

“(Bradley) was perhaps the most electrifying game-breaker ever to embrace the gridiron at (U-Lowell),” said Dennis Scannell, who was U-Lowell's head coach from 1986-92. “He could singlehandedly turn a contest around whenever he touched a football."

Bradley was a two-time New England Football Conference All-Star and a Football Gazette All-American Honorable Mention in 1991.

When U-Lowell moved to the Freedom Football Conference In his senior year, Bradley led the conference in receptions per game (6.6), total receptions (59), receiving yards (893) and receiving touchdowns (5). He was honored as an FFC First Team All-Star.

"I've still got some great memories from those days," Bradley said. "It was a great place for local kids like me to continue playing football. When I was there the whole team was basically Merrimack Valley kids.

"The good thing is that we're still close friends," Bradley added. "A couple (teammates) were in my wedding, and last year we all got together and rented a luxury box at the Bruins game and tore up the city for a day. It was good."

Bradley, who graduated from U-Lowell with a degree in history, has worked for the Middlesex County Sherrif's department for 13 years, where he has risen to the rank of captain. He lives in Tewksbury with his wife Alison and his four children, Lindsay, Rachel, Thomas and Timmy.

And football still runs deep in his veins. Bradley played for legendary coach Bob Aylward Sr. at Tewksbury High, and he returned to his roots to coach under Aylward in 1996. Bradley has served as one of current coach Brian Aylward's assistants for 14 years.

 "I can't wait to get to practice this afternoon," he said. "I still love it, I still love running around with the kids."

Bradley is also looking forward to the ceremony next month, where he will likely reunite with Scannell and some former teammates.

"I'm humbled," he said. "I just wish we could go in as a team rather than a couple guys here and there. But I'm proud to be from Tewksbury and go in there representing Tewksbury in the Hall of Fame."