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OK, let’s start with harsh reality.
The University of Maine football team has not won at Boston University’s Nickerson Field since 1972, when Black Bears coach Jack Cosgrove was a junior in high school.
The Terriers have won nine straight against Maine since ’72, and BU is 11-2 overall against Maine in Boston.
On the other hand, the Bears are coming off an invigorating 30-27 come-from-behind victory over the University of Buffalo last week. Coach Dan Allen’s Terriers were idle and face the usual questions about how their untested personnel will perform.
Kickoff in the Yankee Conference opener for both teams is set for 1 p.m. on Nickerson’s artificial surface.
Boston University returns 19 starters this season, coming off a 3-8 campaign in 1992. Allen is optimistic that the Terriers can improve, based on their added experience.
“It would be nice to know how good you really are, but we can only anticipate at this point in time,” said BU’s third-year coach. “The thing that’s tough is Maine does have a game under their belt to work out the kinks. But they really didn’t have that many kinks (last week), to tell you the truth.”
The Terriers have a new quarterback in junior Robert Dougherty, a junior college transfer. He must be a talent, because he has displaced senior Greg Moore, a two-year starter.
“He’s a guy who’s going to be something special,” Allen said. “He beat out a two-year starter. He’s got an excellent arm. He’s fit in well with the run-and-shoot offense. The added threat is that he can run the football a little bit better than Greg (Moore).”
Dougherty will make BU’s offense even more dangerous, considering the Terriers have a veteran unit, including junior halfback Zack Burwell and a seasoned group of receivers led by junior Carnell Henderson and senior Jason Andrade.
The Terriers ranked eighth in the Yankee Conference in total offense last season, but Maine won’t take them lightly.
“The run-and-shoot makes me nervous,” Cosgrove said. “It seems like every time you look back, they’re dropping back to throw.”
BU’s defense is anchored by a veteran secondary, which is led by senior strong safety Marc Fauci. Sophomore Andrew Brennan, the league’s No. 2 tackler two years ago, is back at linebacker after missing ’92 with a back injury.
The Terriers also have switched from a 5-2 set to a 4-3 alignment, which means Maine must deal with a whole new look.
“We are familiar with their personnel, but I think their schemes are changing a little bit on defense,” Cosgrove said. “They’ve moved a lot of people around.”
The mission for the Bears this week is to be more consistent offensively. Maine’s defense was on the field for 91 plays last week.
Maine wants to establish the run behind tailback Robert Tubbs, tailback Ray Baur and fullback Steve Knight. That should help quarterback Emilio Colon fire up the passing attack.
“Offensively, we need to help our defense,” Cosgrove said. “We need to possess the football, provide good field position and if we don’t move it, we have to be able to punt and make them go a long way.” – – –
INJURY REPORT…. Maine: CB Larry Jones (knee), doubtful; OG Steve Stinson (leg, compartment syndrome), out; OLB Jemal Murph (concussion), probable; OLB Ako Stafford (neck strain), probable; WR Steve Cates (shoulder bruise), probable; BU: none
GAME NOTES: BU is 21-5-1 in the all-time series with Maine…. Maine’s only victories at Nickerson came in 1965 and 1972…. The Bears handled the Terriers 40-11 last year at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
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