The University of Maine returns to Alumni Field in Orono Saturday for the first of three home football games to close out the 1993 season.

While the surroundings should help make the Black Bears more comfortable, the home-field advantage isn’t likely to be much consolation against powerhouse William & Mary.

Coach Jack Cosgrove leads Maine (3-5 overall, 2-4 in the Yankee Conference) into the 12:30 p.m. league clash gainst the Tribe, which is ranked 11th in the nation in Division I-AA football.

Superlatives abound regarding Jimmye Laycock’s William & Mary squad. The Tribe is 6-2 overall, including a 10-0 loss to Div. I-A Tulane, and 4-1 in league play. The Tribe edged James Madison last week after consecutive blowout wins over Villanova, Northeastern, VMI and Harvard.

“They’re the best team we’re going to face this year, I think,” Cosgrove said. “They deserve all the credit they’re getting. For our guys, it’s a great, great challenge looking up and seeing that team coming into town, one that we’ve got to be ready to meet.”

For starters, the Tribe features the top-ranked defense in the YC. William & Mary has afforded opponents 277 yards per game behind linebacker Greg Applewhite (84 tackles) and tackle Craig Staub (80). Erin McGuire and Marc Richards headline a secondary that ranks No. 1 against the pass.

The Tribe’s defense usually is well-rested because of the team’s propensity for controlling the football on offense. A strapping offensive line has enabled William & Mary to roll up 440 yards and 36.4 points per game.

Shifty quarterback Shawn Knight (65-for-97, 1153 yds., 13 TDs), tailback Derek Fitzgerald (661 yds., 8 TDs) and split end Corey Ludwig (27 catches, 545 yds., 5 TDs) are the Tribe’s main weapons.

“They have a very disciplined offense,” Cosgrove said. “They run the ball very well and mix some great play-action in there and they don’t turn the ball over.”

Maine’s mission is, again, to stay close. Only this time, the Bears want the result to be a win.

To accomplish that, the Maine defense headed by linebackers Ross Fichthorn (136 tackles) and Jemal Murph (90) must come up big repeatedly and avoid giving up long-gainers.

Maine’s offense, which has continued to improve slowly, can’t afford to come up empty when it gets within scoring range. Steve Knight (377 yds.) and Robert Tubbs (357 yds.) head the ground attack, while QB Emilio Colon (100-for-202, 1,215 yds., 7 TDs) and favorite target Frizell Davis (30 rec., 429 yds.) must improve their consistency.

Saturday’s game is the the first meeting between the two schools.