ORONO – Recruiting Division I-AA football players amounts to a bidding war between schools.

These days, University of Maine coach Jack Cosgrove and his staff go into the recruiting game armed with the kind of financial resources, facility, academic opportunities and quality people to attract talented players to Orono.

Cosgrove is optimistic about the prospects for his 2001 recruiting class, most of which was revealed Wednesday on National Letter of Intent signing day.

The Black Bears, coming off a 5-6 season, received 23 of 25 expected commitments including three from Maine high school standouts and one from the son of former New England Patriots fullback and special teams standout Mosi Tatupu.

“We looked at as good a quality, maybe even the best quality of athlete, that we’ve ever looked at here,” Cosgrove offered. “They’re big, they’re fast, they’re strong [and] they can make plays. They have those kind of physical skills that make them attractive as Division I athletes.”

All signings are contingent upon admission to UMaine and compliance with NCAA rules and initial eligibility guidelines.

One Maine star who did not chose UMaine was Portland High quarterback Quinton Porter, who committed to Boston College.

While Cosgrove was hesitant to single out anybody, Tatupu is a name recognized by many Patriots fans. Mosiula Tatupu is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound linebacker out of Plainville, Mass., who played at King Phillip High School.

The instate contingent is made up of three southern Maine players. Wide receiver and kicker Chris Devinney of South Portland (6-0, 165 pounds) and offensive linemen William Roak (6-1, 280) of Portland and Joshua Watson (6-0, 240) of Limington and Class A state champ Bonny Eagle also are bound for UMaine.

“The guys that we have coming from Maine, they’re all going to have a chance to play,” Cosgrove said. “That’s what’s important about that whole thing is being honest with them and [evaluating], will they have a chance to play?”

The Bears’ signees are concentrated in the Northeast. Eight hail from Massachusetts and seven played in New Jersey, while there are four New Yorkers and one from Connecticut.

Cosgrove said because UMaine has the maximum amount of scholarship money, an impressive facility in Alfond Stadium and the commitment of coaches, faculty, staff and team members, the Bears are increasingly able to attract quality student-athletes.

“The university’s commitment to the scholarship dollars, that’s huge,” Cosgrove said. “My wife [Marilyn] has witnessed me on the phone the last few nights. There have been some bidding wars versus other schools. You’ve got to give more to get somebody.”

UMaine’s primary positional needs are at wide receiver and placekicker/punter. The Bears lost standouts Phil McGeoghan, Dwayne Wilmot and Ben Christopher, who combined for 149 receptions, 1,970 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

With four-year placekicker and punter Todd Jagoutz gone, the Bears signed two players to challenge for those spots.

Cosgrove explained that most often, UMaine winds up using only five or six true freshmen, at most, each season.

“It’s not an immediate need type of thing, nor do we want to put it on them that they have to come in and play,” Cosgrove said. “[But] that wouldn’t surprise me with this class, either. There are some talented kids in the class.”

UMaine 2001 Recruiting Class

Quarterbacks: Christopher Legree (6-0, 190), New Windsor, N.Y.; Michael Mellow (6-2, 205), Stonington, Conn.; Gary Edwards (5-11, 175), Jackson, N.J.; Backs: Onyi Momah (6-1, 210), Greenlawn, N.Y.; Marcus Williams (5-10, 205), Amherst, Mass.; Receivers: Dzigbodi Ababio (6-2, 220), Willingboro, N.J.; John Baumgartner (6-0, 175), Carteret, N.J.; Kurt Bulwith (6-3, 215), Bayonne, N.J.; Devinney; Benjamin Donovan (6-3, 265), Milton, Mass.; Edwards; Carlton Henderson (5-10, 170), Lakewood, N.J.; Erik Iverson (6-4, 225), Sharon, Mass.; Offensive line: John Castoro (6-3, 255), Lincroft, N.J.; Benjamin Lazarski (6-1, 250) New Windsor, N.Y.; Roak; Watson; Defensive line: Patrici Pau (6-4, 240), Ayer, Mass.; Mark Stetson (6-3, 245), Marlborough, Mass.; Linebacker: Matthew Brunetti (6-3, 215), Phillipsburg, Mass.; Agean Robinson (6-2, 215), Albany, N.Y.; Tatupu; Defensive backs: Jeffrey Boswell (5-11, 170), East Falmouth, Mass.; Henderson; Brandon McGowan (6-0, 175), Jersey City, N.J.

UM squad sets swim mark

The University of Maine women’s swim team may have dropped a 176-124 decision to New Hampshire on Saturday, but the Bears did come away with a school record.

The 200-yard medley relay team of Stephanie Smeitana, Griffin O’Connor, Krystal Fogler and Katrine Alcaide posted a time of 1 minute, 49.01 seconds, which broke the record of 1:50.01 set in 1999.