Despite the presence of a three-year starting quarterback, a possible pro prospect at tight end, and nine returning starters on a defensive unit that was playing as well as anyone in the conference during the final weeks of last season, the University of Maine football team is ranked eighth among the 11 teams in the Atlantic 10 preseason coaches/media poll.

Whether it’s Maine’s 5-6 record (3-5 in the conference) or seventh-place finish last year that voters paid the most attention to, the fact that Maine is consistently the Atlantic 10’s Rodney Dangerfield (no respect) is not lost on the players and coaches.

“I don’t know that that’s ever really changed. It’s almost every year that Delaware’s up at the top with the other New England schools down on a lower tier. It’s the way it’s been. It’s probably the way it’s going to be,” said Maine coach Jack Cosgrove. “Maybe it’ll change when you have a few years where you are consistently winning seven, eight, nine games. We haven’t done that yet so that’s why we’re where we are.”

Defending champ Delaware is once again the top pick in the conference, ranked just ahead of Hofstra, which also received 11 first-place votes.

Senior captain and tight end Chad Hayes, Maine’s lone preseason first team all-conference pick, says the low ranking will serve to motivate his teammates.

“I think the eighth ranking we got in the preseason poll is just a number. You still have to go out there and play an 11-game season just like everyone else,” said the Old Town native. “It’s discouraging because we’ve beaten a lot of ranked teams over the years, but that just fires us up even more.”

Hayes is anxious to banish the bad memories of a junior season during which he was named an all-conference first-teamer but suffered a preseason hamstring injury that nagged all season long.

“Yeah, I was disappointed. We all were. We had some games that slipped through our fingers that shouldn’t have and personally, yeah, definitely I was disappointed,” said the 22-year-old, 6-foot-6, 257-pound Hayes.

Neither Hayes nor Cosgrove expects a repeat of 2000 as Hayes is expected to play a major role in the offense, both as a blocker and pass receiver.

Hayes’ receiving skills could be especially important as the biggest hole in the Black Bears’ lineup is at wide receiver with the graduation of team MVP Dwayne Wilmot and senior achievement award winner Phil McGeoghan. Both players are among Maine’s top 10 all-time leading receivers and both are competing for jobs at NFL training camps this spring.

“We don’t have a lot of established veteran receivers and we need to find out who’s going to catch the ball for us in key situations,” said Cosgrove. “When guys have played as much as Chad has, your expectations rise. Our goal would be to get him the ball because he’s got the ability and talent. We’ll be counting on him to make some plays for us.”

Junior quarterback Jake Eaton, voted Maine’s outstanding offensive player last year, will once again direct the offense. Protecting him is a big, athletic line featuring second team all-conference preseason pick Zack Magliaro.

A more mature Maine defense could be among the league’s best with players like lineman Damon Boinske and linebacker Stephen Cooper, both preseason second team all-A-10 picks, in the mix.

“On that side of the ball, there was as much improvement as I’ve ever seen in a season last year,” Cosgrove said. “We gave up a lot of points and yards early on and by the end of the year, we were playing as good on defense as anyone.”

The start to the season is critical for Maine as slow starts have crippled the Bears’ postseason prospects in recent years.

“You start winning and you develop a swagger and a confidence in the way you do things,” Cosgrove said. “Certainly a good start will help us a lot.”

Another key hole in the lineup is at kicker now that Atlantic 10 first teamer and Maine record holder Todd Jagoutz has graduated.

Despite the areas of concern, Cosgrove admits there’s plenty to be excited about with this team.

“There’s excitement on every college team in the country right now, but I think ours has some backbone to it,” he said.

The Bears open their regular season Saturday, Sept. 8 at home against Colgate. This year’s conference schedule has increased from eight to nine games with the addition of 11th member Hofstra.

2001 PRESEASON POLL

(as voted by coaches

and media representatives)

1. Delaware (11 first-place votes)

2. Hofstra (11)

3. Villanova (5)

4. Richmond (2)

5. Massachusetts

6. William & Mary

7. New Hampshire (1)

8. Maine

9. Rhode Island

10. James Madison

11. Northeastern