ORONO – Less than 48 hours after the most significant victory in the history of the University of Maine football program, things were remarkably quiet in the football wing at Memorial Gym.

At 3 p.m. Monday, a time when players normally are crammed into the coaches’ offices preparing for the next game, only administrative assistant Caren Ford was visible working. In her office, a Mylar balloon that read “Congratulations!” floated gently back and forth.

The only other sign of life before head coach Jack Cosgrove and assistant coach Chris Binder came through the door was the appearance of a delivery woman, who arrived with a fruit basket addressed to Cosgrove and the team.

Although no practice was scheduled Monday, the calm was expected to be short-lived as the 9-2 Black Bears get ready for Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinal game at 10-2 Northern Iowa.

“Obviously, there’s a whole lot of newness to what we’re doing,” Cosgrove said as he sifted through a pile of paperwork on his desk. “The amount of congratulation e-mails, notes, phone calls… I don’t think people expected us to get a win [at McNeese State].”

UMaine came into the 2001 season having lost six straight road contests. The Bears have posted four wins this year, including their first involving an airplane flight since a 1998 win at Delaware.

“We’re just starting to learn this year how to travel and win,” Cosgrove said.

UMaine players and coaches were scheduled Monday to review the tape of Saturday’s 14-10 win at McNeese, then the players were headed for a weightlifting session.

Even after having requested them last week in anticipation of a win, the Bears await the arrival of game videotapes of Northern Iowa.

“Unfortunately, we’re still waiting for the tape,” said Cosgrove, who hopes to have it in hand Tuesday morning in time to break it down, review tendencies with his team and incorporate them into Tuesday’s practice.

After arriving back in Bangor at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, the team was given the day off to rest up for another big week of practice.

“I told them to sleep and study,” Cosgrove said. “I’m sure they slept. I’m not so sure about the other one.”

The mental preparation should be considerably easier this week for UMaine, which handled the situation well the first time around.

“Football-wise, we have the grade on [Northern Iowa] about what they do, but I think we’re way ahead in the other things,” Cosgrove said. “The great unknown was travel and how to manage the whole week. We have a week of experience now.”

Bears taking success in stride

As UMaine football fans continue to talk about the Bears’ win at McNeese State, the first postseason victory in the program’s history, the players themselves are enjoying the aftermath.

“It’s a great feeling. I can’t wait to play again,” said sophomore offensive guard Pete Richardson of Millinocket, who sat out most of the 2000 season with a knee injury.

The true voice of experience in the offensive line, senior tackle Zack Magliaro, matter-of-factly described what happens next.

“We came in and we got the job done and we just move on to [Northern Iowa],” Magliaro said.

Junior quarterback Jake Eaton attributes the Bears’ success to their work ethic and their mental approach.

“We’re a blue-collar team,” Eaton said. “We don’t think we’re better than anybody. We respect everybody.”

UMaine has learned how to prepare for its opponents without getting caught up in the hoopla.

“This team’s got a lot of determination and focus and we went into [the McNeese game] ready to play,” said senior tight end Chad Hayes of Old Town.

Has the Bears’ success surprised them as much as it has shocked many football fans?

“It’s really not unbelievable,” Hayes said. “We’ve put a lot of time and effort into this and we believe in what we’re doing. It’s a very exciting feeling that we have and it’s obviously a happy feeling we have.”

Black Bears on the mend

Two UMaine football players were sidelined by injuries during Saturday’s game at Lake Charles, La.

Starting free safety Dave Cusano and starting center Ben Lazarski both went down after twisting a knee against McNeese State.

Cusano said he was hurt when he planted his leg while trying to make a tackle, only to have a player fall on the outside of his left leg and twist his knee.

Lazarski is dealing with the second sprain of his right knee this season, which happened late in the first quarter.

Cosgrove said both players were feeling better Monday, but would be evaluated on a day-to-day basis regarding their ability to practice and their availability for Saturday’s game.

“It’s still too early in the week to tell,” Cosgrove said. “They’re both a concern with their knee sprains.”

UMaine pep rally Wednesday

The University of Maine has scheduled a football pep rally for Wednesday afternoon at 12:30 in the Maine Marketplace at the Memorial Union on the Orono campus.

UMaine president Peter Hoff, coach Jack Cosgrove and some Black Bear players will speak about the team’s success and Saturday’s NCAA Division I-AA playoff game at Northern Iowa.