Maine ties strong for coach Bicknell at Louisiana Tech

Throughout Jack Bicknell’s III travels, and he has covered a lot of territory in his 38 years, there has been one constant. Although he only lived there for four years, the Louisiana Tech head coach lists Orono, Maine, as his hometown.

“I loved it. I truly did. I met some of the greatest people there. Lifelong friends,” Bicknell said.

Bicknell came to Orono when his father, Jack Bicknell Jr., became head coach of the University of Maine football team in 1976. He entered the eighth grade and a year later was a starting linebacker on the Orono High School football team.

“I was a freshman and Bobby Lucy was the other linebacker. That was overwhelming for me,” Bicknell said.

Bicknell graduated from Orono in 1981. During his four years as a starter the Red Riots won 38 straight games. His 38 straight were part of a 48-game winning streak Orono maintained from 1977 to 1982.

But Orono gave Bicknell more than just football. It gave him an almost “Happy Days” atmosphere to grow up in.

“It was such a wonderful time,” Bicknell said. “[Orono is] kinda isolated from the harsh realities of the rest of the world. I never had a beer. We didn’t know what drugs were.”

Life was school, schoolwork, and sports.

“We went to Tracy Cobb’s house on Saturday nights to play Trivial Pursuit. That was the highlight of the week,” Bicknell said.

After high school, Bicknell followed his father to Boston College where “Cowboy Jack” had become head coach.

During his time there the team enjoyed much success, including a No. 4 national ranking and a trip to the Cotton Bowl where the Eagles defeated Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware and his Houston Cougars 45-28.

Bicknell became the starting center on the team and was the man who snapped the ball to Doug Flutie on one of college football’s more memorable plays. Flutie’s Hail Mary pass to Gerard Phelan on the last play of the game beat Miami 47-45 in 1984.

“It’s amazing how that play has gone down in history. At the time you knew it was a big play but didn’t realize it was that big of a deal,” Bicknell said.

As for his part in the play, well, Bicknell tells a story that undoubtedly has been told many times.

“I missed my block and it forced Flutie out of the pocket. It gave Phelan time to get down there,” Bicknell joked.

He remembers finding his father after the play.

“It worked out perfect for me. Playing for my father. To share that with him,” Bicknell said.

Now Bicknell is the head football coach of a team in a major conference.

“You know it was difficult when we weren’t in a conference. But now we’re in a conference. We’ve played on national television. When I first got down here five years ago, that wasn’t going on,” Bicknell said.

So, the Bulldogs joined the Western Athletic Conference in 2001 and won the conference title, finishing with a 7-5 overall, including a loss to Clemson in the Humanitarian Bowl.

He said that the quality of the athletes he and his staff are recruiting is improving. And the school’s location in small-town Rushton, La., is an attraction rather than a detraction.

“Rushton is a beautiful town. It’s a lot like Orono. It’s safe,” Bicknell said.

Another attraction is the big-time schedule the team plays.

“We’re playing a big schedule. We’ve played Nebraska. Next year we open with Oklahoma State, Clemson, Penn State and Texas A&M. That’s our first four games,” Bicknell said.

Bicknell said he stays in touch with his old high school teammates and thinks about them and coaches Niles Nelson and Joe Paul often.

“We had four come down to Penn State for our game. Steve Abbott, Joe Devoe, Ben Lewis, John Lucy. It was great to see them. I still keep in touch with those guys,” Bicknell said.

Don Perryman can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or dperryman@bangordailynews.net