ORONO – While the kickoff of the Division I-AA football season is still four months away, the University of Maine Black Bears have been busily preparing for the much-anticipated regular season.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Bears, coming off a tremendous 9-3 season that featured a share of the Atlantic 10 title, an unprecedented NCAA playoff victory over McNeese State and a spot in the final eight, have high hopes for 2002.

UMaine will put the finishing touches on the spring season Saturday at 7 p.m. when it plays the annual Blue-White intrasquad controlled scrimmage on Morse Field at Alfond Stadium in Orono.

As part of the event, the team and staff are conducting a Youth Football Day from 2-4 p.m. at Morse Field. It will include an autograph session, snacks and numerous skill contests.

Participants are invited to kick or throw the football for distance, run a timed 20-yard dash, run an obstacle course, kick a field goal, catch a pass from a UMaine quarterback, or make a move on a Black Bear defender.

As per NCAA regulations, the event is open to players up through eighth grade. Youth attending the Youth Football Day will receive a coupon for free admission (when accompanied by an adult with paid admission) to UMaine’s first Orono home game Sept. 7 against William & Mary.

The scrimmage will take place rain or shine, but the youth day will be canceled if the weather is poor.

UMaine opens its season Aug. 31 against Central Connecticut at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.

UMaine’s Hylwak, Bain honored

Leigh Ann Hlywak and Rachel Bain of the University of Maine softball team have been selected for the Verizon Academic All-District I First Team, University Division, as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Hylwak, a senior third baseman from Wilmington, Del., carries a 3.76 grade point average in elementary education. She is batting .318 for the Black Bears with a team-high 11 home runs and 34 RBIs.

Hlywak was an All-America East pick at third base.

Bain, a senior catcher, has posted a 3.51 GPA at UMaine while studying history. She has a .993 fielding percentage with only one error in 143 chances.

UM’s Hayes attends Chiefs camp

Chad Hayes of Old Town, a former All-America tight end at the University of Maine, returned to Orono this week after his first foray into professional football.

Last week, Hayes attended the Kansas City Chiefs’ mini-camp and was offered a contract by the National Football League team. He previously had indicated he would receive the standard two-year contract, which remains in force as long as he remains on the roster.

Hayes, a 6-foot-6, 258-pounder, received positive feedback from the organization, according to UMaine athletics spokesman Joe Roberts. Hayes has been assigned uniform No. 48, will return to Missouri May 19th for another preseason session with the Chiefs.