Three weeks into the 2002 season, the University of Maine football team continues to build on the momentum it generated last season.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears are off to a 3-0 start, coming off Saturday’s testy 21-14 road victory at then-No. 11Villanova. UMaine had not opened a season 3-0 since 1989.

Among the rewards for the effort is the No. 4 spot in this week’s Division I-AA football national poll compiled by The Sports Network.

It is the highest official ranking for the UMaine football program, equaling the No. 4 spot it earned after going 8-0 during the 1989 season. The NCAA published the only official poll at that time.

TSN had a poll back then, and had UMaine ranked tied for third at one point, but it was not considered an official poll. Even now, TSN does not recognize its own poll from 1989, according to Pete Lefresne in UMaine athletic media relations.

The Bears, who were No. 6 last week, have now been nationally ranked for 11 consecutive weeks. UMaine also has won six straight regular-season games.

Cosgrove knows the Villanova win is another one upon which the Bears can build.

“It’s a big win for us, no question,” said Cosgrove, whose team has won 15 of its last 19 games (.789) dating back to the 2000 season.

“This was a big challenge for us [Saturday] to come in here and get a win,” he added.

Cosgrove is particularly pleased with UMaine’s ability to win on the road. The Bears are 6-2 in their last eight games away from Alfond Stadium in Orono.

“It’s one thing winning at home. It’s another thing going into hostile territory,” said Cosgrove, who pointed to UMaine’s NCAA playoff experience last season as having made a difference.

“We’ve got some young guys that haven’t been around, but some of these guys were down in Lake Charles (La.) and out in Iowa last year,” he said. “Those are environments that have helped us grow as a team.”

UMaine is one of six Atlantic 10 teams in TSN’s poll this week. Hofstra is 12th, followed by Villanova (14), William & Mary (17), Northeastern (18) and Richmond (22).

The Bears head back on the road for Saturday’s noon non-conference contest against 1-1 Howard University in Washington, D.C.

UMaine continues to show tremendous resilience, having overcome a 14-0 deficit at Villanova. The Bears have won three of their last five games when trailing at halftime after having lost 11 of 12 from 1998-2000 when behind at the break.

Bears don’t get burned on turf

The UMaine football team, which once struggled on artificial turf, has developed a liking for the stuff.

The Bears are unbeaten in their first three games this season, all of which were played on artificial surfaces. In fact, UMaine will play three more games in a row on turf before taking on Massachusetts on natural grass, on Oct. 12.

Once they’re done, the Bears will have played seven straight games on artificial turf.