UMaine will bid for semifinal NCAA decision could be made by end of week

The University of Maine football team has an outside shot of getting a home playoff game after all.

That was the news Wednesday on the Orono campus, where UMaine acting athletic director Paul Bubb was putting together a proposal to bid on a potential NCAA national semifinal game on Dec. 14.

The opportunity could arise because neither UMaine nor Western Kentucky submitted a bid to host a semifinal game back when the original bidding process was conducted prior to the first round.

“Therefore, the NCAA will go back to both institutions and ask them if they’re interested in submitting a bid,” Bubb said. “And we are interested in submitting a proposal.”

A handful of factors must go in the Black Bears’ favor for a semifinal game to be played on Morse Field at Alfond Stadium in Orono.

First, UMaine must go on the road Saturday and beat Georgia Southern. And Western Kentucky must upset host Western Illinois in their contest at Macomb, Ill. Then, UMaine must outbid Western Kentucky or be selected over WKU.

“In our case, neither institution bid, so there is not a minimum bid requirement,” said Bubb, who explained the amount of UMaine’s bid would not be determined until it is reviewed today by the staff and administration.

“Any time you have an opportunity to host a competition at that level, I think it’s an opportunity for the institution to showcase itself and it’s one we would want to take advantage of if we could,” Bubb said of the game, which would be aired live on ESPN-TV.

Western Kentucky would appear to have a couple of advantages over UMaine. The Hilltoppers averaged 7,386 fans to seven home games this season, while the Bears drew an average of 5,594 fans for five home dates.

The weather is the other factor that could potentially hamper the Bears’ hopes.

Western Illinois, the No. 2 tournament seed, will host a semifinal game if it is victorious this week.

UMaine expects to learn of the NCAA’s decision on the bids either Friday or Saturday.