Jack Cosgrove isn’t one to pat himself on the back for the recent success of the University of Maine football team.

Playing in a first-class facility – Morse Field at Alfond Stadium – and being supported with a full complement of scholarships, Cosgrove will tell you, are two of the key reasons the Black Bears have won back-to-back Atlantic 10 championships and reached the NCAA Division I-AA national quarterfinals two years in a row.

Cosgrove’s goal is simple: Turn UMaine into a perennial national championship contender. And that goal, once seemingly unreachable, now doesn’t appear unrealistic.

With the Bears recently having completed a record-setting 11-3 season, UMaine’s head coach is in a contract year. His agreement, which pays him more than $106,000, expires in June.

And while Cosgrove would have to be considered an excellent candidate for other more high-profile, high-paying positions, he appears to be happy at UMaine.

“I’ve always enjoyed being here,” said Cosgrove a former UMaine quarterback who, along with his staff, has been recruiting hard since the Bears’ 31-7 loss at Georgia Southern.

“I’ve always felt that the University of Maine gave me a great opportunity and stuck by me when some things weren’t going so good,” Cosgrove added. “We’ve responded since the addition of the stadium and with the scholarships being in place, therefore their patience has been rewarded.”

The football program has been one of the major success stories on campus the last two seasons. Despite two high-profile incidents this year involving alleged misconduct by UMaine players, the efforts of Cosgrove and his staff have not gone unnoticed.

“He knows that I want to sit down with him and talk not only about his own contract but generally where we’re at with the football program,” said Paul Bubb, UMaine’s interim athletic director.

Bubb indicated the ideal time to look at Cosgrove’s future might have been following the 2001 season, but he said UMaine wants to keep its 10-year coach.

“If it got to be April, May and something hadn’t been done [with Cosgrove’s contract], I’d be concerned,” Bubb said. “[Retaining Cosgrove] is my intention as well as that of those who I work with in the university administration.”

Cosgrove doesn’t want his contract status to affect how others view the UMaine program in terms of stability and continuity.

“It’s important for the program and the players in the program and important in recruiting for people to know that coach is in place,” Cosgrove said. “I’m counting on the fact that it will be addressed.”

Cosgrove is hoping to make some improvements, including a better weight room, which he believes are important to the development of his program.

“There’s more things that we need to enhance our attractiveness as a football team and as an institution so we can continue to grow,” Cosgrove said.

“It’s right at the top of my radar screen right now in terms of trying to make this a better program,” Bubb said of the weight room.

In the meantime, Cosgrove is hoping to keep most of his staff together. Offensive line coach Matt Griffin recently was hired as the head coach at Tennessee-Martin and Cosgrove has said other assistants could be lured away.

“With success comes the fact that people want to tap into your people,” said Bubb, who admitted UMaine often can’t match the salaries offered at other schools. “At the same time, we don’t want to break up the continuity we’ve got. It’s critical to keep the top part of your staff together as long as you can.”

Hoff reviewing Cooper situation

Inquiring minds would like to know who on the UMaine campus knew about football player Stephen Cooper’s alleged possession of steroids, when they found out the situation and why administrators and coaches opted to allow him to continue playing.

UMaine spokesman Joe Carr said Monday university officials won’t be commenting on the issue while UMaine President Peter Hoff conducts a review of the situation.

“Those are some of the same questions that the president has,” Carr said. “When that process is complete, if there’s information that emerges or any action is taken, we’ll disclose it publicly.”

Cooper, an All-America linebacker, is expected to be charged with a misdemeanor later this week at U.S. District Court in Bangor. He was allowed by the university to continue practicing and playing after police revealed he was the subject of an investigation, although no criminal charges had been filed.

Hoff on Friday announced he is conducting a review of the matter, including allegations of Cooper’s steroid possession and the university’s handling of the situation.

On Nov. 1, Cooper was a passenger in a vehicle driven by former Black Bears teammate and fellow student Patrick Kenney, who was stopped for speeding by the Maine State Police on Interstate 95 in Hampden.

Trooper Michael Johnston was granted permission to search the vehicle and found what Cooper reportedly admitted were approximately 1,000 anabolic steroid pills in a duffel bag belonging to Cooper.

A state police spokesman indicated UMaine public safety director Noel March was informed about the situation shortly after it occurred.

UMaine women’s soccer honored

The UMaine women’s soccer team has been recognized for its classroom achievement, receiving the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Academic Award.

Coach Scott Atherley’s squad was honored for maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average, checking in at 3.14 for 2001-02.

“I think this award shows that our student-athletes can handle the demands of Division I athletics and competitive academics,” Atherley said. “Having received this honor for the second straight year, I think speaks of the quality and consistency of our program on and off the field.”

The award will be presented at the College Coaches Luncheon scheduled for Jan. 16 at the 2003 NSCAA Convention in Kansas City.