The University of Maine football team plays in the Atlantic 10, one of the most competitive Division I-AA conferences in the country.

That hasn’t stopped coach Jack Cosgrove from lining up what may be the most daunting nonleague schedule in the history of the program.

The Black Bears open their season with back-to-back games against Montana and Northern Colorado, Division I-AA teams that finished last season ranked in the top 20, then take on I-A Mississippi State in Starkville.

Led by defending national champion and Atlantic 10 rival Delaware, No. 11 Massachusetts, No. 14 Montana and No. 19 Northern Colorado and No. 20 Northeastern, UMaine boasts five top-20 teams on its slate.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a tougher schedule in front of a University of Maine football team,” Cosgrove said.

“We have three nonleague games against two top-20 I-AA opponents and one against a I-A team,” he added, “and it’s pretty challenging in the sense of the teams and the places we go.”

What makes the schedule even more daunting for the Bears is the fact they play four of their first five games on the road. UMaine opens Sept. 4 at Montana, returns for a Sept. 11 home game against Northern Colorado, then hits the road for consecutive contests at Mississippi State, Delaware and Richmond.

The Bears play back-to-back home games Oct. 9 and 16 against James Madison and Northeastern (Homecoming), then finish up with games at UMass, home against Hofstra, at Rhode Island and the regular-season finale against New Hampshire.

“Obvious highlights of the season are going to two of the premiere I-AA stadiums in Montana and Delaware,” Cosgrove said. “Playing Mississippi State in front of one of the largest crowds ever to see Maine football will be a great experience, and they will not be a friendly crowd.”

UMaine football is schedule to begin spring practice on Thursday, April 8. The annual Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage will cap off spring workouts Saturday, May 1, at 4 p.m.

UMAINE FOOTBALL

2004 SCHEDULE

(Times TBA)

September

4 ? at Montana

11 ? Northern Colorado

18 ? at Mississippi State

25 ? Open

October

2 ? at Delaware*

9 ? at Richmond*

16 ? James Madison*

23 ? Northeastern* (Homecoming)

30 ? at Massachusetts*

November

6 ? Hofstra*

13 ? at Rhode Island*

20 ? New Hampshire*

*-Atlantic 10 game