A year ago, the University of Maine’s football team was the toast of the state, the Atlantic-10 and New England football.

By beating Southeastern Conference Division 1-A team Mississippi State 9-7 in Starkville, Miss., the Black Bears registered one of the most memorable moments in the school’s sports history.

But the I-AA Bears were never able to capitalize on that magical moment. They went 3-5 the rest of the way to finish off a disappointing 5-6 campaign.

They underachieved and the triumph over Mississippi State was glossed over.

The Black Bears turned in another noteworthy performance against a much better Division I-A team on Saturday. They trailed Nebraska by just eight points in the fourth quarter before finally succumbing 25-7.

It may not have been the Nebraska of yesteryear but it is still among the nation’s elite when it comes to football tradition.

Maine’s defense was particularly impressive.

Now it is up the Bears to take the positives from that performance and channel them into the rest of the season.

They have to avoid the false sense of security that may have haunted them a year ago.

It is a pivotal year for the program. The program elevated itself to a new plateau with back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2001 and 2002 and a tourney road win each year. They were a respectable 7-5 in 2003 but missed the playoffs.

Maine surrendered a whopping 403.7 yards per game a year ago but limited Nebraska to 313, including just 121 rushing yards on 43 carries.

Defense doesn’t win championships but it is required to usher a team into position to do so.

Ultimately, a team has to produce enough offense to hoist the hardware.

If you don’t believe me, ask the members of the Maine hockey program.

The Black Bear football program will need a clutch season from quarterback Ron Whitcomb.

He had a solid year statistically last season but the team went 5-6.

Like goalies and pitchers, the only statistic that really counts for a quarterback is wins and losses.

You either make the clutch throw, save or pitch with the game on the line or you don’t.

If a quarterback throws for four touchdowns and 450 yards but his team loses because he gets picked off in the end zone while moving in for the tying or winning score, there’s little solace.

The Maine offense was completely overmatched by the Nebraska defense with exception of its touchdown drive.

That was disturbing.

The Bears now go from playing Nebraska in front of 77,469 red-clad zealots to facing NAIA school William Penn (Iowa) at Alfond Stadium Saturday in front of, hopefully, at least 7,469 fans.

The Statesmen were 3-8 in the Mid-States Football Association last year and opened the season with a 31-29 loss to Wisconsin-Oshkosh last weekend.

This should be a comfortable Maine win although William Penn will find itself in the same situation Maine was in last weekend with nothing to lose.

This will give Maine coach Jack Cosgrove and his staff an opportunity to look at some young players as they try to fill the holes left by the departure of several key players.

Maine needs to play with the confidence it deservedly gained from last weekend and not with the complacency and overconfidence that set in last year.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.