Bears retool; changes pay off Format altered for Dead River

ORONO – Football coaches can be stubborn people.

Once they’ve determined a particular way of doing things on the field, they go out every week to prove that strategy can be successful.

This fall, the coaching staff for the University of Maine football team has proven being flexible also has many benefits.

A month ago, after consecutive blowout losses to James Madison and Hofstra, coach Jack Cosgrove and Co. took a good, hard look at their offense and its lack of production.

The Black Bears opted to throw out their preferred offensive scheme predicated on running the football to set up the pass and instead replace it with a philosophy that favored throwing the ball.

“”We couldn’t pound the ball [at opponents],” Cosgrove said. “We just were not experienced enough and not able to do some of the things that traditionally have been Maine football.”

UMaine is 3-1 since making the switch and has won three in a row heading into Saturday’s Atlantic 10 season finale at traditional rival New Hampshire.

Instead of lining up with a fullback, a tailback, a tight end and three wide receivers, the Bears have gone mostly with a single-back set that includes five wide receivers on the field at the same time.

In addition to the win streak, the Bears have put up better numbers.

Despite having to relearn and then execute numerous new plays and formations, they are averaging 5.2 points and 94 total yards per game more with the revamped offense. That includes an average improvement of 62.8 rushing yards and 31 passing yards.

UMaine has done so despite having the ball for an average of 4-plus minutes less per game. The Bears also have run three plays more per contest and have boosted their per-play average from 3.9 yards to 5.1 yards after the switch.

“That’s what I’m most proud of is how we’ve fixed some problems,” Cosgrove said. “I think we’ve done a nice job on offense in terms of [saying] this is what we’ve got and this is how we’re going to conduct our business now – this year anyway – until we retool.”

The Bears’ defense also has benefited from the offensive changes and some of its own adjustments. UMaine has run more practice repetitions with the first offense going against the first defense, which tests both units more and, theoretically, better prepares them for game situations.

After having allowed at least 24 points in each of its previous 13 Atlantic 10 games, the UMaine defense has given up only 49 points (16.3 ppg) over the last three contests.

“It’s a credit to the staff, our assistants, and our players,” Cosgrove said. “I think we really retooled some things on both sides of the ball.”

Dead River Classic slate changed

UMaine women’s basketball coach Ann McInerney announced Monday more changes for the upcoming Dead River Co. Classic.

The annual Thanksgiving tournament, which has brought some of the top teams in the country to Alfond Arena, will feature an altered format and different schedule this year.

While the tourney was supposed to begin on Thanksgiving night and end Nov. 26, it has now been reduced to only three teams and two games.

UMaine faces Kennesaw State (Ga.) on Nov. 25 at 7 p.m., then the Black Bears meet Dartmouth Saturday at 4 p.m. Tickets originally sold for the Thanksgiving game will be honored on Nov. 25.

After former coach Sharon Versyp and her staff left last spring, UMaine encountered some scheduling issues. Texas Christian was the first team to pull out of the Dead River Classic and that move led North Carolina-Charlotte to withdraw.

TCU wound up hosting its own Thanksgiving tournament.

That left UMaine scrambling to fill the tournament field. In August, Kennesaw State agreed to make the trip to Orono and the Bears signed on for a return game with the Fighting Owls in the future.

Originally, UMaine, Dartmouth and Kennesaw State were to play two games apiece in the Dead River Classic, but Dartmouth encountered a scheduling problem of its own and was forced to cancel one of its games in Orono.