The University of Maine football team’s quest for an Atlantic 10 championship officially kicked off Monday afternoon as preseason camp opened with a 70-minute practice at Alfond Stadium.

“It’s good to get going again,” head coach Jack Cosgrove said in a press release. “It’s great to get started up and go through some football drills. It’s important to get the young players involved and get them to experience a practice.”

During Monday’s practice, the Bears worked mainly on drills and practice techniques. The defense worked on tackling and coverage drills and the offense on pass routes and blocking.

Despite the lack of contact during the initial workouts as his team worked out in helmets, shorts and jerseys, Cosgrove believes in the importance of getting into shape right away.

“We have a conditioning test during the first week which is a defining moment for us,” he said. “You only have so many practices before the first game of the season, so you don’t have much time to waste.”

UMaine, which was picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10’s North Division, opens its season at Youngstown State in Ohio on Sept. 9.

Mainers in the Mountains

Four members of the UMaine baseball team, Curt Smith, A.J. Balsinde, Mike Powers, and Billy Cather added a New England Collegiate Baseball League championship to their resumes recently.

The four members of the Black Bears all play for the Vermont Mountaineers, which defeated the team from Sanford en route to the championship.

Vermont swept a best-of-three series from Torrington, Conn., to take the title.

Smith batted .310 in the postseason with one double, one triple, a run scored, and four RBIs.

A NECBL first-team selection, Smith hit .323 on the season with 18 RBIs and 26 runs scored, a Mountaineers’ single-season record.

Colby hires new assistants

Colby College football coach Ed Mestieri has hired three new assistant coaches for the upcoming season.

Colby graduates Dan Oliphant and Mike Booras will coach the offensive line and running backs, respectively, while Los Angeles native Eric Garcia will coach the linebackers for the Waterville-based school.

Oliphant was a three-year starter on the offensive line for the White Mules, helping them go 18-6 over the last three seasons. He played in the Division III Aztec Bowl in Mexico this past year.

Booras was a captain during his senior season in 2004 and recorded 46 tackles from the linebacker spot.

Garcia served as an assistant football and track and field coach at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College in 2004 and was most recently an admissions counselor at Mississippi Valley State University since January.

Garcia will also serve as an assistant track and field coach at Colby this winter.