The University of Maine will play before the largest-ever crowd to witness a Black Bears football game on Sept. 5, 2009.

The Bears will be traveling to play Atlantic Coast Conference power Florida State University at 82,300-seat Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla.

“I think everyone will be excited to play in that kind of setting and such a large, passionate crowd,” said UMaine athletic director Blake James.

Maine will receive a guarantee of $450,000 from FSU for playing the game, according to James.

The 2009 season will be the sixth straight in which the Division I-AA Black Bears play a Division I/FBS opponent. This year, the Bears will open the season Aug. 30 by playing the University of Iowa, coached by former UMaine coach Kirk Ferentz.

“It’s something we decided five years back that we were going to make part of our scheduling philosophy,” James said. “Our team has done very well going out and playing in these games and representing our university very well.

“Plus it will be an experience our guys will never forget.”

The Black Bears can still draw many benefits from a game like this even if they end up on the losing end of a lopsided game to a prohibitively favored opponent.

“I think so. If I’m someone looking at different programs and you look what UMaine’s done, that’s something that would excite me having that kind of opportunity and probably be a point in Maine’s favor [as far as recruiting],” James said.

Maine is 1-5 all-time against Division I schools. Its lone victory came against Mississippi State University (9-7) in 2004.

“The Maine football program has never backed down from a challenge and this will be no exception,” Cosgrove said in a press release.

Rogers makes point with Maine

With two-time BDN All-Maine first team selection Ryan Martin from Maranacook of Readfield recently brought into the fold, the University of Maine men’s basketball team further strengthened its depleted point guard position this week.

The Black Bears were expecting a signed National Letter of Intent from Catholic League MVP Andrew Rogers of Archbishop Ryan School in Philadelphia.

The 5-foot-9 Rogers is described as a very quick ball-handler who led his team to league runner-up status while averaging about 13.5 points and four assists per game.

Rogers had only two NCAA Division I suitors: Maine and Cornell University. Other interested schools included Philadelphia University, the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, and Merrimack College.

According to a story in The Philadelphia Daily News on Tuesday, Maine first made serious contact with Rogers three weeks ago when coach Ted Woodward flew to Philadelphia to meet Rogers and his family.

Rogers told the paper Maine made him feel pretty special and wanted and said “they’re looking to do some special things there. I want to be part of that.”

Woodward cannot comment on recruits until they he has an NLI in hand, and recruits’ scholarships are contingent on them meeting NCAA Clearinghouse requirements and admission to the school.

UM hosts baseball promotions

UMaine will feature several promotions during its America East baseball weekend series with Stony Brook at Mahaney Diamond in Orono.

Coach Steve Trimper and the Bears will host a baseball clinic for players ages 8-18 on Friday from 1-3 p.m. at the Mahaney Dome. The event is free with the purchase of a ticket to the 4 p.m. game.

UMaine also will hold a “UMaine Idol” contest Friday at 4 p.m. at Mahaney Diamond during which fans will sing for prizes. Saturday’s 1 p.m. doubleheader will be Bananas Cub Club Day. Club members are admitted free by showing their card.

Sunday is Service Personnel Day, where members of the armed services and civil services who wear their uniform or show their badge are admitted free to the 1 p.m. game.

For more information, visit GoBlackBears.com.

MMA’s Sternbergh given award

Maine Maritime Academy men’s basketball player Jarred Sternbergh has received the Rear Admiral Warren C. Hamm, Jr. Leadership Award, given annually to an 3/C midshipman in good academic standing who exemplifies traits of leadership, accountability and loyalty.

The MMA sophomore, a Washington Academy High School of East Machias graduate, is vice-chairman of MMA’s National Debutante Cotillion Ball, president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, vice-president of team development for Students in Free Enterprise, and recipient of the American Legion Maine Maritime Achievement Award.

UMaine teams win academic honors

Four University of Maine teams were honored by the NCAA Thursday for their latest multi-year academic progress rate scores: the Maine women’s cross-country, softball, women’s swimming and women’s outdoor track and field squads.

The teams posted multi-year APR – which tracks academic progress of each student-athlete along with eligibility, retention and graduation – scores that were in the top 10 percent of all teams in their respective sports.

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