Dan Frazell didn’t have any expectations as he started off his varsity head coaching career Monday afternoon.

That’s because he just didn’t know what to expect from the Bangor Christian girls basketball team in its first day of practice and tryouts for the winter season.

“I have no idea what’s going to happen,” Frazell said as the team ran a layup drill in the basement gym at the Bangor Baptist Church.

“We might go 0-18, we might be 18-0,” he added. “Who knows? I’m really approaching this year with a spirit of fun and working with these kids, because I don’t know what I’ve got. But I’m going to work them, I know that.”

The 2003-04 winter sports season opened across the state Monday for basketball in Classes B, C and D, and all classifications in ice hockey, indoor track and field, skiing, swimming and diving, gymnastics, wrestling and competitive cheerleading.

Class A basketball begins next Monday.

Teams can participate in their first games and meets Friday, Dec. 5 after 3 p.m.

Frazell spent three years as an assistant to Bangor High girls coach Ton Tennett before being hired to coach the Patriots a few weeks ago.

“I just felt I learned a lot and I kind of wanted to spread my wings, so to speak,” Frazell said of his time at Bangor High. “I like to work with kids and I looked at this as a great opportunity.”

He takes over for Craig Miller, who coached the Patriots to 19-15 regular-season record in two years.

Miller’s daughter Kelly, who probably would have been a starter for Bangor Christian, transferred to Calvary Chapel Christian School in Orrington this fall.

The Patriots lost five seniors in addition to Kelly Miller.

Frazell may not be familiar with the current girls team, but he is quite familiar with the school. He played for the Patriots in the 1970s under current Bangor High boys coach Roger Reed.

The team had success in those years, but always seemed to stall against Jonesport-Beals teams, he recalled.

“I know what it’s like to get into that tournament and the thrill, and if I can help these kids, so be it,” said Frazell, who played for the Patriots from 1974-77.

Frazell is well known in the area as the community relations officer for the Bangor Police Department and the coordinator of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.

He travels all over the country speaking for the program, but said he’ll curtail that for the basketball season.

Football playoffs set

Six schools will likely be missing several boys from their winter sports rosters as the Eastern and Western Maine champions in Classes A, B and C are still alive in the football playoffs.

The Maine Principals’ Association announced the schedule for Saturday’s state football championship games. All three games will be played at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.

The Class A matchup between Brunswick and Deering will start at 11 a.m. followed by the Class C championship featuring Foxcroft and Lisbon at 2:30 p.m.

The Class B final between Belfast and Gorham is set for 6 p.m.

Snyder signs with CCSU

Bangor’s Lindsey Snyder thought she had her mind made up about college until a few weeks ago.

But the standout swimmer, who competes for the New Hampshire-based Seacoast Swim Association, changed her mind when she visited NCAA Division I Central Connecticut State University.

The Bangor High junior signed a National Letter of Intent Sunday night to swim for the Blue Devils.

Snyder, who does not swim for Bangor High, will receive a 60 percent athletic scholarship and could pick up more in academic awards.

Snyder said she was set on attending Truman State in Missouri, but the Division II school didn’t offer her enough in scholarship money and she didn’t feel comfortable being so far away from home for the first time in her life.

Meanwhile, the CCSU coach continued to express interest in the backstroke and distance freestyle specialist. She traveled to the New Britain, Conn. school for a recruiting trip two weeks ago and enjoyed the experience.

“I liked the school, I met the team and I liked them, and I liked the coach,” she said.

Plus, it’s only about 51/2 hours by car.

Snyder said she’s relieved to have the college application and acceptance process over so early.

“Ever since I found out about college swimming I knew I wanted to sign in the fall,” she said. “My best friend is so jealous. She just sent out her college applications.”

CCSU competes in the Northeast Conference and the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

Put on your Mustache

Maine senior student-athletes are again invited to apply for the Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Scholarship Award for a chance to win a $7,500 scholarship and a role in a special milk mustache ad that will run in USA Today.

All applicants will be required to describe in 75 words or less how drinking milk has been a regular part of their training regiment and their lives.

Entries must be received on or before March 24, 2004. Finalists will be named by June 2004. To access the SAMMY application and for official rules, go to www.whymilk.com.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.