LAKE CHARLES, La. – One of the more visible faces – and audible voices – during the University of Maine football team’s stay in Louisiana was Jack Cosgrove, the father of Black Bears coach Jack Cosgrove. The elder Cosgrove can’t get enough of UMaine football,… Read More
LAKE CHARLES, La. – The University of Maine football team could easily have fallen victim to self-doubt during Saturday night’s NCAA Division I-AA playoff game. Playing on McNeese State’s home field, in front of 12,450 Cajun fans, the Black Bears had failed to capitalize on… Read More
STATESBORO, Ga. – Adrian Peterson ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns, leading Georgia Southern to a 60-35 victory over Florida A&M on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. The Eagles (11-1) are bidding for their third straight championship and… Read More
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Back in August, there weren’t a lot of people who regarded the University of Maine as a playoff-caliber football team. Three-plus months later, with 12 freshmen and sophomores occupying starting positions and 17 other underclassmen listed on the two-deep chart, the… Read More
LAKE CHARLES, La. – It’s 3:15 p.m., and back in Maine, this glorious 65-degree, no-wind, not-a-puff-of-cloud kind of day would be an early spring gem. Down here, 25 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, 160 miles from the state capital of Baton Rouge, and nearer… Read More
Usually, by December, college football teams are relatively banged up. Not so for UMaine, which goes into its first postseason game in 12 years surprisingly healthy. The Bears are missing only two players who might have made the trip if they were healthy. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
ORONO – While the University of Maine football team’s top priority this week has been preparation for its first NCAA tournament game since 1989, a steady influx of postseason awards have served as a constant reminder of the success the Bears have already enjoyed. The… Read More
The primary job this week for University of Maine football coach Jack Cosgrove and his staff is to prepare the 16th-ranked Black Bears for Saturday’s NCAA Division I-AA playoff game against No. 10 McNeese State (La.). The job is much more difficult when you don’t… Read More
The first thing every University of Maine football fan needs to know about this weekend’s playoff opponent is how to say its name. McNeese State is pronounced MAC-Neeze, with the accent on the first syllable. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
ORONO – The one-week wait was excruciating, but the payoff was exhilarating. Eight days after beating New Hampshire in its regular-season finale, the University of Maine football team finally heard the news it had been waiting for Sunday when it was selected as one of… Read More
ORONO – University of Maine football coach Jack Cosgrove learned a long time ago that it’s pointless to concentrate on exactly how Ernie Svolto plays the game. The senior outside linebacker approaches his position from a different perspective, often leaving his coaches scratching their heads. Read More
DURHAM, N.H. – The University of Maine football team has done everything in its power to earn a spot in the 16-team NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. Now, all the 17th-ranked Black Bears can do is wait – and hope. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
One more win. With a spot in the Division I-AA playoffs likely riding on the outcome, the 17th-ranked University of Maine football team goes after a piece of school history today in its regular-season finale. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
ORONO – Each year, the final home football game on Morse Field at Alfond Stadium – win or lose – usually leaves the University of Maine’s seniors reflecting on how things might have been. This season, the Black Bears’ seniors can look ahead – toward… Read More
BRUNSWICK – Robert Lippert threw for 171 yards and two touchdowns Saturday to lead Colby College past Bowdoin College 41-13 in the 113th football game between the teams. Joe Murray ran for 101 yards and a touchdown and Denny Noyes caught nine passes for 118… Read More
There will be some extra excitement in the air in today’s Maine college football contests. The game involving the University of Maine has playoff ramifications, while Colby College of Waterville is shooting for yet another Colby-Bates-Bowdoin series title. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
ORONO – As a high school senior, Damon Boinske was ready to accept a football scholarship from the University of Maryland. Only days before the National Letter of Intent signing date, Terrapins coach Mark Duffner was fired and Maryland’s new coach chose not to honor… Read More
There are no guarantees, but with three weeks left in the regular season, the University of Maine football team appears to be two victories away from earning a spot in the Division I-AA playoffs. UMaine hasn’t qualified for postseason play since 1989. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
KINGSTON, R.I. – The excitement surrounding the University of Maine football team usually has begun to wane come November. This year, as the season winds down, the fun is only beginning. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = [];… Read More
CASTINE – Don Thibodeau rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns to power Maine Maritime Academy to a 29-15 win over Framingham State Saturday in Maine college action. Thibodeau opened the scoring with a 53-yard run with 6:42 remaining in the first quarter, and scored… Read More
The University of Maine football team still has a chance to do something special this season – make it to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. That’s not likely to happen unless the Black Bears can win today on the road. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The University of Maine’s quest for a postseason berth became considerably more difficult Saturday as William & Mary posted a convincing 42-20 Atlantic 10 victory over the Black Bears at Zable Stadium. Junior quarterback David Corley Jr. passed for 211 yards and… Read More
The University of Maine Black Bears are out to prove that their 5-1 start is no fluke. They’ll get their chance today on the road, against a team they’ve never beaten, while contending with a few key injuries. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
Maine’s comeback victory over Atlantic 10 foe Villanova on Saturday attracted some national attention Monday with a No. 18 ranking in the Sports Network’s I-AA College Football Poll. Maine, now 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the Atlantic 10, moved up from last week’s ranking of… Read More
CASTINE – Spencer Ingraham ran for 159 yards and three touchdowns as Salve Regina beat Maine Maritime 36-20 on Saturday. Salve Regina never trailed after Ingraham put the team on the scoreboard with a 17-yard run in the first quarter. Later, he scored on runs… Read More
One game can make the difference between a good season and a great season. The 24th-ranked University of Maine football team faces such a contest today in its quest to challenge for the Atlantic 10 title and an NCAA playoff spot. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
ORONO – Stephen Cooper arrived at the University of Maine in 1998 for his official NCAA recruiting visit – sight unseen. Cooper, an all-state football and basketball star at Wareham (Mass.) High School, came highly recommended to coach Jack Cosgrove by a former Black Bear… Read More
FITCHBURG, Mass. – Jeremy Balyea threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Brown midway through the fourth quarter as Maine Maritime snapped a 14-game losing streak Saturday with a 27-23 win over Fitchburg State. Balyea completed just 3 of 6 passes, but two were for… Read More
BROOKLINE, Mass. – Northeastern did a good job taking away the University of Maine’s running game Saturday afternoon. All that did was open the door for quarterback Jake Eaton to show off the Black Bears’ improving passing attack. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
Playing on the road requires a somewhat different mentality than taking on an opponent at home. Three of Maine’s college football teams are on the road today for important games across the region. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
ORONO – When University of Maine football coach Jack Cosgrove approached Malik Nichols last year about the possibility of moving him from offense to defense, Nichols didn’t take long to think about it. If it would help the team win, it was OK by Nichols,… Read More
ORONO – The University of Maine went into Saturday night’s game against Richmond with the top-rated defense in the Atlantic 10. (That’s the same league in which Saturday’s other A-10 losers scored an average of 32 points.) googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
A team’s record isn’t always a clear indication of its potential. A case in point, the 0-3 mark Richmond takes into this week’s Atlantic 10 football game against Maine. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
ORONO – With the University of Maine clinging to a three-point lead Saturday night, James Madison could have seized the momentum with one big play. The Black Bears’ dominating defense, dependable offense and consistent special teams refused to allow that to happen. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Colby built a 28-7 lead, then held off a late Middlebury rush by recovering an onside kick with 1 minute left to beat the Panthers 28-21 Saturday. Colby (1-1) piled up 443 yards as Pat Conley passed 9 yards to Danny Noyes… Read More
The death Monday of University of Maine men’s hockey coach Shawn Walsh has put an emotional damper on the entire university community this week. The Black Bear football team hopes to pay tribute to Walsh Saturday by earning a victory in its Atlantic 10 clash… Read More
ORONO – Royston English hasn’t taken the path of least resistance on his way to status as one of the most productive tailbacks in University of Maine football history. But like a good back, he has avoided being dragged down and has sidestepped obstacles to find ample running… Read More
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Rocky Butler threw four touchdown passes, three to Kahmal Roy, and also scored on a 1-yard run as Hofstra held off Maine 51-44 on Saturday night. Butler, who also threw a 67-yard scoring pass to Charles Adams, was 11-for-20 for 215 yards… Read More
CASTINE – With its primary running threat sidelined by an injury, the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth opted to rely a bit more heavily on its passing game Saturday afternoon. Sophomore quarterback John Falcone responded to the challenge, completing 15 of 28 passes for 278 yards and… Read More
In the aftermath of last week’s terrorist attacks, only one game was played Saturday involving a Maine college football team. Today, with Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin opening their respective New England Small College Athletic Conference seasons, there is a full schedule of five contests. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
There’s a vastly reduced sports schedule this weekend in the aftermath of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks. However, there are a handful of college football games that will go on as scheduled, including one involving Maine Maritime Academy of Castine. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
ORONO – Many college coaches told Lennard Byrd he was too small to play defensive back at the Division I level. The University of Maine coaching staff had the same concern, but chose instead to focus on Byrd’s other attributes and offered him a scholarship. Read More
ORONO – On most Division I football teams, the majority of the freshmen can only dream about playing significant roles. At the University of Maine, the coaching staff has become increasingly adept at recruiting players who can make a difference during their first college season. Read More
ORONO – Even most veteran players experience a few jitters during the first game of the season. There were numerous queasy stomachs on the University of Maine sideline Saturday night, when at least 22 Black Bear players made their college football debuts. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
CASTINE – Depending on the offensive scheme, a running back may answer to a variety of names. Sometimes he’s a tailback. Sometimes, a halfback. Other times, a wingback. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner =… Read More
ORONO – The Maine college football season begins today – for two of the state’s five postsecondary programs. Speculation about how the University of Maine and Maine Maritime Academy might fare will be converted into some hard evidence in the results of today’s openers. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
ORONO – It’s Monday afternoon and the University of Maine football team is practicing on the AstroTurf at Morse Field. The early portion of the workout includes several 100-yard sprints run back-to-back. The offensive linemen run together. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
ORONO – Depth is always a concern for the University of Maine football team. Coach Jack Cosgrove usually has a solid group of front-line players, but injuries and attrition can severely hamper the Black Bears’ ability to win consistently. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
Despite the presence of a three-year starting quarterback, a possible pro prospect at tight end, and nine returning starters on a defensive unit that was playing as well as anyone in the conference during the final weeks of last season, the University of Maine football team is ranked… Read More
ORONO – University of Maine quarterback Jake Eaton was on the run Saturday night – from his own teammates. The Black Bears’ attacking defense kept the pressure on their talented QB, sacking him five times and limiting him to 4-for-15 passing while making four interceptions… Read More
ORONO – Recruiting Division I-AA football players amounts to a bidding war between schools. These days, University of Maine coach Jack Cosgrove and his staff go into the recruiting game armed with the kind of financial resources, facility, academic opportunities and quality people to attract… Read More