The Maine Black Bears football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Maine located in the U.S. state of Maine. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Coastal Athletic Association. Maine's first football team was fielded in 1892. The team plays its home games at the 8,419 seat Alfond Stadium in Orono, Maine.
History
Conference affiliations
- 1892: Independent
- 1893–1946: Maine Intercollegiate Athletic Association
- 1947–96: Yankee Conference
- 1997–2006: Atlantic 10 Conference
- 2007–present: Coastal Athletic Association
Playoffs
The Black Bears have appeared in the Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs eight times. They have a 5–8 record in playoff games.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1987 | First Round | Georgia Southern | L 28–31 |
1989 | First Round | Southwest Missouri State | L 35–38 |
2001 | First Round Quarterfinals |
McNeese State Northern Iowa |
W 14–10 L 28–56 |
2002 | First Round Quarterfinals |
Appalachian State Georgia Southern |
W 14–13 L 7–31 |
2008 | First Round | Northern Iowa | L 15–40 |
2011 | Second Round Quarterfinals |
Appalachian State Georgia Southern |
W 34–12 L 23–35 |
2013 | Second Round | New Hampshire | L 27–41 |
2018 | Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals |
Jacksonville State Weber State Eastern Washington |
W 55–27 W 23–18 L 19–50 |
Bowl games
Maine has participated in one bowl game. Their record is 0–1.
Season | Bowl | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1965 | Tangerine Bowl | East Carolina | L 0–31 |
Conference championships
Maine has won thirteen conference championships, seven shared and six outright.[2]
Season | Conference | Coach | Record | Conference record |
---|---|---|---|---|
1949† | Yankee Conference | David M. Nelson | 2–4–1 | 2–0–1 |
1951 | Yankee Conference | Harold Westerman | 6–0–1 | 3–0–1 |
1952† | Yankee Conference | Harold Westerman | 4–3 | 3–1 |
1961 | Yankee Conference | Harold Westerman | 8–0–1 | 5–0 |
1965 | Yankee Conference | Harold Westerman | 8–2 | 5–0 |
1974† | Yankee Conference | Walter Abbott | 4–6 | 4–2 |
1982 | Yankee Conference | Ron Rogerson | 7–4 | 3–2 |
1987† | Yankee Conference | Tim Murphy | 8–4 | 6–1 |
1989† | Yankee Conference | Tom Lichtenberg | 9–3 | 6–2 |
2001† | Atlantic 10 Conference | Jack Cosgrove | 9–3 | 7–2 |
2002† | Atlantic 10 Conference | Jack Cosgrove | 11–3 | 7–2 |
2013 | Coastal Athletic Association | Jack Cosgrove | 10–3 | 7–1 |
2018 | Coastal Athletic Association | Joe Harasymiak | 8–3 | 7–1 |
† – Conference co-champions
Rivalries
New Hampshire Wildcats
Notable former players
Notable alumni include:
- Sherrod Baltimore
- Jovan Belcher
- Mike Buck
- Accie Connor
- Stephen Cooper
- Jamil Demby
- Mike DeVito
- Nick DiPaolo
- Mike Flynn
- Brian Gaine
- John Huard
- Dan Jones
- Phil McGeoghan
- Brandon McGowan
- Kevin McMahan
- Kendall James
- Justin Perillo
- Jerron McMillian
- Matthew Mulligan
- Christophe Mulumba-Tshimanga
- Montell Owens
- Jim Reid
- Jeff Reinebold
- Patrick Ricard
- Ben Sirmans
- Justin Strzelczyk
- Lofa Tatupu
Future non-conference opponents
Announced schedules as of February 18, 2025.[3]
2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
at Liberty | Merrimack | at Akron | at UCF | at Stonehill | at Boston College |
Stonehill | at Boston College | Colgate | |||
at Georgia Southern | |||||
at Merrimack |
References
- ^ Colors – Branding Toolbox – University of Maine. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
- ^ "2018 Maine Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Maine. 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
- ^ "Maine Black Bears Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 18, 2025.