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The University of Maine football team went in to the 2004 season with hopes of winning a conference championship.
Now, after collecting four losses on the year, the Black Bears have a new set of goals in front of them with three games left.
“The UMass loss was tough because it’s something we worked so hard to get,” said head coach Jack Cosgrove. “It also carried with it, a fourth loss doesn’t let you play when the seasons over, tag.”
But Cosgrove believes the team may have already reached that point with its third loss.
“It just kind of slaps you in the face a little bit harder than the third loss,” said Cosgrove. “We still have this North Division to address and to work for as a goal. That’s a challenge and something we need to be focused on and get our energy geared towards.”
All three games remaining on the Black Bears’ schedule are against teams from the North Division.
This week, the 4-4 Hofstra Pride travel north to Alfond Stadium.
UMaine is looking for the win not only to satisfy its goal of winning the North, but are also playing for their fourth consecutive winning season, and most important, are playing for the seniors.
“Our seniors have the opportunity to be the winningest class of seniors to ever come through,” said Cosgrove.
With the season’s end, three weeks away, sophomore Arel Gordon admits that the team’s attitude has changed. But not for the worse.
“Although the postseason chances are dissipating,” said Gordon, “we are all realizing that there aren’t many more chances this year to put on the pads and do what we love to do most, which is play the sport of football.”
For most seniors, this Saturday will be one of the last chances they will have to put on the pads for the rest of their lives, and Gordon said the team knows it.
“We keep that as motivation in practice” he said. “We really want to finish this season strong and have a respectable record for next year too.”
This is the time of year when leadership, character, commitment, and teamwork are so crucial, Cosgrove admits.
The handling of those four common sports terms will be a huge determination in the outcome against Hofstra.
The Pride defense enters the match having allowed almost 30 points per game, something UMaine will look to capitalize on.
“Last year we were able to put up 44 against Hofstra,” said Gordon. “I feel we will carry a similar game plan in to this game, along with new things we have learned this year to exploit their defense.”
The Black Bears will turn to their running man, Marcus Williams, who has had four straight 100-yard games, to deter the Pride defense. Williams needs just 106 yards to be the Black Bears all-time leading rusher in school history.
“He’s an essential part of our run game and we’ve got to have that going,” said Cosgrove. “That’s something that will help us manage the football game.”
Hofstra’s offense likes to spread the field and throw the ball, according to Cosgrove.
“That’s something we’ve had problems defending,” he said. “We are just going to try and be better prepared to win the game than they are.”
Looking to stop that offense, who hasn’t posted less than 19 points this season, will be the Black Hole defense led by Brandon McGowan, Daren Stone and Jermaine Walker.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
