Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
The University of Maine 2007-2008 sports season was a disappointment, as none of the 19 athletic teams recorded a winning record. The 2008-2009 athletic year was a major improvement over last year and had its fair share of ups and downs. Here are the major headlines for the year:
1. Football advances to FCS playoffs
Coming off 4-7 (3-5 Colonial Athletic Association) campaign, the CAA pegged UMaine to finish in fourth place in the North Division. After a 45-3 whooping by Iowa to open the season and a 2-3 start, the fourth place finish appeared to be reality. However, Jack Cosgrove’s squad led by All-American Jovan Belcher persevered and won six straight games heading into the season finale against the University of New Hampshire. The Black Bears lost a heartbreaker to the Wildcats, but advanced to the FCS Playoffs, where they eventually lost to Northern Iowa. UMaine’s successful 8-5 campaign and second-place finish in the CAA North exceeded expectations and kicked off a successful fall sports season.
2. Budget cuts suspends volleyball, men’s soccer
Athletic Director Blake James had to cut spending in the department by $871,000 for the upcoming fiscal year. To achieve this, James had to go with “the option of last resort.” On April 15, the volleyball and men’s soccer programs were suspended. This leaves the university with 17 athletic teams. The elimination of the two fall sports programs continues the trend of northeast schools cutting back. Quinnipiac University and the University of Vermont have also made similar cutbacks.
3. Masters dominates
Riley Masters was a well-known distance runner during his high school years at nearby Bangor High School. During his freshman season, the rookie has turned it up a notch and excelled in the fall cross-country season and in the track season this spring. He led the cross-country team this fall and was undefeated on the track until this weekend’s Penn Relays. With three more years left, UMaine fans should sit back and enjoy Masters continuing to tear up the course.
4. Men’s hockey continues rebuilding process
Two seasons ago, the UMaine men’s hockey team was coming off a season where they advanced to their second straight Frozen Four. A perennial powerhouse in Hockey East and on the national scale, they lost many of the top players off of the Frozen Four squad. That led to struggles last season when the team failed to advance to the Hockey East Playoffs. This season, struggles continued, but UMaine returns most of its underclassmen-laden lineup, including Gustav Nyquist and Tanner House. The addition of top recruit Joey Diamond should allow UMaine to improve even more next season.
5. James considered for FGCU job
After being forced to suspend two sports two weeks ago, Blake James was in Fort Myers, Fla., this past week interviewing for the athletic director position at Florida Gulf Coast University. James has been at UMaine since 2003 when he took over as senior associate AD. He took over as the full-time AD in 2006 after serving as the interim for a year. During James’ tenure, the team’s success has been up and down. He has operated the budget very well and the athletes have excelled in the classroom.
Bangor Daily News