Maine Black Bears
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Maine Black Bears | |
 |
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| University | University of Maine |
|---|---|
| Conference | America East Conference |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletics director | Blake James |
| Location | Orono, ME |
| Varsity Teams | 8 men, 9 women teams |
| Stadium | Morse Field |
| Arena | Harold Alfond Arena |
| Mascot | Bananas T. Bear |
| Nickname | Black Bears |
| Fight Song | |
| Colors | Blue and White
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| Homepage | Go Black Bears |
The University of Maine Black Bears are the athletic teams which represent the University of Maine. They compete in NCAA Division 1 athletics, with the majority of the teams playing in the America East Conference. The only exceptions are the ice hockey program, Maine's most successful program, which competes in Hockey East, and the football program, which, starting in with the 2007 season will compete in the Colonial Athletic Association.
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[edit] Ice Hockey
- See also: Maine Black Bears Hockey
The University of Maine's men's ice hockey program was inducted in 1977. The team has seen plenty of succes, having won the Hockey East title 5 times, appearing in 11 Frozen Fours, and winning 2 National Championships. The Black Bears compete in the Hockey East conference, a very competitive conference including teams such as Boston College, Boston University and UNH. The program has produced many professional ice hockey players, such as Paul Kariya, Eric Weinrich, Keith Carney, Garth Snow, Mike Dunham, Dustin Penner, Jimmy Howard and more. The team is best known for its 1992-1993 season, which it went nearly perfect, finishing with a record of 42-1-2. The team is also noted for its head coach Shawn Walsh, who coached the team for 17 seasons. Walsh is credited with turning the team into such a successful program, as well as turning the Alfond Arena into one of the most intimidating arenas in college hockey. Walsh died of renal cell carcinoma in June of 2000.
[edit] Football
Maine's football team competes in the Colonial Athletic Association. Previous to the 2007 season, the team competed in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The football program has produced a few professional football players, such as Pro Bowl linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who transferred to USC after his freshmen year, center Mike Flynn, and defensive back Brandon McGowan. The team also received brief publicity when the Oakland Raiders selected wide receiver Kevin McMahon as the last player in the 2006 NFL Draft, affectionately known as Mr. Irrelevant.
[edit] Basketball
The university's basketball team, as well as all other sports teams, participate in the America East Conference. The men's team has experienced some recent success, but its women's team is particularly noted for producing WBNA star and current assistant coach at Brown University Cindy Blodgett. Clemson University head coach Jack Leggett also attended the university, as well as current NBA head coach Rick Carlisle.
[edit] Baseball
Maine's baseball team has not been as successful as its football or hockey team, but it has produced some notable players, such as outfielder Mark Sweeney, shortstop Mike Bordick, pitcher Bill Swift, and manager Carl Merrill. Also, baseball icon Ted Williams' only son, John Henry Williams, attended the university.
[edit] Radio & Television
The current radio broadcast rights to all U Maine sports are held by Bangor, Maine ESPN Radio affiliate WZON. TV coverage includes Bangor's WABI-TV (Most home football and basketball games and some hockey games). NESN also carries select hockey and basketball games (from American East TV and ESPN Plus). During the school year Black Bear Weekly is carried Sunday mornings on WABI.
In 2006 the University sold the advertising rights to athletic events to Missouri based Learfield Sports. Starting with the fall 2007 sports season, WVOM and WGUY will split radio coverage, WGUY carrying men's and women's basketball and select baseball and softball games and WVOM carrying football and hockey broadcasts.
