Maine Black Bears

Maine Black Bears. The intercollegiate athletic teams representing the University of Maine in Orono. Competing primarily in the America East Conference at the NCAA Division I level, the program fields teams in a variety of men's and women's sports. The nickname "Black Bears" was officially adopted in 1933, replacing earlier monikers, and the university's mascot is named Bananas T. Bear. Several teams, most notably ice hockey, compete in different conferences due to the sport-specific alignment of the NCAA.

History

The athletic history of the University of Maine dates to the late 19th century, with early teams known informally as the "Maine Men" or the "Indians." The modern Black Bears identity was formally established by a student body vote in 1933. The program has been a member of several athletic conferences throughout its history, including the Yankee Conference and the Atlantic 10 Conference, before joining its current primary home, the America East Conference, in 1979. A significant milestone was the men's ice hockey team's national championship victory in 1993 under coach Shawn Walsh. The women's basketball program also gained national prominence with multiple NCAA Tournament appearances in the late 1990s under coach Joanne P. McCallie.

Athletic programs

The Maine Black Bears sponsor 17 varsity teams. The men's programs include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, ice hockey, track and field, and swimming and diving. Women's teams compete in basketball, cross country, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, and volleyball. The men's ice hockey team is a member of the Hockey East association, one of the premier conferences in college ice hockey, and plays its home games at the Alfond Arena. The football team competes in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association.

Facilities

Primary athletic facilities are clustered on the University of Maine campus in Orono. Harold Alfond Sports Stadium is home to the football, track and field, and field hockey teams. The adjacent Alfond Arena, part of the larger Harold Alfond Sports Arena complex, hosts the men's and women's ice hockey programs. Memorial Gymnasium is the venue for volleyball and swimming and diving. Mahaney Diamond serves as the home for baseball, while Kessock Field hosts the softball team. The Cross Insurance Center in nearby Bangor is the primary home for men's and women's basketball.

Notable athletes

Many Maine Black Bears have achieved success in professional sports and international competition. National Hockey League alumni include Paul Kariya, Gustav Nyquist, Jimmy Howard, and Ben Bishop. In baseball, Mike Bordick enjoyed a long career in Major League Baseball, and Billy Swift was an American League All-Star. Football standouts include Stephen Cooper of the San Diego Chargers and Moe Williams of the Minnesota Vikings. Olympic medalists include swimmer Ian Crocker, a gold medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and runner Joan Benoit Samuelson, who won the first women's Olympic marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Rivalries

The program's most intense and historic rivalry is with the University of New Hampshire, known as the "Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket" in football and extending across all sports, particularly in Hockey East ice hockey contests. The men's ice hockey team also maintains a fierce rivalry with Boston University, often competing for conference supremacy in the Hockey East tournament. In basketball, conference matchups against the University of Vermont and the University at Albany have developed into significant contests within the America East Conference. The annual Maine–New Hampshire football rivalry game is one of the oldest in FCS history.

Category:University of Maine Category:NCAA Division I athletic programs Category:Sports in Maine