Maine Black Bears 2026 Offseason: Missing Out on Mistlebacher

[BlackBearHockeyFan]

What's the point of FBS outside of the Power Conferences? Eventually no one is going to play in bowl outside the CFP.

If all those donors want Football cover all the cost associated with it.

 

[BlackBearHockeyFan]

That would be the end of Maine hockey. And probably baseball. Both would need to be eliminated in order to get Maine football up to even close to the bottom level of FBS spending. No FBS conference that would admit Maine (and frankly, there isn't one) is going to supply the TV/playoff share revenue that Maine would need to close the budget gap. I'm also not sold that just slapping an FBS label on the program and having them play Ball State and Bowling Green provides a big jump in attention or attendance as compared to playing Rhode Island and Albany. Michigan or Alabama isn't coming to Orono. Not to mention that there would be A LOT of 0-12, 1-11, 2-10 seasons for everyone to give up on after three games.

I agree with dunbar that football isn't going away, even though it should. I have a small bit of optimism centered around the fact that the bigwigs hobnobbing in the suites at football games have a lot more gray hair than those at hockey games. We'll see if their estate plans provide enough support to keep the football train on its tracks. The Class of 1964 isn't going to live forever.

Football field would make a great parking lot
Can't even sell out a game being the only Division 1 Football team in the state.

 

[BlackBearHockeyFan]

Hockey was self-sufficient. Those days are over now. Back in my day we stayed a week at a 5-star resort in Los Angeles after winning the Freezeout. Now coaches have to fundraise for road trips and the team recycles medical supplies. Uncle Harold's platinum card has long since expired.

Does Football recycle medical supplies?

 

[cooch]

Not bridge related (sorry!) but really happy to let everyone know that my Black Bears history site is live a bit ahead of schedule.

https://www.mainehockeyhistory.com/

Definitely appreciate the feedback a few of you gave on the preview site. I still have a few bits of data that I'll be adding in the weeks leading up to puck drop, as well as a few other features I have roadmapped that I'll get to as I find time. I've tried to make this as comprehensive as possible, so a lot of research hours poured into this, both when it comes to the past but also the future as well.

There are a few sections of the site that I'll keep updated throughout the season, namely the Depth Chart and Recruiting Pipeline.

Web building is new territory for me so if things are slightly janky my apologies in advance. I've tried to keep this as optimized for mobile as possible but definitely a better experience on desktop.

I might of missed it but is there a way to select a particular seasons roster? Also in the first group of recruits from Canada in the 78-79 season (Aubut, Ellis, etc) there was a Cote as well, but I can't seem to find him.

 

[McGoverners]

This is the bigger issue - other than legacy and old money, there is no reason Maine should have baseball over men's soccer. Your two closest peers, New Hampshire and Vermont, have proven what you can do with men's soccer in northern New England. The new facility is already there, and Mahaney Diamond would be a great parking lot.

Baseball is the only spring sport worth following, is competitive in the conference, and has placed a handful of guys into the pro systems (with 1 MLB all-star).

Soccer would only be worth adding if it replaces football. I personally would rather have football, but I would lose no sleep over cutting it.

 

[Jacob0804]

Everyone up in arms over the updated parking situation.

 

[BlackBearHockeyFan]

No one being forced to buy a parking spot

 

[ticapnews]

Everyone up in arms over the updated parking situation.

Why park? Stay at the Ursa and walk. The best part is standing outside the hotel doors and looking at the endless stream of tall lights from the traffic sitting at a standstill on College Ave.

 

[AMC]

The football situation could be worse, Maine could have joined a worse all sports conference to serve FBS football, have a home schedule of two FCS teams, two MAC teams on Saturday, and two Wednesday night games in November.