Maine Black Bears 2026 Offseason: Missing Out on Mistlebacher

[tylerzx2002]

Nice work. My favorite stats lead by the infamous top four :

Penalty Minutes

Joe Diamond

Prestin Ryan

Scott Smith

Scott Pellerin

Will O'Neill

Brent Shepheard

Rob Bellamy

John Tortorella

Michel Léveillé

Mike Hamilton

[td]
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200 career PIM is definitely one of those stats that we may never see again with how much the game has changed.

 

[blackbears9]

Football played but 5 home games last season, averaged 4,315 in attendance, and was one game away from the tournament...

Yes, there's a contingent on here that wants all the money funneled to hockey, but I don't see that ever happening.

Football, for decades now, has been more relevant than hockey, on-average. There has existed no other program in Orono over that span that has had a realistic shot at a NC more frequently. Period.

I would like to see that change, but facts is facts as of now.

So they draw less fans than hockey despite having roughly double the capacity.

Let's compare sustained success over the last few decades. Football has made the playoffs 6 times since 1990. Hockey has made the tournament 14 times since 1990. Football made the semifinals (frozen 4) once since 1990, has 0 championship appearances and 0 championships. Hockey has 9 frozen 4's, 5 championship appearances and 2 championships since 1990. Football was 13 winning seasons since 1990, while hockey has 26 winning seasons since 1990.

We can look at more recent history, football has 3 winning seasons out of the last 10, one playoff appearance and hockey has 5 out of the last 10 and two tournaments (would have been 3 if not for covid). Ignoring the fact that football isn't even competing in the highest division, I don't see how they have been more relevant, or had a more realistic shot at a championship (not in the highest division). They've had one miracle run since moving up from D2 and Harasymiack left immediately after to be a position coach in the FBS.

Some of my earliest memories were watching my cousin play football at Orono, I'm far from a hater on the program. But football will always be a stepping stone for both players and coaches trying to move up to the FBS. Hockey and field hockey are the only programs on campus that have a chance to be relevant on a national stage and be a destination, not just a pit stop. In the NIL era I don't think it makes sense to throw money away on an average at best program that doesn't even compete in the top division.