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Maine vs. Monmouth Football Game Notes
Sept. 2, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format
The University of Maine football team hits the road for the second-straight game, as the Black Bears (0-1) travel to West Long Branch, N.J., to face Monmouth (0-1) on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., at Kessler Field. The game can be heard throughout the state of Maine on the Black Bear Sports Network. The game can also be seen live over the internet through Jump TV at www.GoMUHawks.com(.) The game will be webcast on a pay-per-view basis. Fans can also listen to the game live over the internet at www.GoBlackBears.com(.) Maine is coming off a 46-3 loss at Big Ten-foe Iowa on Saturday, while Monmouth dropped a 27-24 decision at Rhode Island. This is the Hawks' second-straight contest against an opponent from the CAA. MONMOUTH GAME STORYLINES **Maine hits the road for its second-straight game, as the Black Bears travel to West Long Branch, N.J., to face Monmouth on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., at Kessler Field. Maine is 1-0 all-time versus Monmouth, as the Black Bears opened the 2007 season with a 21-14 win over the Hawks in Alfond Stadium. Maine is 2-2 all-time against schools from the state of New Jersey. **Football experts say teams make the biggest improvement from the first to second week. Maine is a perfect example of that belief. The Black Bears are 5-1 in the season's second game dating back to the 2002 season. From 2003-06, Maine opened each season with a setback, but responded the following week by earning a victory. 2003 - W1: Lost to Montana, 30-20; W2: Defeated Hofstra 44-21. 2004 - W1: Lost to Montana, 27-20; W2: Defeated Northern Colorado, 38-0. 2005 - W1: Lost to Nebraska, 25-7; W2: Defeated William Penn, 28-0. 2006 - W1: Lost to Youngstown State, 34-14; W2: Defeated William & Mary, 20-17. Since 2002, Maine's only loss in the season's second game was a 38-0 setback at Connecticut last season. **A win on Saturday would give Maine head coach Jack Cosgrove 81 for his career, which would move him into sole possession of first place in school history for career wins. **Senior tailback Jhamal Fluellen enters Saturday's game needing just 108 yards to top 2,000 all-purpose yards for his career. Fluellen totaled 114 (104 rushing, 10 receiving) in last week's contest at Iowa. He currently ranks third in the CAA in rushing. **Senior defensive end Jovan Belcher, who was recently named to the Buck Buchanan "Watch List", totaled a game-high nine tackles at Iowa, including one for loss. He has recorded at least one stop behind the line of scrimmage in five-straight games dating back to last season. He currently leads all CAA defensive linemen in tackles. **The 2008 season marks the second time in the last three campaigns (the other being 2006) that Maine has started the year with two-straight road games. **Maine's last non-conference win was its 21-14 triumph over Monmouth last season. The Black Bears have dropped their last three non-conference affairs. **Maine is 3-3 the week following facing a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision opponent.
**Maine will continue facing Division I Football Bowl Subdivision opponents in the future. The Black Bears will open the 2009 season at Florida State at Bobby Bowden Field in Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.
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