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Maine vs. William & Mary Football Game Notes
Oct. 8, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format
The University of Maine football team returns to the friendly confines of Alfond Stadium on Saturday when it plays host to William & Mary at 3 p.m. The game marks the 2007 Homecoming Weekend for the Black Bears. The Black Bears (1-4, 0-3 CAA) will look to win their fourth-straight game over the Tribe (3-3, 1-2 CAA). The game will be aired live on WABI-TV 5 in Bangor. Fans outside the coverage area can watch the game live online at www.watchmainesports.com(.) The game is viewed on a pay-per-view basis at a cost of $9.95. Tickets still remain for the contest and can be purchased by calling 581-BEAR or toll-free at (800) 756-TEAM. This Week's Storylines ... Five Things You Need To Know **Maine returns home for its 2007 Homecoming Weekend, and will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak. The Black Bears have won three straight in the series, including a 20-17 victory at William & Mary last season. **Maine will attempt to win for the fifth time in its last six games against CAA South Division foes. The streak dates back to the 25-15 win over Delware back on Oct. 29, 2005. **Saturday's matchup will feature two of the winningest coaches in the CAA. William & Mary head coach Jimmye Laycock ranks second among current league coaches with 70 conference wins. Maine's Jack Cosgrove ranks third among current CAA head coaches with 51 league wins.
**A victory would give Maine a win over a South Division foe for the seventh-straight season.
A Maine Win Would... **Snap the Black Bears' four-game losing streak. **Run Maine's win streak to four-straight games over William & Mary. **Snap a five-game conference losing streak. **Be the Black Bears' first conference win this season and their first CAA victory. **Be the Black Bears' eighth win in their last 10 home games dating back to the 2005 season. **Be the Black Bears' fifth win in their last six games versus South Division foes. **Be the seventh-straight season Maine has defeated at least one opponent from the conference's South Division. **Be Maine's fourth-straight home win in the month of October dating back to the 2005 season. Black Bears Square Off With Second South Division Foe William & Mary marks the second CAA South Division foe Maine will face this season. The Black Bears dropped a 24-17 overtime decision at Villanova back on Sept. 15. of this season. Maine will face a third and final South Division foe on Nov. 3, when it plays host to Towson at 12 p.m., in Alfond Stadium. Villanova Loss Snaps Black Bears' Win Streak Vs. South Division Opponents The overtime loss at Villanova back on Sept. 15, snapped Maine's four-game winning streak over South Division foes. The streak had dated back to the 2005 season when the Black Bears knocked off Delaware, 25-15, in Orono on Oct. 29. Maine won all three of its South Division games last season, including a 20-17 victory at William & Mary. No "Virginia" Black Bears No players on the Maine roster hail from the state of Virginia. William & Mary (located in Williamsburg, Va.), Rhode Island and New Hampshire are the only three opponents Maine will face this season in which it does not have any players to hail from those schools' respective states. Clarification On 2003 Maine-William & Mary Decision The presidents of the Atlantic 10 Football Conference awarded the University of Maine a victory and the College of William & Mary a no-contest as a result of the cancellation of their game scheduled for Sept. 27, 2003. The decision of the presidents, based upon the recommendation of the league's directors of athletics, was unprecedented in Atlantic 10 Football Conference history. Factored into the decision were Maine's efforts to play the game and the understanding of the unique circumstances facing William & Mary in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel. "Regrettably, the effects of Hurricane Isabel have been devastating to the Tidewater region of Virginia," said Atlantic 10 commissioner Linda Bruno. "Safety is a major concern. Power and water supplies are still not fully operational and may not be so for a number of days, if not weeks. Our presidents and directors of athletics appreciate what the staff and student-athletes at William & Mary are going through and respect the decision of President Timothy Sullivan to cancel the game. "Everyone also appreciates the efforts made by the administration at Maine to play the game. Maine athletic director Patrick Nero and his staff did everything they could to accommodate the game. Unfortunately, the extenuating circumstances surrounding this game made playing it impossible. "Our presidents and directors of athletics all agree that Maine should not be penalized because of its efforts, nor should William & Mary because of the circumstances." **However, the NCAA does not recognize the win in their records. Black Bear Performances Vs. W&M From Last Season The following is a list of notable individual performances by Black Bear returnees versus William & Mary from last season. Maine pulled out a 20-17 victory over the Tribe on Sept. 15, 2006, in Williamsburg. **Landis Williams (WR) ... Caught 2 passes for 36 yds. and a TD. **Desmond Randall (WR) ... Rushed once for 5 yds; caught a pass for 8 yds. **Manzi Pierre (WR) ... Caught two passes for 22 yards. **Andrew Downey (LB) ... Made a team-high eight tackles. **Jonathan Calderon (DB) ... Made five tackles. **Jovan Belcher (DE) ... Made five tackles. |
