Black Bear Football Opener

UMaine Football Opener

The Black Bears have a record of 1-1 after losing their opener to U of Albany and beating Monmouth next week. This weekend they take on Big East opponent Syracuse at the Carrier Dome for the second year in a row.



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-Frank DiGiacomo

Black Bears can't Juice the Orange

The UMaine Black Bears took on Big East Opponent Syracuse Orange in a Saturday night football match-up. The Black Bears lost last year against the same team at the same venue, the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. The last meeting ended 41-24 for the Orange and yesterday was no different. The Black Bears drew first blood score 7 on a rush by the Quarterback Warren Smith who ran up for the middle for 10 yards and the score. Syracuse struck back to tie the game up in the second quarter on a Ryan Nassib pass to wide out Alec Lemon. At the end of the half the Black Bears trailed by three with the score 17-14 in favor of the Orange. This is a switch from last year where the Black Bears led at half with Syracuse winning , this year they try to turn the tables and use the formula that Syracuse used last year. This was not to happen as Syracuse used the second half to rack up the points scoring 2 TDs in the 3rd and a solo touchdown in the 4th ending the game 38-14. The Syracuse Defense stood tall only allowing three first downs in the second half.

Warren Smith only threw for 157 yards and a TD as well as a rushing touchdown while his counterpart, Ryan Nassib, went 19 for 28 with 260 yards and a stunning 5 touchdown passes. The returning star half back for the Black Bears, Jared Turcotte, after running rampant against Monmouth was only held to 56 yards with 13 carries. Delone Carter only had 65 yards for Syracuse on the ground. The rush defense for both teams kept the offenses at bay and forced their game to the air. The bright spots in this game for the Black Bears can be seen in their fourth down efficiency, 3 for 5, and their time of possession, 34 minutes to Syracuse's 25.

The Black Bears were expected to lose to such a tough opponent, but will look forward taking on CAA rival William and Mary at Morse Field. The Black Bears are sitting at 1-2 and look to go to .500 this weekend.

-Frank DiGiacomo

Journalist Integrity- Bud Poliquin Has None

Since I am trying to be a journalist/broadcaster I feel I should take time to look at someone who is published and viewed as a legitimate journalist, but is far removed from being an influence of mine. Bud Poliquin, unknown to most people in the northeast area, actually unknown to anyone outside of sports or outside of the Syracuse-Upstate New York area. He is a writer who covers Syracuse sports in the paper, blogs and was even given a radio show. Syracuse is known for their broadcasters and they let this guy on the radio, how did that happen? The only reason I know of this fellow journalist is because Maine played Syracuse two years in a row in football as and last year in Basketball and I had the unfortunate luck to read a column by him regarding the games. He may seem like a homer, boosting the home team in the eyes of the reader and always siding with them, and he may seem rude and a blithering idiot, but it has people talking about him so I guess he is doing something right or views himself as the sports version of Glenn Beck. The reason his posts disturb me so much is because he is employed in a field I hope to work in, which makes my dreams seem that much more attainable. I have attached some posts from ol' Bud so everyone can take a look at how ridiculous he seems. He gives no credit, no objective opinion, never fair and balanced and makes ridiculous claims that only further the statement that Buddy boy is terrible and the people of Syracuse are fed garbage on a daily basis about their college sports. Bud, you look pretty old so I don't know if you are going senile or really have no grasp on reality, but how about you put the pen down and retire. I'm sure a harding working student from SU would gladly take over your position if not for a job than to save what little common sense there is about college sports that is left in your industrious city. C'est la vie Bud, we wish you the best.
-Frank DiGiacomo