Bill Mottola was a driving force behind the development of Maine Maritime Academy athletics and in the growth of the New England Football Conference.
He joined the staff of the Castine-based institution in 1967 and coached football, baseball and wrestling. Mottola served as Maine Maritime Academy’s director of athletics from 1979 until his retirement in 2004 because of health concerns.
During Mottola’s eight years as New England Football Conference commissioner, the conference expanded from eight to 14 teams.
On Saturday, Mottola will be honored again for his numerous contributions to the league.
New England Football Conference Commissioner John Harper will be in Castine as the league unveils its revamped championship trophy. The gold ball will be dedicated in honor of William J. Mottola.
A ceremony will be held during halftime of Saturday’s noon football exhibition game between Maine Maritime Academy and Holland College of Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Maine Maritime Academy and Bridgewater State are the only two remaining charter members left in the New England Football Conference, which was formed in 1965.
The league previously paid tribute to Mottola when the trophy for the outstanding player of the New England Football Conference championship game was named the William Mottola Most Valuable Player award.
Mottola also is the namesake of the William J. Mottola Athletics Hall of Fame at Maine Maritime Academy. He was a member of the hall’s inaugural class in 2004.
He retired from Maine Maritime Academy earlier that year after 37 years as an administrator, faculty member and coach. Mottola had been the Mariners’ head football coach for 11 seasons, from 1968 through 1978.
Mottola also has received the “Contribution to Amateur Football Award” from the Maine Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
Mottola also was the recipient of the 1987 NAIA Northeast administrator of the year award, the New England Football Writers’ George C. Carens Award for contributions to New England Football and the All-American Football Foundation’s Asa Bushnell Commissioner Award for his efforts with the New England Football Conference.
He served on the NCAA Division III football championship committee, including one year as its chair, and also worked for several years as a site director for the NCAA Division III football playoffs.
UMaine-BC tickets on sale
Tickets for the University of Maine’s Sept. 20 football game at Boston College are on sale through the athletic ticket office.
Fans who buy tickets through UMaine are assured a seat in the Maine section at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Tickets are $30 and will be available until Sept. 15.
The game time has not been determined.
The ticket office number is 581-2327.
UMaine to host AE meet
UMaine’s cross country teams open their season with a bang on Saturday as the Black Bears host the America East Pre-Conference meet.
New Hampshire, Vermont and UMass Lowell join UMaine for the meet on the same course where the conference championships will be held on Nov. 1.
Alex Moser, Jarrod Lenfest and Andrew Closson are among the mainstays for the Black Bear men’s squad, while senior Carolyn Stocker is the top returning performer for the women’s team.
The men’s competition begins at 10 a.m., with the women’s race slated for 10:45 a.m.