With snowbanks surrounding the field, the University of Maine football team on Thursday afternoon returned to Morse Field at Alfond Stadium to begin its spring workouts.
Coach Jack Cosgrove and his staff will put the Black Bears through 15 sessions during the abbreviated spring season, culminating with the annual Jeff Cole Scrimmage at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 2.
Judging from a video posted on GoBlackBears.com, UMaine went through a high-energy first session and was scheduled to follow it up with a practice at 3:45 p.m. Friday and a workout at 9:45 a.m. Saturday.
UMaine is trying to build on a 5-6 record in 2014, one that included a 4-4 Colonial Athletic Association mark. The Black Bears won three of their final four games last fall.
The team’s losses include graduating senior wide receivers Damarr Aultman and Arthur Williams, defensive backs Khari Al-Mateen, Axel Ofori and Pat Pascal, and defensive linemen Matt Wilson, Devin Clark and Jonathan Louis.
The Black Bears return numerous veterans, including the entire offensive line, anchored by Bruce Johnson, along with quarterbacks Dan Collins and Drew Belcher, running backs Nigel Jones and Jerickson Fedrick, and receivers Jordan Dunn and Jeremy Salmon.
On the defensive side, the linebacking corps of Christian Mulumba Tshimanga, Cabrinni Goncalves, Randy Samuels and Zach Hume lead the way. Other top veterans include defensive end Trevor Bates of Westbrook, safety Davonte Burke, tackle Darius Greene and cornerbacks Sherrod Baltimore and Najee Goode.
UMaine is scheduled to open the 2015 season with a Sept. 5 contest at Boston College, the first of back-to-back games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents.
Year-end celebration set
The UMaine football team will close out the spring with two events on the first weekend of May.
The team will hold its annual spring banquet at 6 p.m. Friday, May 1, at the Wells Conference Center on campus. The event includes dinner and the bestowing of team awards.
Tickets are $30 per person.
The intrasquad scrimmage scheduled for May 2 is being billed as the Jeff Cole Memorial Scrimmage and BBQ.
After the game, fans, family and friends can sit down for a barbecue lunch at noon. The cost is $15.
Reservations must be made by April 24 via links at GoBlackBears.com. For more information, call Caren Haskell Ford in the UMaine football office at 581-1062 or email caren.ford@umit.maine.edu.