University of Maine football coach Jordan Stevens and his Black Bears have rinsed their mouths of Saturday’s 55-3 loss to Appalachian State and are preparing for Saturday’s home opener against Merrimack College at Morse Field in Orono’s Alfond Stadium.
UMaine’s 52-point loss is the program’s most lopsided setback since the 1995 team was dealt a 61-0 drubbing by Delaware.
Appalachian State, with 73 newcomers including 43 transfers, built a 31-0 lead at halftime and limited UMaine to three first downs over the first 30 minutes. The Mountaineers are in the Football Bowl Subdivision, which has more resources than Football Championship Subdivision teams like UMaine.
The Mountaineers outgained UMaine 647 yards to 250 for the game and had 34 first downs to UMaine’s 12.
“We played outside of our bodies a little bit,” UMaine All-Coastal Athletic Association redshirt junior offensive tackle and co-captain Anthony Iliano said. “When you watch the film, there were a lot of uncharacteristic things like dropped passes and missed tackles.”
Iliano said the team is reemphasizing the things it worked on in training camp. “It was a learning experience, and we have a great opportunity this week to focus in practice on technique and fundamentals,” he said.
“We learned a lot,” redshirt junior defensive end and co-captain Kye Pressley said. “Not everything is sunshine and rainbows. You have to battle through adversity. We aren’t dwelling on last Saturday’s game. What’s past is past.”
UMaine head coach Stevens said it was good to see his team compete in that type of environment and said they need to improve in a lot of areas in preparation for Saturday’s game.
“Blocking, tackling, throwing the football, catching the football. We need to see those things continue to improve,” Stevens said. “We have a very good opponent coming in here in Merrimack so we have to have a sense of urgency and get those things corrected and move forward.”
One of the primary areas of concern is the running game.
UMaine averaged 4.8 yards per carry and 163.8 rushing yards per game last season, and the Black Bears are averaging only 3 yards per carry and 91 yards per game through the first two contests.
“We have to get better at that,” Stevens said. “There are a lot of areas [in the running game] that we do well, and we have to continue to build on those. We have to find what our identity is within the running game. We have to run the ball more effectively, and it won’t be easy against Merrimack.”
“It’s going to take all of us doubling down on technique and fundamentals,” said Iliano, who is part of a very experienced line. “With great technique, that’s how you block guys. We have great backs. We know we do. Our line has to come together and play with great communication and great technique.”
UMaine is now 4-26 against FBS teams and has lost eight in a row. UMaine is one of the few FCS programs that usually plays two FBS teams every year.
There is a definite financial advantage to playing two FBS teams.
The Black Bears earned a $350,000 guarantee from Appalachian State and have a $400,000 guarantee from Boston College, who they will face in two weekends.
Stevens didn’t express an opinion on whether he wanted two FBS games on his schedule or just one.
“I just look at the schedule and play who is on the schedule,” Stevens said. “My job is to coach the team the best I can and give everything to it. We approach these games to win. I wouldn’t be doing my best service to the team if I had any other approach.
“Competing in these environments only makes us better. We have gotten a lot better over the years in managing the start of the season.”