The University of Maine football team will open their 2016 regular season when they travel to face an FBS opponent in the Connecticut Huskies at 7 p.m. Thursday night.
The Black Bears who come in after a 3-8 record in 2015, bring a new alternate helmet, a new attitude and a new coach into the 2016 campaign. Joe Harasymiak takes over for Jack Cosgrove who stepped down after 23 years at the helm.
Maine will go with 6 foot 3″, 215 pound senior quarterback Dan Collins, to get the season underway. Maine will be without the services of Micah Wright, who led the team in receptions last season. Wright was suspended for the first two games of the regular season for his part in an off campus incident back in May.
Maine will rely heavily on returning junior running back Nigel Beckford and transfer junior running back from Temple Zaire Williams to take the pressure off Collins.
The Black Hole defense returns six starters this season including all conference pick Pat Ricard. The Bears were 19th nationally in all FCS last season in total defense.
Connecticut comes off a 6-7 season in 2015 led by Head Coach Bob Diaco who enters his third season. UConn got a bid out of their conference (AAC) last season to the St Petersburg Bowl where they lost to Marshall 16-10.
The Maine-UConn game can be seen nationally by streaming on ESPN3.com, CW in Bangor, also WGME in Portland (American Sports Network) will have it and in select areas it will also be available on NESN Plus.
