Adrian Nicholas Peterson is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) and United Football League (UFL). He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL draft, playing eight seasons for Chicago. Then he played for the Virginia Destroyers in the UFL. He played college football for the Georgia Southern Eagles, where he set numerous school, Southern Conference, and NCAA Division I-AA records, as well as winning two I-AA National Championships and receiving the Walter Payton Award for most outstanding player in I-AA football. He is currently serving as the director of student-athlete development for Georgia Southern.
The Maine Black Bears are the athletic teams that represent the University of Maine. A member of the America East Conference, the University of Maine sponsors teams in eight men's and nine women's NCAA sanctioned sports. The men's and women's ice hockey teams are members of Hockey East, and the football team is an associate member of the Coastal Athletic Association.
Chad Hayes is a former American football tight end. He graduated from Old Town High School before playing football for the University of Maine Black Bears. In 2001, he was a second-team I-AA All American with Maine. Hayes went undrafted in the 2002 NFL draft but played in the National Football League in either the preseason or on the practice squad with the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers and Tennessee Titans. Prior to the 2002 Draft, Hayes was ranked the 17th best tight end prospect, ahead of future NFL players Jeb Putzier, John Owens, Kori Dickerson and John Gilmore.
Stephen Paea is a New Zealand former player of American football who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers, earning consensus All-American honors in 2010. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft, and also played for the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys.
The 2013 Maine Black Bears football team represented the University of Maine in the 2013 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by 21st-year head coach Jack Cosgrove and played their home games at Alfond Stadium. They were a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). They finished the season 10–3, 7–1 in CAA play to be crowned CAA Champions. They received an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs where they lost in the second round to fellow CAA member New Hampshire.
Kendall James is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football for the Maine Black Bears.
The 2015 Maine Black Bears football team represented the University of Maine in the 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by 23rd-year head coach Jack Cosgrove and played their home games at Alfond Stadium. They were a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. They finished the season 3–8, 3–5 in CAA play to finish in a four-way tie for seventh place.
Warren Smith is an American professional football quarterback for the Albany Empire of the National Arena League (NAL). He played college football at the University of Maine.
The 2017 Maine Black Bears football team represented the University of Maine in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Joe Harasymiak and played their home games at Alfond Stadium. They were a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. Maine initially had a game scheduled on September 30 against Central Florida but that game was canceled on September 14 in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. They finished the season 4–6, 3–5 in CAA play to finish in a three-way tie for seventh place.
Patrick Ricard is an American professional football fullback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maine. Ricard was originally signed by the Ravens as an undrafted defensive end following the 2017 NFL Draft, which was the position he played in college, but he would become a two-way player as a rookie, playing fullback on offense and on the defensive line on defense. Ricard was a two-way player for his first three seasons in the league before becoming a full-time fullback in his fourth season. In addition to his roles on both offense and defense, Ricard has also been a core special teams player throughout his career.
The 2018 Maine Black Bears football team represented the University of Maine in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They played their home games at Alfond Stadium. They were a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. They were led by third-year head coach Joe Harasymiak. They finished the season 10–4, 7–1 in CAA play to be crowned CAA champions. They received the CAA's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs where, after a first round bye, they defeated Jacksonville State in the second round, and Weber State in the quarterfinals before losing in the semifinals to Eastern Washington.
Jamil Demby is an American professional football offensive guard. He played college football at Maine.
The 1996 Maine Black Bears football team represented the University of Maine in the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season. They were led by forth-year head coach Jack Cosgrove and finished the season with record of 7–4 and a 5–3 mark in the Yankee Conference.
The 1982 Maine Black Bears football team represented the University of Maine as a member of the Yankee Conference during the 1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by second-year head coach Ron Rogerson, the Black Bears compiled an overall record of 7–4 and a conference mark of 3–2, sharing the Yankee Conference title with Boston University, Connecticut, and UMass.
The 1958 Maine Black Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of Maine as a member of the Yankee Conference and Maine Intercollegiate Athletic Association during the 1958 college football season. In its eighth season under head coach Harold Westerman, the team compiled a 6–2 record and finished second out of the six teams in the Yankee Conference. The team played its home games at Alumni Field in Orono, Maine. Niles Nelson was the team captain.
The 1969 Maine Black Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of Maine as a member of the Yankee Conference during the 1969 NCAA College Division football season. In its third season under head coach Walter Abbott, the team compiled a 5–4 record and tied for second out of six teams in the Yankee Conference. Paul Dulac was the team captain.
The 1987 Maine Black Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of Maine as a member of the Yankee Conference during the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their first season under head coach Tim Murphy, the Black Bears compiled a 8–4 record, tied for the Yankee Conference championship, and lost to Georgia Southern in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs. Bob Wilder and Steve Violette were the team captains.
The 2006 Maine Black Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of Maine as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference during the 2006 NCAA Division I FCS football season. In their 14th season under head coach Jack Cosgrove, the Black Bears compiled a 6–5 record and tied for second in the Atlantic 10's North Division. Mike DeVito, Matt King, and Ron Whitcomb were the team captains.
The 2005 Maine Black Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of Maine as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference during the 2005 NCAA Division I FCS football season. In their 13th season under head coach Jack Cosgrove, the Black Bears compiled a 5–6 record and finished fourth in the Atlantic 10's North Division. Jermaine Walker and Ben Lazarski were the team captains.
Liam Dobson is a Canadian professional football offensive lineman for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted third overall in the 2021 CFL Draft by the Blue Bombers. He played college football for the Maine Black Bears and Texas State Bobcats.
