UM Football Gets High Preseason Ranking

The first two FCS college football polls are out for the 2019 season and the UMaine Black Bears are getting some big time attention coming of their trip to the NCAA semi-finals a year ago.

The 'Hero Sports' Preseason Poll lists UMaine as the #4 FCS team in the nation. Only James Madison University, North Dakota St and UC Davis are ahead of the Black Bears. There are four CAA teams in the preseason top 25.

Here's what Hero Sports says about Maine...

4. MAINE  The Black Bears' colors are blue, white and navy blue -- but the real colors of this program are black and blue. Last year, Maine proved it with an impressive CAA championship run, playoff seed and run to the FCS semifinals before crisscrossing the United States finally took its toll. This is a hard-nosed program that goes after hard-nosed kids in Jersey, PA and the outer boroughs of NYC. Not everybody fits Maine and Maine doesn't fit everybody ... but the kids that stick? They can hit. Look for another strong campaign in Orono.

The 'Athlon Sports' Preseason Poll has UMaine at #6 in the nation, behind North Dakota St, James Madison, South Dakota St, Eastern Washington and UC Davis.

Here's what Athlon Sports says about the Black Bears...

6. MAINE  With seven road games following last year’s nine, the Black Bears’ nickname might be changed to Road Warriors in former offensive coordinator Nick Charlton’s first season as head coach. Fortunately, the first national semifinalist in program history returns significant talent, including quarterback Chris Ferguson and three All-CAA first-teamers — kick returner Earnest Edwards, defensive end Kayon Whitaker and cornerback Manny Patterson.

NOTE: The Black Bears open the season on August 30th with a home game vs Sacred Heart University.