1989 Maine Black Bears football team

The 1989 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 1989 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their first and only season under head coach Tom Lichtenberg, the Black Bears compiled a 9–3 record (6–2 against conference opponents), tied for the Yankee Conference championship, and lost to Southwest Missouri State Bears football in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs. Scott Hough and John Gibson were the team captains.^[1]

1989 Maine Black Bears football
Yankee Conference co-champion
NCAA Division I-AA First Round, L 35–38 at Southwest Missouri State
Conference	Yankee Conference
Record	9–3 (6–2 Yankee)
Head coach	Tom Lichtenberg (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Jack Cosgrove (1st season)
Captain	Scott Hough, John Gibson
Home stadium	Alumni Field
Seasons ← 1988 1990 →

1989 Yankee Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 8 Maine +^	6	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 18 Connecticut +	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
No. 16 Villanova +^	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
New Hampshire	5	–	3	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Delaware	5	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Boston University	4	–	4	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
UMass	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	5	–	1
Rhode Island	1	–	7	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Richmond	0	–	8	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 2	Youngstown State*		Alumni Field Orono, ME	W 28–14
September 9	at New Hampshire		Cowell Stadium Durham, NH	W 24–7
September 16	Villanova		Alumni Field Orono, ME	W 47–14	8,650	^[2]
September 23	UMass	No. 9	Alumni Field Orono, ME	W 40–23
September 30	Richmond	No. 8	Alumni Field Orono, ME	W 41–16	7,169	^[3]
October 7	Lock Haven*	No. 8	Alumni Field Orono, ME	W 56–0
October 14	at Rhode Island	No. 6	Meade Stadium Kingston, RI	W 47–21
October 21	Connecticut	No. 4	Alumni Field Orono, ME	W 30–8
October 28	at Delaware	No. 4	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE	L 28–35
November 4	at Boston University	No. 8	Nickerson Field Boston, MA	L 28–30
November 11	at Northeastern*	No. 10	Parsons Field Brookline, MA	W 29–26
November 25	at No. 9 Southwest Missouri State*	No. 8	Briggs Stadium Springfield, MO (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)	L 35–38	7,270	^[4]
*Non-conference game Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Poll released prior to the game

References

1. (PDF). University of Maine. 2019. p. 88. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
2. "Turnovers are costly to 'Nova in 47–14 setback". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 17, 1989. Retrieved April 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Bears continue winning ways". Sun-Journal. October 1, 1989. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Dan O'Neill (November 26, 1989). "SWMO Wins Wild Opener". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 9F – via Newspapers.com.