ORONO – Jack Cosgrove had always hoped this day would come.

Each training camp, when the University of Maine was an afterthought as preseason polls were unveiled, the football coach would say that someday that recognition would come Orono’s way.

“Here’s a program, when you go back five or six or seven years and people don’t even know where we are or that we even have a program,” said Cosgrove. They remember the stadium we played in here and all the changes that have taken place. It’s been very dramatic. That day is now here.”

The Black Bears were ranked No. 1 in the Atlantic-10’s North Division in the preseason. They were also selected third in Sports Illustrated’s Division I-AA Top 10. A preseason top 25 by ESPN/USA Today had them 11th.

“It feels great but the thing we’ve got to do is live up to everything,” said safety Brandon McGowan. “We’ve got to show everybody that we’re capable of doing the things we’re expected to be doing. As a team, we know we’re capable of doing anything.”

UMaine’s preseason accolades certainly stem from the fact that seven starters return on each side of the ball. The Black Bears have also had success the last few seasons. After winning seven games just once in the 1990s, the program has won at least seven three times in this decade.

“I think it’s a tribute to the success we’ve had the past few years to get our name out there and recognition of the quality players that we have,” said Cosgrove. “There was a general working knowledge out there that we’ve got a lot of players back that have played a lot of football and have won a lot of games.”

The returning talent begins with tailback Marcus Williams. The senior has back-to-back, 1,000-yard seasons and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award last year while earning first-team All-Atlantic 10 honors. Quarterback Ron Whitcomb was the Atlantic 10 and ECAC Rookie of the Year as a freshman, setting a school record for throwing a touchdown pass in 11 straight games. Returning receiver Christian Pereira led the team with 820 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, while teammate Ryan Waller was responsible for a team-leading 53 receptions and third with five touchdowns. The line is bolstered by returning guards Mike LeConte and Evign Dodge and tackle Mark Lehner.

“The running game is going to be great again,” said LeConte, an All-Conference preseason selection. “The passing game is going to be better because Ron has a year under him. The receivers, I don’t know if there’s anyone faster in the conference. We’ve got some guys, when they run, there’s fire behind them.”

The defense is just as promising. The Black Bears were second overall in the conference with just 114.8 rushing yards against and third overall in total defense, averaging 308.5 yards.

Pat Pa’u and Marcus Walton are returning starters on the line. Jermaine Walker is returning at linebacker. Joan Quezada and McGowan are experienced safeties. At corner, Devon Goree and Jarrod Gomes, join returning starters John Baumgartner and Manauris Arias. Goree and Gomes both missed last season to injuries.

“Devon, he’s coming back and he’s going to lock one side down period,” said McGowan. “Then you got Jarrod at the other corner. That’s another lockdown corner. Then you’ve got a whole defensive line and most of them are veterans. We have one returning linebacker and a rookie linebacker. Everybody’s looking good.”

With all the promise and expectations, however, comes a greater challenge.

“With that comes another change, not so much in growth and respect but in consistency and stability in what you’re doing,” said Cosgrove.

With the toughest schedule the team has ever had, the Black Bears know there’s no room for error. They start on the road at Montana, a team ranked third in the ESPN/USA Today poll and fifth by SI. After their home opener against North Colorado, they play on the road at Mississippi State, Delaware and Richmond.

“That’s what gets us excited, the games, knowing we have a harder schedule, and we have got to live up to a lot of things” said McGowan. “Before when we were playing Division II teams, we weren’t going in excited. We’d go in: We’re going to win this game. We’re going to blow this team out.’ Now the schedule is a little harder. So the intensity for us has to be even greater.”

Maine is already working on two-minute drills and field goal kicking with the expectation that clutch plays will be needed to win some nailbiters.

“Last year we lost a lot of close games,” said LeConte. “We were right there with Montana and right there with a lot of other teams. We have to learn to capture the lead, extend a lead and hold on to the lead.”

The team will try to build confidence early and be prepared for a battle every week.

“We can look back at last year, a 7-5 record, and kick ourselves in the butt for the Montana game, the Massachusetts game and the Delaware game,” said Cosgrove. “Those are games that we did not put our best foot forward. We did not play the way we needed to and could have to win. If we get two out of those three, we’re in the playoffs. We might have been in with one of the three. Those are things we feel we’re going to come up against this year and we have to respond in a much more efficient manner.”