The basics

Location: Orono, Maine.

Colors: Blue and white.

Nickname: Black Bears.

Mascot: Bananas the Bear.

Mascot is: Freaking adorable.

Reputation: The America East’s northernmost outpost. Solid in athletics, especially hockey. Apparently haunted if you read a lot of Stephen King books.

Notable alumni: Stephen King, Mike Bordick, Paul Kariya, Garth Snow.

The dirt

We hate them because: They beat us a lot. Maine consistently fields rock solid teams in many sports. We’re starting to pull ahead in men’s soccer and men’s basketball, but the history is there and it’s tough to forget.

They rule in: Baseball and they are traditionally competitive in women’s basketball and track and field. Oh, and of course, hockey.

When it’s OK to root for them: Against Albany, Boston and Vermont, and in any national tournaments.

Professional comparison: Toronto Blue Jays ‘ Always competitive, always a nuisance, occasionally a champion, but they mostly just exist. Also, I think Maine might be in Canada.

The history

Brag about: Binghamton University’s 6-1 record against them in the last seven men’s basketball showdowns; the 4-0-1 record in the last five men’s soccer showdowns, including the 5-0 thrashing this season where Binghamton scored three goals faster than all but five teams in NCAA history; the fact that their men’s basketball coach might not make it to conference play.

Cringe when they mention: The 2005 AE women’s soccer semifinals when Maine knocked out the defending champion Bearcats on penalty kicks; the 2006 baseball game when Maine snapped Zach Groh’s streak of 42 innings without an earned run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning; the fact that they have successful football and hockey teams.

Names to remember for 2007-2008: Junior Bernal and Mark Socobey, men’s basketball; Colleen Kilmurray and Kristen Baker, women’s basketball; Curt Smith and Greg Norton, baseball.

Next chance to see them on campus: Feb. 17, vs. men’s basketball.

Bottom line: Like New Hampshire, Maine’s hockey and football teams are causing them to become less competitive in the AE, and the only place for them to go is down. A rabid fan base should keep the men’s basketball team relevant, though it will take a few years to build up the talent, and they’ll always compete in baseball, but otherwise as far as America East sports are concerned, expect Maine to remain mediocre.