What Is 1913 Maine Black Bears football team

Overview

The 1913 Maine Black Bears football team represented the University of Maine during the 1913 college football season. Competing as an independent, the team was led by first-year head coach Fred Brice and played its home games at Alumni Field in Orono, Maine.

The season marked an early chapter in the development of intercollegiate football at the university. Though records from this era are incomplete, known results indicate a modest campaign with two wins and three losses.

• Record: The team finished the 1913 season with a 2–3 overall record, reflecting a competitive but inconsistent performance.
• Coach:Fred Brice served as head coach in his inaugural season, beginning a long association with Maine athletics.
• Home Field: Games were hosted at Alumni Field, a small on-campus venue in Orono used for decades.
• Opponents: The schedule included regional teams such as New Hampshire, St. Dominique, and Massachusetts Agricultural College.
• Historical Context: College football in 1913 was still evolving, with no formal NCAA structure and limited standardized rules.

Season Structure and Game Results

The 1913 season followed the traditional fall football calendar, with games played between September and November. As an independent, Maine scheduled opponents without conference constraints, a common practice at the time.

• September 27: Maine defeated St. Dominique in a non-conference matchup, marking an early season win.
• October 11: The Black Bears lost to Massachusetts Agricultural College (now UMass), who would later become a regional rival.
• October 18: A victory over the New Hampshire College Aggies improved Maine’s record to 2–1.
• October 25: Maine faced Bowdoin College, suffering a loss in a closely contested in-state rivalry game.
• November 1: The season concluded with a defeat against Colby College, ending the campaign at 2–3.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1913 season to other years highlights trends in early Maine football performance and scheduling practices.

This table illustrates that the 1913 season was a slight dip in performance compared to surrounding years. While Maine had posted 3–2 records in both 1911 and 1912, the 1913 campaign saw a decline before gradual improvement under Brice’s leadership in subsequent seasons. The consistency in venue and conference status underscores the stability of the program despite fluctuating win-loss records.

Why It Matters

The 1913 season is a small but meaningful part of the University of Maine’s athletic heritage, reflecting the early development of its football program. Though overshadowed by more successful years, it contributes to the historical continuity of collegiate sports in the region.

• Program Legacy: The 1913 team is part of the official lineage of the Maine Black Bears, now competing in the NCAA FCS.
• Coaching Impact: Fred Brice went on to coach Maine for multiple seasons and later served as athletic director.
• Historical Records: Early seasons like 1913 help reconstruct the evolution of college football in the Northeast.
• Rivalry Origins: Games against New Hampshire and Colby laid groundwork for long-standing regional rivalries.
• Amateur Era: The season exemplifies the amateur, low-budget nature of early 20th-century college football.
• Archival Value: Results from 1913 are preserved in university archives and historical sports databases.

Understanding teams like the 1913 Black Bears enriches appreciation for the growth of college athletics, from humble beginnings to modern intercollegiate competition.