What Is 1935 Maine Black Bears football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1935 Maine Black Bears football team represented the University of Maine during the 1935 college football season, finishing with a 3-3 record under head coach Fred Brice. They played as an independent team and were outscored 80 to 69 over the course of the season.

Key Facts

The 1935 Maine Black Bears finished the season with a 3-3 overall record
Head coach Fred Brice led the team for the 15th consecutive season
The team played as an independent, not belonging to a conference
Maine was outscored 80 to 69 by opponents during the 1935 season
Home games were played at Alumni Field in Orono, Maine

Overview

The 1935 Maine Black Bears football team represented the University of Maine during the 1935 college football season. Competing as an independent, the team was led by head coach Fred Brice, who was in his 15th year at the helm. The Black Bears played a six-game schedule, finishing with a balanced 3-3 record and facing regional opponents from across the Northeast.

Despite a relatively even win-loss record, the team struggled offensively and defensively, being outscored 80 to 69 over the season. The Black Bears played their home games at Alumni Field in Orono, a venue that hosted Maine football for decades. The 1935 season reflected the modest scale of college football programs during the era, with limited travel and regional rivalries.

3-3 record: The team won three games and lost three, indicating a competitive but inconsistent season marked by close matchups.
Fred Brice: Serving as head coach since 1921, Brice was a foundational figure in Maine football history, coaching through 1936.
Independent status: Maine did not belong to a conference in 1935, scheduling games independently against nearby schools and colleges.
Alumni Field: Located in Orono, this was the primary home venue for the Black Bears and hosted all home games during the 1935 season.
Scoring differential: The team was outscored 80 to 69, suggesting tight games and a defense that allowed slightly more than it prevented.

Season Performance

The 1935 season featured a mix of wins against smaller colleges and narrow losses to stronger regional programs. Game results highlight the challenges of scheduling and player depth during the era, with limited resources compared to larger universities.

September 28, 1935: Maine defeated Bates College 13-0 in a season-opening shutout, showcasing early defensive strength.
October 5: Lost to New Hampshire 13-7 in a tight rivalry matchup, indicating competitive balance between in-state teams.
October 12: Beat Colby College 13-0, continuing a pattern of low-scoring, defensively driven games.
October 19: Suffered a 20-7 loss to Connecticut, reflecting challenges against slightly stronger competition.
October 26: Defeated Bowdoin College 14-13 in a one-point thriller, one of the closest games of the season.
November 2: Concluded the season with a 33-0 loss to Massachusetts, their most lopsided defeat of the year.

Comparison at a Glance

How the 1935 Maine Black Bears stacked up against other regional teams of the era:

Team	Record	Points For	Points Against	Result vs. Maine
Bates College	4-3-1	78	54	Lost 13-0
New Hampshire	4-3-1	98	66	Won 13-7
Colby College	2-4-1	44	70	Lost 13-0
Connecticut	5-3-1	132	68	Won 20-7
Massachusetts	6-2-1	134	45	Won 33-0

The table illustrates that Maine faced a mix of competitive and superior teams. While they handled smaller rivals like Colby and Bates, they struggled against stronger programs like Massachusetts. The data shows Maine’s performance was typical of a mid-tier independent program in the mid-1930s, with limited scoring and reliance on defense.

Why It Matters

The 1935 season is a snapshot of early collegiate football development in the Northeast, reflecting the growth of athletic programs at smaller state universities. Though not nationally prominent, teams like the Black Bears helped establish traditions and regional rivalries that endure today.

Historical continuity: The 1935 season contributes to the long history of Maine football, which continues in the NCAA FCS today.
Coach Fred Brice: His 16-year tenure laid the foundation for future coaching structures and program stability.
Regional rivalries: Games against Bates, Colby, and New Hampshire helped cement longstanding athletic relationships.
Independent scheduling: The lack of conference affiliation highlights how college football was organized before modern leagues expanded.
Player development: The season provided athletic experience for student-athletes in an era before athletic scholarships.
Archival value: Records from 1935 help historians track the evolution of college sports in rural America.

Understanding teams like the 1935 Maine Black Bears enriches the narrative of American college football, showing how even modest programs contributed to the sport’s national fabric.