The University of Maine returns to the Carrier Dome after getting beat last season at the hands of Syracuse and Coach Marrone in his first season. This blog has a long history of question and answer sessions with people in the know, and no one qualifies more than my friend Chris Sedenka, radio host of the PM Jab in Portland, ME and a contributer to The CMSB. Despite his questionable history as a West Virginia graduate, he knows his sports including the Big East and UMaine football. He was nice enough to stop by and answer some questions on the Maine squad making the trip to the Dome.

1. Orange::44: Maine was embarrassed in Week 1 and seemed to do really well in Week 2. Which one is the true Maine football team?

Chris: Offensively, game two is what I expect more. The offense was actually able to score! It was a balanced attack. For Maine to succeed this year the offensive line needs to step up. This team led the CAA in rushing in 2008. In 2009, they led in passing…while not running the ball at all. Game one was a complete wash of either, so it was nice to see the Black Bears rush and pass consistently.

I would say the defense is somewhere in between games one and two. They completely dominated a terrible Albany offense in the first game…then struggled a bit in game two against Monmouth. There is a lot of experience in the unit, but have struggled getting to the quarterback.

They have an outside shot of a playoff spot this season, but in truth, Maine is possibly a year away from being a very good football team.

2. Orange::44: Which offensive player does Syracuse have to worry about the most?

Chris: Jarred Turcotte will be the best player on the field for Maine. He is also someone that Syracuse didn’t see last year due to injury. If Turcotte was from a different state there is a good chance he would be playing at the FBS level. It’s hard to get noticed in Maine. He’s 6’2”, 230, and has already rushed for over 230 yards this season. Last week, he tore up Monmouth for 144 yards and three touchdowns. He’s a bruising back, with deceptive speed.

3. Orange::44: Special teams is what Syracuse had the most trouble with from Maine last year. Will this year be more of the same?

Chris: Don’t be surprised if Maine roles out some tricks. However, I’m assuming Syracuse will be ready for it. Maine is certainly outmanned in this match up, so it would be no surprise to see some trickeration. My guess is they try some of that on offense more than special teams.

4. Orange::44: What will be the most interesting match up of the day?

Chris: For Maine to have a chance Jarred Turcotte is going to have to run the ball successfully. So the matchup to watch is Maine’s inconsistent offensive line vs. Syracuse’s inconsistent defensive line. The Bears need to get a constant push. If this doesn’t happen, forget about it.

On a side note…As a Big East fan, I am looking forward to watching Ryan Nassib go against a pretty athletic linebacking unit and secondary. Nassib has a chance to really grow against some respectable talent. I expect Maine to blitz early to try to force mistakes. If Nassib is patient, he should be fine.

5. Orange::44: This should be a big Syracuse win, but how do you see the game playing out?

Chris: I agree. Syracuse is a much better team than last year. They also should be much more prepared on special teams. Maine has also improved, but won’t be able to hang with the Orange. The Black Bears’ defense is respectable, but will struggle with the balanced Orange attack. I wouldn’t be surprised if Turcotte has a good day, but can’t see a lot of scoring.

Prediction: 38-10 Syracuse

Big thanks to Chris and all the folks in Portland. My answers to his questions are posted here, so give that a read as well. Check out The CMSB for info on UMaine, the Big East, and all those New England sports if you enjoy that sort of thing. Also be sure to check out Chris' interview with #99 Chandler Jones right here. It's great stuff.

Also, I’ve always said and I’ve always believed real fans stay the game. Nothing will convince me otherwise. If the team is losing and you leave you aren’t a true fan. If you just want to get home five minutes sooner you aren’t a real fan. On top of that you’re the one paying money to see these athletes pay. Chances are quite a lot as well. Stay the game and cheer them for their effort and for the entertainment.

Exception (1) is basically similar to a self-defense claim. If some opposing fan says something that demands a public response you are allowed to do so. In short, you can be as rotten to someone else as they were to you, but only if they are initiating it. This may not be right, but it is the way of the world and it is fairly understandable. I didn’t want a law abiding person to get punished because some opposing fan is being above and beyond outrageous. Moral of the story is know where the line is and don’t go over it unless someone else does it first.

Exception (2) is the codification of the ancient and time tested truth that you have to be smart to be an asshole. If you’re smart and clever chances are it can be funny. If you want to yell something, no matter how outrageous, if it is funny it should be allowed. I’ve personally tested out this one in Madison Square Garden and it’s true.

Exception (3) is basically just granting the exception that you should be able to leave early for emergencies. This is common sense and does not warrant any more explanation, save for the fact that it needs to be a true emergency, not because you want to get home and watch Burn Notice.

In summation, go out there and root and even push the envelope. But never be a dick just for the sake of it or because you think it’s cool. It isn’t. It’s never acceptable to throw a beer on someone. It’s never acceptable to be racist. It’s never acceptable to be vulgar if children are around. Otherwise go nuts. Laptop jokes are still funny. Murder jokes… not so much.

(1) The provision allowing for the wearing of a secondary color shall not apply and it will be required that an individual wears the primary color of the team if the team’s nickname, identity, or significant impact on society relates to a specific color to a game at home or away. However if a person is wearing an official uniform or jersey that players wear or have worn in the past that is a secondary color that is not white, that uniform will be acceptable.

(2) Exception (b)(1) shall be void if a specific white or non-qualifying piece of apparel has extreme significant sentimental value.

(3) The provision stating that an item must be worn can be substituted for body paint or what would otherwise be a non-qualifying item if the non-qualifying outfit is a costume that is trimmed with the school’s color(s).

(4) Subsection (a) shall not apply if in the event of a recognized special holiday or event you wear a conforming outfit of that special occasion to a game.

(5) Subsection (a) shall be satisfied if in formal or business attire, accessories or shirts are of team colors or additional team related apparel is added.

(1) Subsection (a) shall not apply when an individual is married or engaged to someone from a non-established rival school. If married or engaged a person may be free to adopt a spouse’s primary team as a secondary team to support, no matter what division the individual’s primary or secondary teams are in. This then allows for a selection of a possible four (4) teams total. No other teams are permitted.

(2) Subsection (a) shall not apply if your primary team does not field a team in a certain sport that an individual is a fan of. In this instance it would be permissible to support a secondary team in that sport only, regardless of division, and only if that school is not an established rival of your primary team.

(3) The subsection (a) provision about a person’s school that they attended becomes their primary school shall not apply if a person never attended a college or university. In that case a person may pick any primary team at will.

(4) Subsection (a) shall not apply if a person lives in the near vicinity of a college or university they did not attend and they wish to make that school or university their primary team. In that case, as long as a person discontinues showing support for their initial primary team and/or the school they attended, this will be allowed. Otherwise the nearby school may only be added as a secondary team, allowing for up to four (4) total teams. This exception is void if the nearby school is an established rival.

(5) In the case of a transfering student, the new school shall be their primary team, and they will discontinue all support for the previous college or university institution. If it is the case that an individual goes to graduate school, the primary team shall remain the undergraduate institution and the graduate institution shall become a secondary team except in the case of an established rival. This again provides for a total of four (4) teams, three (3) being secondary.

(1) COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY

(A) A college or university constitutes the following:

(i) An institution of higher learning requiring the completion of high school or their equivalent before enrollment;
(ii) An institution recognized by the NCAA to compete in intercollegiate athletic contests.

(2) SUPPORT

(A) Support for a team constitutes the following:

(i) Yelling or participating in cheers designed to boost a team’s performance or hindering that team’s opponent;
(ii) Purchasing/wearing items or apparel of a team, especially while at an athletic contest;
(iii) Purchasing season tickets of a team;
(iv) Painting a part of your body in some manner with team colors;
(v) Using any media source to communicate arguments for or in defenses of a primary or secondary team or to disparage an established rival or any other college or university.

(3) PRIMARY TEAM

(A) A primary team constitutes the following:

(i) A team a person feels the most affinity or loyalty for;
(ii) A team that a person shows the most support for.

(4) SECONDARY TEAM

(A) A secondary team constitutes the following:

(i) A team that a person feels a slight affinity or loyalty for;
(ii) A team in a different athletic division from a primary team a person has a tangential connection with.

(5) ESTABLISHED RIVAL

(A) A team’s opponent will be considered an established rival if:

(i) The team’s opponent is a member of the same conference as the team; or
(ii) The team’s opponent is:

(I) A yearly feature on the team’s schedule, regardless of conference affiliation; and
(II) There is a long, recognized history between the two colleges or universities.