BIDDEFORD — University of New England football coach Mike Lichten has been focused on developing all of his players during the Nor’easters’ first season.
That doesn’t mean Lichten isn’t also focused on the things off the field that his program needs to be successful — from having top-notch facilities to recruiting the right kind of players.
Lichten believes his program is on the right track and the fans have already shown they are ready to support this team.
“Our following has been tremendous and the support has been very thorough, from top to bottom, our parent group and our regional support group has been outstanding,” said Lichten.
The Nor’easters are playing a pre-varsity schedule this season before joining the Commonwealth Coast Conference next season. UNE has had to play all of its games so far this season on the road — and the fans have still shown up to support the squad.
“I think it’s kind of indicative of how important football is in the region, and what type of players and families we’ve recruited and we’re going to continue down that path. Everybody’s excited and even with a tough loss (to Tufts last Sunday), there was still a lot of positivity around,” said Lichten, who was previously the head coach at Becker College from 2011 to 2015.
One thing that has helped bring fans to the program is the amount of southern Maine kids who are on the roster — including Biddeford’s Joey Curit, Austin Dutremble, Trevor Therrien and Patrick Pearl, Kennebunk’s Pat Saunders, Thornton Academy’s Cam Cadorette and Wells’ Owen Berry.
Lichten believes the local players have not only helped with getting fans interested, but with getting high school football players from the area to give the Nor’easters a serious look.
“It’s helped in recruiting because when we do bring kids from around the area to campus there is familiar faces and they kind of are able to connect with some of the guys here already and they get a sense of what it is we are trying to promote,” Lichten said. “The word family is very easy for them to say because that’s who we are and that’s what we intend to be … we’re just going to continue to try and add to that.”
The UNE coach has been impressed with how close-knit the high school football community is in Maine.
“That’s the biggest thing that I’ve noticed about recruiting in the area is all the seniors in high schools know each other, whether it’s all in Class A or Class C or whatever, but also across classes. Football matters here and that’s evident in the way that these kids recognize other good players that might not be in their school or even in their class,” said Lichten.
And Lichten has certainly seen a lot of high school football since he was hired by UNE in 2016.
“The staff has been out every Friday night across the state and even bleeding into New Hampshire and even a little into Massachusets, but it’s really important in my mind to see the players you’re going to recruit in action,” said Lichten. “Not only the way they play but how they relate to their teammates, their character on the sideline, how they take their coaches’ coaching … it paints us a good picture of what type of kid we are actually recruiting.
The local coaches and athletic directors have also been welcoming to the UNE program, according to Lichten.
“I’ve seen a lot of high school football over the last two years and it’s been great. I can’t say thank you enough to the administrators and the coaches in the area. What a job they’ve done of making their kids available but also giving us great insight into their character and their values. It’s an unbelievable place to be a part of the football and external community,” Lichten said.
Lichten has been thrilled with the local players he has recruited to play for him at UNE — and they have proven that southern Maine players have what it takes to play at the college level.
“All the local guys have been working really hard just like the rest of their teammates. It’s great to feel that local support and connection of course,” said Lichten.
Most of the York County players have had to make adjustments at UNE as they have switched positions from their high school days.
“Austin (Dutremble), along with his other Biddeford teammates and York County comrades, they are stepping into some slightly different roles. You know, Joey Curit is playing on defense exclusively. (Dutremble) is playing an X or a Z receiver as a guy who’s used to playing between the tackles on both offense and defense. Patrick Pearl is playing a little bit of tight end,” said Lichten. “Some of those roles are different for those guys, but we put them in those roles because we see them long-term being very successful there. Their attitudes and their football intelligence has been tremendous and that only helps them kind of adapt.”
New facilities
Lichten is hoping that the new facilities — including a new weight room and locker rooms — that UNE is currently building will help with recruiting.
“It will help us a lot more next month, but every day something new opens up. The laundry room is coming online soon, we just grabbed a couple new visiting locker rooms, coaches locker rooms, the training staff just moved into their training facility and their tubs are back up and running,” said Lichten.
The UNE coach believes the new weight room will be especially attractive to recruits.
“The weight room is finally completed so the kids always look at what type of amenities are going to be at their disposal and this place is unique,” said Lichten. “It’s very special, obviously they have taken it very seriously and they have given us some great tools. Kids get big eyes when they see that stuff.”
‘Beautiful place’
Another thing that Lichten is hoping to take advantage of in recruiting is the location of the UNE main campus, which is in Biddeford Pool just blocks from the water.
“Even in the winter it’s a beautiful place to be. What’s unique about it I think is our setting, the access to the water, the appreciation for the nature we’re in, but also the people,” said Lichten. “That’s our best asset, the people that are here, down to earth, it’s a very close-knit group and they take care of everybody who’s involved, both at UNE and in the Southern Maine area. I’m very excited to be here.”
Home sweet home
The Nor’easters have to basically play all their games this season on the road as there was no field ready for them on the UNE campus.
That will change next season as the Nor’easters will have a home field on campus — although the final plans for the stadium have not been released at this point.
“There’s a lot of movement on that. I don’t have a lot of solid answers right now, but it’s going to happen and it’s going to happen quick. We are excited to be hosting games in 2018,” said Lichten.
The most likely option seems to be the use of the Big Blue Turf field, which currently hosts field hockey and lacrosse.
“It’s all up for discussion as far as I understand, but there is a plan formulating,” said Lichten. “We have a lot of confidence in the way that they provided softball a facility, and that went very quick, and it’s an immaculate setting, so we’re looking forward to seeing when the next step is.”
While they won’t be playing a game this season in Biddeford, the Nor’easters will have a “home game” at Portland’s Fitzpatrick Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 21 when they host Kirkland Academy.
“We’re really excited. We’re really excited to be playing in the state again, near one of our campuses, but in the biggest city in the state. We’re thrilled,” said Lichten on playing at Fitzpatrick. “We are working hard to make sure we are as ready to compete in that game as possible. We are taking it very serious and we really hope that as many people that can come, do. We really want to put on a good show for everybody.”
Countdown to August 30, 2018
The UNE squad is focused on finishing this season strong, but the Nor’easters certainly have their sights set on their first varsity game.
UNE will travel to face the Coast Guard Academy on Thursday, August 30, 2018 to kick off their first season in Division III.
“Coast Guard on a Thursday night in New London,” said Lichten on their first varsity game. “We are excited obviously, but it’s important to understand that there may be a lofty, long term goal of really competing well and winning a lot of games in that first season, but that goal is unattainable if you don’t focus on the day-to-day and minute details, developing the players that are here and doing a really good job of recruiting great family members to come here and join us.
“That’s what we are focused on. That day is going to come, one way or another, it’s about how ready we are and what type of prep we’ve done, and who’s involved. Those are all the things that are going to matter.”
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.
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