Portland, Maine — In a move that has electrified football fans across New England, Maine State University and the University of Maine have officially agreed to play each other annually in a game that will be known as the Battle for the Lobster Trap.
The announcement was made jointly by MSU Athletic Director Donnie Kilgore and UMaine’s Director of Athletics, Lisa Andrews, in a spirited press conference at Portland’s historic working waterfront. Behind them stood a gleaming, oversized lobster trap trophy, adorned with brass plaques for future victors and a weathered buoy in the colors of both schools.
The Birth of a Tradition
The origins of the Lobster Trap trophy trace back to a meeting over coffee between Kilgore and longtime Maine lobsterman, Henry "Hank" Beaupre. According to legend, when Kilgore asked how a new in-state football rivalry could truly reflect Maine’s culture, Beaupre quipped, “You can’t understand Maine without understanding a lobster trap. It’s hard work, grit, and patience, the same as football.”
From that conversation, the idea for the trophy was born. Crafted by local artisan boat builders in Boothbay Harbor, the Lobster Trap is a fully functional wooden trap, lashed with authentic rope and adorned with a polished pinewood base. Embedded inside is a brass plate reading: "For Pride, For the Coast, For the Trap."
A State Divided, United
For UMaine, this annual clash offers a chance to assert their long-standing football legacy, while for Maine State University’s young program, it’s a symbolic step towards state recognition and gridiron credibility. Though MSU is just beginning to build its FBS ambitions, their rapid rise and aggressive scheduling have turned heads.
“People think this is just a game,” said MSU head coach Rob Tierney. “It’s more than that. It’s a chance to stake a flag in the ground, or in this case, a buoy in the bay.”
UMaine head coach Brian Mahoney echoed the sentiment with competitive fire: “We’re the flagship. Always have been. But every trap needs a bait, and I guess MSU’s volunteered.”
The Trophy’s Deeper Meaning
Beyond the playful jabs, both programs emphasize the cultural weight of the Lobster Trap. It symbolizes the working-class toughness embedded in Maine’s coastal communities, a nod to the state’s deep maritime traditions. The trap’s physical design even incorporates reclaimed wood from retired lobster boats and dock pilings, a connection to generations of families who have made their living on the water.
“Holding that trap above your head at the end of November is going to mean you outworked the other guy,” Kilgore said. “It’s as Maine as it gets.”
Annual Showcase in the Works
While alternating home games between Orono and Portland is part of the initial agreement, there are already whispers about taking the Battle for the Lobster Trap elsewhere in the future as a neutral-site showcase.
For now, though, the inaugural game is slated for Tuesday November, 2024, at Fitzpatrick Stadium, a fitting homecoming for the Majestic Pines after three road games in their first full season. Tickets are expected to be in high demand, with fans eager to see which team will become the first to claim the trap.
A Rivalry Hooked for Good
In a football world saturated with corporate-named matchups and contrived trophies, the Battle for the Lobster Trap feels refreshingly authentic. It’s gritty, quirky, and deeply Maine.
“We’re not trying to be flashy,” said Andrews. “We’re trying to be us. The Lobster Trap will make sure of that.”
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