CEDAR FALLS -- Northern Iowa's 2001 victory over Maine is like an old family portrait.

Some of the figures are easily recognized. Others have changed dramatically. And the frame may look a little tarnished by time.

So, when Panther head coach Mark Farley looks back at the 56-28 win over the Black Bears in postseason play seven years ago, he won't learn much about the challenge his team faces Saturday at 4:05 p.m. That's when UNI and Maine meet again in round one of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

"I think they're doing something a little different on offense and something a little different on defense, but with the same philosophy the head coach brings," said Farley. "That's being balanced and sound."

Jack Cosgrove brought his balanced and sound program to the UNI-Dome for the quarterfinals of the 2001 playoffs. He watched the Panthers break loose from a 28-28 tie with a series of big plays on both sides of the ball.

UNI's defense stopped Maine at the Panther 37, and then Adam Benge raced 63 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

The avalanche ensued. Jake Soliday caught a touchdown pass from Griff Juergens, then a Bears turnover led to another Benge score. Kenny Harris' interception return put the final TD on the board.

Seven years later, Cosgrove is still leading the Black Bears. He remembers the game that got away in a hurry.

"Just like that, we were out of the game," said Cosgrove. "But it was a great environment. The keys and all those things -- it was just a great environment to play in."

Now in his 16th season at Maine, Cosgrove guided the Black Bears into postseason play for the first time since 2002.

His coaching staff has changed since his last trip to the Dome. Bobby Wilder and Rich Nagy served as the offensive and defensive coordinators then. Today, the men in charge of those units are Kevin Bourgoin and Robb Smith, who worked under their predecessors.

The 2008 Black Bears players, of course, were nowhere near the UNI-Dome in that first Panther-Bears duel. Now, the leading rusher is Jhamal Fluellen, the only running back to top the 100-yard mark against Iowa this season.

The man who bears watching, though, may be defensive end Jovan Belcher. A Buck Buchanan Award candidate, Belcher won Colonial Athletic Association defensive player of the year honors in 2007.

"He's an exceptional player," said Farley of Belcher. "He's just a real talented young man."

While the Black Bears of 2008 may be a slightly different breed than the 2001 team, Farley does see an offense that resembles the UNI spread and a defense that's typical of today's college game.

"What we know about them right now is, (the Black Bears) are a conventional offense and a conventional defense, meaning it's something we've seen before," said Farley. "It's something, I think, we can prepare for in a short period of time. It didn't throw a curveball or something we haven't seen.

"At least, we can line up and have an idea of what we can do and what we can expect from our players."

FARLEY A FINALIST ï½ Farley, who won the 2007 Eddie Robinson national coaching award, is among the 20 finalists for the 2008 version. He is one of five former winners in the running.

Among the other coaches to make the finals are Maine's Cosgrove, Dale Lennon of Southern Illinois, Bobby Hauck of Montana and Jerry Moore of Appalachian State.

Contact Jim Sullivan at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com