Brusko remains inspiring leader

Kid, we're taking the ball away. You can line up as a slot receiver. Catch some passes. Run it once in a while. We'll even let you punt. But you're not the quarterback anymore. It's not hard to imagine how a conversation might have gone down between the University of Maine football staff and Mike Brusko earlier this season. He's the one who led the team to the playoffs a year ago, the quarterback in a run-heavy offense that put together six straight wins. But Maine's offense this season has been better suited to a passing game. Warren Smith, a sophomore who transferred from Iona, throws the ball better than Brusko?and was appointed the starting quarterback. What happened next, say teammates and coaches, has been nothing short of inspiring. Brusko became the team's punter. He became one of its most reliable receivers. He also took Smith under his wing, along with former Portland High star Chris Treister -?who today will get his first start at quarterback against Rhode Island. And when Brusko plays his final home game today in a Maine uniform - lining up here, there and everywhere - he will remain the clear leader of the team. ''I'm always one to believe everything happens for a reason,'' said Brusko. ''It didn't change a whole lot. I didn't change the way I acted. The only difference is I'm not the guy yelling out plays and formations. ''I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunities I've had here.'' That, said Maine Coach Jack Cosgrove, is Mike Brusko. ''Mike is poised beyond his years,'' said Cosgrove. ''With anybody else you would've been worried. Mike rolled with it. His natural reaction was 'Well, that means I can do more in other areas.' ''I've been here since 1987 and I can count on one hand players who have been as profoundly impactful as a leader as Mike Brusko. He is an absolute, across-the-board gem.'' Those skills as a leader first surfaced when Brusko arrived in Orono from Zionsville, Pa., where he played quarterback, wide receiver, punter, free safety and linebacker in high school. They were strengthened a year ago when he first lost the starting job to Adam Farkes. Brusko was not a classic passer. Farkes was. After Farkes suffered an injury, Brusko got the starting job back, and he used his tough-running style to help Maine earn a spot in the NCAA playoffs. It was during last year's playoff run that teammates coined the phrase ''In Brusko We Trust.'' They still use it. ''I always have faith in Mike Brusko,'' said receiver Landis Williams. ''To watch him play quarterback, receiver, and then punt, he's an amazing athlete. ''You would think there would've been some kind of tension. Mike was eager to help Warren. I've never played with anyone of his caliber. I've never seen a leader like him.'' Neither has Treister. ''He is without a doubt one of the most mature guys I know and one of my best friends on this team,'' said Treister. ''He does well everywhere. I'm excited to play with him (today).'' Treister is starting today after Smith suffered a season-ending foot injury last Saturday at James Madison. Smith will have surgery Monday. He can't walk for five-to-eight weeks after that. With Brusko as the starting quarterback, Maine opened its season with a come-from-behind win against St. Cloud State - his seventh victory in nine games at quarterback. By the second game, though, Smith's talent was surfacing. He became part of a two-quarterback rotation, then was named the starter. Brusko was first used as a punter at Syracuse on Sept. 26. He ran a couple fake punts that led to scores. ''If the look wasn't there Mike would punt,'' said Cosgrove. ''We were putting him in charge of running the play. He's helped us become more difficult to defend as a punt team.'' Brusko figured, why not? ''I was all for it,'' said Brusko. ''I punted in high school. It seems to give us more options. They don't know if we're going to punt, fake or what.'' Last week at James Madison he threw an 82-yard touchdown pass to Troy Harris out of punt formation. Brusko is Maine's third-leading receiver with 288 yards. He was had 12 catches for 90 yards against James Madison. ''I'm amazed how he makes it look so easy,'' said Cosgrove. ''There is a naturalness to what he does. He can catch it and crunch up because he's gonna get popped. He can put it away and become a running back.'' Brusko's quarterback statistics are likely to get buried in the school's history books by more prolific passers, but his impact won't, said Cosgrove. ''You don't measure his contribution to this program in numbers,'' he said. Brusko hasn't taken full stock of his football career at Maine. ''The truth is I haven't let it sink in yet,'' said Brusko. ''When I do it will probably be an emotional time for me.'' Staff Writer Jenn Menendez can be contacted at 791-6426 or at: jmenendez@pressherald.com