UMaine looks forward to next year in football

From the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., to its own 1-yard line in Orono, the University of Maine football team flashed moments of real promise in 2009. It also struggled to find its identity until late, finishing with a 5-6 record, 4-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Maine will miss the NCAA playoffs after participating a year ago for the first time since 2002. But along the way, many of the team's key players to emerge were freshmen and sophomores getting a first crack at significant playing time. And that, say players, has primed the fire for 2010. ''Our team's been through a lot,'' said sophomore quarterback Warren Smith, one of the young players to emerge. ''This year was just a great learning experience. Everyone is really excited for next year. And a lot of us still have two years of eligibility left. I think we have the talent to do big things.'' Smith took over as the starter at Syracuse on Sept 26. His throwing ability - he passed for 1,695 yards, 211.9 per game - coupled with Maine's inexperienced offensive line led to a 180-degree shift in the offense from the previous season. Maine's run-based offense led by former quarterback Mike Brusko and fullback Jared Turcotte in 2008 was no longer. ''This time last year we had the second-ranked rushing team in the conference and were very well known as a run-the- football operation,'' said Maine Coach Jack Cosgrove. ''This year we're known as a throw-the- football operation. We don't really feel comfortable being either.'' A more balanced offense will be the goal for 2010. Three first-time starters on the line - guard Chris Howley, a redshirt freshman, right tackle Josh Spearin of Limington, a true freshman, and center Garret Williamson, a redshirt freshman - now have a year of experience. ''We don't want to be a 50-, 60-pass-a-game operation. When you pass as much as we do it's because you're not very good running the football ,'' said Cosgrove. ''If there's a preferred way of doing business it's more along the lines of last year, running the football , being physical, then having a high-level passing attack to go along.'' Brusko became one of the team's top receivers and a surprisingly efficient punter. Turcotte sat out the season after undergoing lower abdominal surgery. He underwent a second abdominal surgery two weeks ago and said he expects to be 100 percent by the start of the second semester. ''I'm so excited to see how things are going to work out next year,'' said Turcotte. ''We had a really young (offensive) line. That's probably the most important position to have experience at. It's so different from high school ... they got the experience they needed this year.'' Maine rushed for just 1,146 yards this year, second-worst in the CAA. With two games to go, Smith broke his left foot, setting the stage for backup Chris Treister, a former Portland High quarterback who was impressive. Treister completed 69 of 96 passes with four interceptions. Against Rhode Island he threw for 468 yards and five touchdowns, setting a school record for completion percentage. ''I'm fortunate I got some playing time,'' said Treister, a sophomore. ''Obviously I'm not happy Warren got hurt; he's my buddy. But experience is so big at this level, especially at the quarterback position. It does help me in that regard.'' Heading into the spring, that will make things interesting. Treister's knock had been his lack of experience. ''That statement no longer carries any merit,'' said Cosgrove. ''Chris might have arguably played the greatest single game in the history of the program. Now we've got two very competitive young men who have an enhanced level of confidence in their ability. It does make it interesting.'' Defensively, Maine made significant strides from its early games and appeared to turn a corner following a 19-9 win over Massachusetts on Oct. 31. Prior to that the Black Bears had been tied or held the lead at halftime in each of their losses - a troubling pattern that many players chalked up to being a young team. There were some standout individuals: sophomore Donte Dennis, an all-CAA second- team selection who amassed a team-high 106 tackles at outside linebacker. He was complemented by a cast of first-time starters who also made major strides as the season progressed: sophomore linebacker Vinson Givans, who finished with 66 tackles after getting his first start at UMass, and sophomore safeties Jerron McMillian (54 tackles, five interceptions) and Trevor Coston (52 tackles, five interceptions). All return for two more seasons. ''Our defense grew all year,'' said Dennis. ''We just got better and better. I think we found ourselves after the UMass win and turned into another team.'' Maine has a few major losses on defense: senior defensive end Jordan Stevens, a third-team All-CAA selection who finished the year with 58 tackles and 10 sacks, and senior linebacker Brandon McLaughlin, who had 66 tackles, 10.5 for a loss. Cosgrove also expects a medical redshirt request for linebacker Mark Masterson to be granted, setting up a strong linebacking trio with Dennis and Givans for next year. ''I think you could see overall improvement from Game 1 to Game 11,'' said Cosgrove. ''I think in the last four games we were playing as good a defense as anybody in the conference. I don't hold back from saying that. We really challenged people.'' Offensively the team loses Brusko, an all-around standout who finished with 52 receptions for 464 yards. The offense also loses standout receiver Landis Williams, who led the CAA in receiving yards per game, finishing with 70 receptions for 779 yards and nine touchdowns. Maine's top returning receiver will be Tyrell Jones (48 catches, 547 yards), a senior next year. ''Overall we didn't feel like we backed down to anybody,'' said Cosgrove. ''We felt a sense of confidence out there. We're very excited to see how many of those guys are going to be back with us. ''There's some really quality young players who got incredibly valuable experience this past fall on the football field.'' Staff Writer Jenn Menendez can be contacted at 791-6426 or at: jmenendez@pressherald.com