Black Bear freshmen add depth> Three played in opener

Jack Cosgrove usually prefers to hold freshmen out of action during their first season on the University of Maine football team.

First-year players not only have plenty to deal with in terms of adjusting to the rigors of college life, they also often don’t possess the physical strength and maturity of their older counterparts.

Sometimes, freshmen do find their way onto the football field. Thursday night, the Black Bears utilized three first-year players in beating Buffalo 30-13.

Tailback Royston English, wide receiver Nate Sergent of Gardiner, and offensive tackle Justin Szwejkowski made their collegiate debuts against the Bulls.

Depth is always a concern in football, especially so at UMaine, where Cosgrove operates with the equivalent of 55 scholarships in Division I-AA, which allows a maximum of 63.

“I think you worry about depth, but that’s universal at our level,” Cosgrove said. “We try to keep our guys ready to go [healthy] and develop some of the younger guys into backup roles.”

English and Sergent figure in the Bears’ short-range plans because of their ability. English combines outstanding speed and a physical running style.

“Royston English adds something [in the backfield],” Cosgrove said. “Skill-wise, he’s a talented kid and he’s the second-fastest kid in the program.”

Sergent was the 1998 winner of the Fitzpatrick Trophy, given each year to Maine’s best senior. He is fast.

“He’s that good,” Cosgrove said. “He’s the third-fastest kid on our team.”

Both played sparingly Thursday, but are expected to challenge for more playing time as they learn Maine’s offense and make the transition to the Division I-AA game.

Szwejkowski, a 6-foot-5, 270-pounder, was pressed into service on the Bears’ final possession against Buffalo when starting left tackle Pete Nenstiel resprained a left ankle that has been bothering him for a couple of weeks.

Cosgrove has been concerned about depth up front after two second-team players opted not to play this season.

“When that happens, you immediately have a problem,” Cosgrove said. “You have to fast-forward some people, and we’ve had to take two first-year guys, who would have been on the third team, and bump them up to the second team.”

Should Nenstiel not be ready to play in the Sept. 12 game against New Hampshire, Szwejkowski may well get a start – a rare occurrence for a freshman offensive lineman at UMaine.

“I don’t think we want to play a young guy right out of high school, but we may not have any choice,” Cosgrove said.

UMaine quarterback Mickey Fein is not expected to miss any time after twisting his right ankle when he was sacked during the second quarter of Thursday’s contest.

With Maine leading 30-6, Fein was taken out of the game early in the fourth quarter to have his ankle packed in ice as a precautionary measure.

“I’ll be all right,” Fein promised.

Former University of Maine relief ace Garrett Quinn has been named a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Florida Gators.

Quinn is working on his master’s degree in education leadership at the institution.

“I couldn’t find a better place to start,” said Skowhegan’s Quinn. “I’ll learn about baseball and see what big-time baseball is all about. Coach Winkin [former Maine baseball coach John] told me I would be working for one of the best in the business in coach [Andy] Lopez. I’m starting to see that now.”

Quinn will spend a lot of his time working with the Gator pitchers.

“That’s great. That’s what I want to do and where most of my knowledge is. The great part about it is I’ll get to work with coach Lopez and he is considered one of the best baseball minds around when it comes to handling a pitching staff,” said Quinn. “It should be a great learning experience for me.”

Quinn was a head coach this past summer as he guided the Athens (Ga.) Trojans to a 27-7 record in Connie Mack baseball (ages 18-under).

“I had to do everything and it was a great experience for me. I learned so much about baseball. It was a great experience for me,” said Quinn.