UMaine’s `Grandpa’ returns> Defensive tackle Lugo overcomes injury again

ORONO – Add to that list of inexorable events, the ones people set their calendars by, one more item.

Right next to the coming of mud season in Maine, and the turning of leaves, and the two weeks of honest-to-goodness summer heat, add this yearly event: When August rolls around, Ves Lugo will don pads and a helmet and play football for the University of Maine.

That’s just the way it is.

Lugo, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive tackle from Bronx, N.Y., made his sixth straight appearance at Black Bear camp on Thursday as upperclassmen reported for the first official day.

Helped by an NCAA decision and hindered by two straight years washed away by early-season injuries, Lugo is so eager to get started – again – that he’s willing to welcome a new nickname.

“A lot of the guys call me Grandpa,” the 23-year-old said with a laugh.

Lugo, a two-year captain, lost the 1998 campaign to a broken foot during practice the Monday after opening night.

And in 1997, he managed just three games before a knee injury ended the season.

“It’s pretty frustrating,” Lugo admitted. ” you say you’re going to come back and overcome all the adversity. And then of course bad luck happened again last year, so I just had to regroup and say that tragedy wasn’t going to strike again.”

But before that, Lugo had to wait … and wait … and wait … for the NCAA to decide if he’d get a sixth year of eligibility.

In late April, the NCAA granted his waiver. Not long after that, he was at spring practice.

“I had about a two-hour block to get mentally prepared for some practice, and I did just that,” Lugo said.

Lugo has completed his undergraduate work and has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and physical education. He’s awaiting acceptance into the university’s counselor education master’s program.

Nearly a match for Lugo in terms of resilience is fifth-year senior quarterback Brian Scott.

Scott, a Waterville native, had the “luck” to share college years with the second most productive QB in Maine history: Mickey Fein. That meant snaps were rare for the three-year backup.

“I’ve always wanted to be the starter up here and thought that I could be, but things just didn’t work out for the first four years,” Scott said.

“That’s the way it happens in this game sometimes. You’ve just got to take advantage of your opportunity when you get it.”

That opportunity is now.

Scott said that people shouldn’t expect the same wide-open passing attack they saw with Fein at the helm.

“That doesn’t fit into my strengths,” Scott said, pointing out that he’s not the same kind of drop-back pocket passer Fein was.

“I guess I can move a little bit better,” he said. “I can bring a more aggressive style to the position.”

Scott said his strengths could set the tone for an offense that will boast physical running backs Royston English and Brent Naccara.

“It’s something that’s been lacking, where we’ve been dropping back and throwing the ball 75 times a game,” Scott said of the smash-mouth approach to ground-gaining.

Thursday was the official reporting day for vets. Lugo didn’t have to report. He was already in Orono. So was Scott. Both spent their summer on campus, getting ready to take advantage of their opportunities.

“I never left. Put it that way,” Lugo said. “I’ve been here training, getting ready for the season.

Scott can understand Lugo’s eagerness. He’s been through a bit of a marathon himself.

“I’ve waited for so long,” Scott said. “And there it is.”