Old Town’s Hayes eager to help Bears> Sophomore tight end projected as starter

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ORONO – Chad Hayes’ football resume is a unique one for a sophomore tight end, even on a Division I-AA college team.

Projected starter with three years’ experience (first year as redshirt freshman). Started 1998 season opener, logged time in several games, and earned a letter.

OK, admittedly there’s nothing too unique about that. However, flip to page 24 of the University of Maine media guide to Hayes’ bio. There you’ll find the kicker:

“Has yet to record his first college reception.”

Huh?

“Yeah, that’s kind of different,” Hayes admitted while hustling to a team meeting Saturday night. “I really would have liked to have gotten it under my belt last year so the first game this year I’m not running around saying `Geez, I haven’t really been on the field with a ball yet at this level.’ But I’m not really sweating it out.”

Well, he is sweating it out, but more from the hot and muggy conditions that made Saturday’s late afternoon practice seem like it was being held in a sauna.

When it comes to the pressure of being anointed No. 1 on the depth chart, Hayes acts like an anti-perspirant spokesman. In fact, he seems to relish the challenge.

“Definitely I think of it as my breakout year. I’ve always had a senior start in front of me before this year and now, I’m the man in front,” Hayes said. “It’s just my turn to do what I can and step forward and take responsibility.”

It’s a responsibility his coaches seem to think the soft-spoken Old Town native can handle.

“He’s an impressive guy. He has high expectations of himself and he tries to live by them,” said tight ends coach Matt Griffin, the former University of Tennessee-Martin offensive coordinator who joined Maine’s staff this year.

It hasn’t been an easy, two-year transition for Hayes.

“When I first came here, we had five tight ends and I redshirted. That spring, I got pencilled in as second-string tight end,” Hayes said. “Then last year, I got time and started the Buffalo game. I got my time in, I just didn’t accomplish what I’d like to have.”

Even though redshirting slowed Hayes’ ascent to the starting lineup, The 20-year-old forestry major said it really helped acclimate him to college life. As far as Griffin’s concerned, it was worth the wait.

“On the four staffs I’ve been on, this is probably the best kid I’ve seen – potentially the best kid,” said Griffin, who has seen Hayes on film and began working with him this week. “But potential gets coaches fired. It’s not good for us.

“He’s a big guy and he moves like some of our smaller, scat-type receivers. To me, his biggest asset is he’s a very intelligent player. He wants to be good, he doesn’t settle for mediocrity, and he plays hard. With all those things… you have a great football player, and that’s what he wants to be.”

Hayes is certainly blessed with physical tools. At 6-foot-6 and 242 pounds, he makes a very inviting target for any quarterback and he’s an effective blocker.

“He can do both. You really get lucky at this level to get a kid like that,” Griffin said. “I hate to say it in a newspaper article on a kid – although I don’t think he’s the type of kid to get a big head – but I think we’re fortunate to have him. I really do.”

Hayes appreciates the compliments, but he’s not about be distracted by them any more than he would some of the knocks he’s received over the years.

“I get a lot of stuff from kids I went to high school with like `Oh, you’re only playing ball because you’re big and you’re all stuck on yourself,’ but that’s not the case,” Hayes explained. “I try to keep what other people say about me in the back of my head and just go out and get the job done.”

That philosophy has served Hayes well the last few months. The 20-year-old was one of four football players ordered to perform 60 hours of community service and pay a $427 fine for their parts in a postgame celebratory bonfire on campus that got out of hand following the Maine hockey team’s national championship victory last April.

“It’s just stuff you really want to look past, but you’ve got to face the consequences,” Hayes said. “Yeah, I’ll admit I threw a bench on the fire. I was excited just like everybody else was and unfortunately, what happened happened.

“The big thing I learned from that is University of Maine athletes do stand out more than other students – because we’re bigger and because we stand out more – it does come down on us harder.”

Hayes said it provided him another valuable life lesson. One he won’t soon forget.

“That makes you stop and think now about your actions around the campus and in public and what the outcome could be, and what the consequences could be.”

Consequences are things Hayes are already very familiar with. For instance, No. 1 on the depth chart doesn’t mean much if you’re not putting forth your No. 1 effort.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned here probably is discipline,” said Hayes. “In high school, I could take a play off and still get by. You come here and if you take a play off, you’re on your back or you’re on your face.”

Or a coach is in your face.

It’s too early to contemplate, but if Hayes has the kind of breakout season he and Griffin expect, the NFL isn’t a far-fetched goal.

“Physically, he’s got a lot of tools. He just needs more confidence and experience to eventually find a comfort zone,” said Griffin, who likens Hayes physically to ex-Boston College and current Green Bay tight end Mark Chmura.

Although he admires Minnesota Vikings receiver Cris Carter since he “goes out there and gets the job done,” he shuns comparisons.

“I’m not looking to compare myself to anybody,” he said. “I’ve got enough to worry about as it is.”

Primary among those worries?

“Securing the tight end spot, getting that first catch under my belt, and contributing to the team.”

Sounds like a good start.