CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Injuries to key players remained a concern Friday for the University of Maine football team as it made final preparations for today’s NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinal against Northern Iowa.

Three starters, tailback Royston English, free safety Dave Cusano, and center Ben Lazarski, have spent the week recovering from injuries suffered in last week’s win at McNeese State (La.).

Of the trio only Lazarski, a freshman, appeared to go through the normal practice regimen at the UNI-Dome.

Cusano and English both spent the early part of practice under the watchful eye of head athletic trainer Paul Culina, who put them through a series of exercises and drills designed to test their level of fitness.

Cusano did a brisk, two-lap walk around the playing surface, then did some stair-climbing in the stadium. English started out on a stationary bicycle, did a couple of brief jogs along the sideline, then joined Cusano for some high-step leg extensions on the field.

Cusano said he’s as ready as he can be.

“We’re just taking it day by day,” Cusano said. “I’m feeling good. It’s probably going to be a game-time decision on what I do. We’re prepared if I can go, we’re prepared if I can’t go. If they give me the OK, I’m ready to go mentally.”

If Cusano is unable to play, he’ll be replaced by Jarrod Gomes. The sophomore has played regularly at cornerback and last week against McNeese registered seven tackles and recovered a fumble.

English looks better than he did walking across campus Wednesday, but he still was grimacing during a light jog. If unable to play, English’s backups are speedy sophomore James Henry and freshman Marcus Williams.

Winning games and prospects

The Black Bears’ recent success has changed the way the UMaine staff will conduct its recruiting this fall.

Normally, UMaine coaches would have been on the road the past two weeks, and again next week, talking to high school recruits. With the Bears participating in postseason, the priorities have changed.

“If we win this week, we will not have had one contact with any recruit prior to Christmas and won’t until after New Year,” coach Jack Cosgrove said of the situation.

Staff members have remained in touch with recruits via the telephone during the NCAA contact period, but the focus has been on winning.

“It’s nice to say, ‘Well, we can’t come and see you right now because we’re playing for the national championship,'” Cosgrove said with a smile.

UMaine has in recent years billed itself as an up-and-coming Division I-AA program. Now, there’s some evidence to back up that claim.

“Now we’ve got proof,” Cosgrove said. “They know there’s some fact behind what we’re saying. It’s not just smoke and mirrors and hope, it’s actually taking place.”

Once the Bears are done winning, they’ll be able to hit the recruiting trail with a bit more of a swagger.

“We’ll continue to be great recruiters. We just have a shorter calendar but more to work with in terms of an attention-grabber,” Cosgrove said.

The joy of air travel

A week after waiting for two hours for a charter jet to arrive from New York City, the University of Maine football team rediscovered the joy of air travel on Friday, as it headed west to face Northern Iowa in their NCAA Division I-AA playoff game.

After most of the UMaine contingent had boarded the plane, but while most were still settling into their seats, a flight attendant told the Bears that a slight problem existed.

Some fuel was spilled on the Bangor International Airport tarmac, and the UMaine contingent was told the crew would have to re-calculate the plane’s weight distribution.

Everyone was told to disembark and head to the BIA terminal, which they did as emergency crews cleaned up the spill.

While waiting for permission to reboard the airplane, senior Zack Magliaro admitted that the incident didn’t fill him with confidence.

“I don’t know about the gas spill on the plane,” Magliaro said with a chuckle. “I’m not a huge fan of that.”

The incident was dealt with swiftly, and the Black Bears were bound for Iowa about 30 minutes behind schedule at 9:30 a.m. That put them an hour and a half ahead of last week’s schedule, as they left BIA two hours late on their way to Lake Charles, La.

Bright lights, not-so-big city

Several members of the UMaine squad have gone to great pains to preserve some of their recent travel experiences on videotape. Sophomore cornerback Derek Martinez has been among the most visible camera-toters, but no fewer than six Bears spent a few moments Friday recording the inside of the UNI-Dome.