UM’s Cooper named I-AA All-American 2 organizations name Bears star

The postseason honors continue to roll in for University of Maine senior linebacker Stephen Cooper.

The two-time Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year has been named to The Associated Press’ I-AA All-America team as a first-team defensive pick for the second straight year and was also selected to the American Football Coaches Association I-AA All-America team.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound defensive standout from Wareham, Mass., led the Black Bears with 121 tackles, 91/2 sacks and three interceptions while helping lead Maine to its second straight NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinal playoff appearance.

“I’m very pleased for him. It’s great recognition and it’s something that we expected to see happen based on his performance over the course of the season,” said Cosgrove. “He’s kind of placed himself in an elite area for guys who I’ve coached in my career.”

The AFCA team, now in its 57th season, is selected through a process involving a 27-member selection committee which includes three head coaches from each of the AFCA’s nine regional districts. Coaches must rank the top players in their respective districts.

It has been a bittersweet season for members of the Maine football program as distractions resulting from a couple of off-field incidents have cast a pall on the end of an otherwise outstanding season.

Cooper is being charged with misdemeanor possession of anabolic steroids after a search of a car he was in turned up a cache of pills in a bag belonging to him.

“Yeah…. I’m looking forward to someday having the good feeling settle in from going 11-3,” Cosgrove said, regarding the off-field situations. “It’s our most successful season ever and here we are not really able to enjoy it fully.”

Cooper has also received the 64th George H. “Bulger” Lowe Award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston as the top defensive player in New England. He’s also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the country’s top I-AA defensive player for the second straight year.

William and Mary offensive lineman Dwight Beard joins Cooper as the only other Atlantic 10 player on both All-America first team rosters. Villanova quarterback Brett Gordon was a second team selection.

New Hampshire running back Stephan Lewis was also selected for the AFCA All-America offensive team.