Husson resurgence excites former H.S. stars

Football isn’t for everybody, but for those young men who enjoy it, it can be one of the most rewarding college experiences.

This fall, for the first time since the late 1930s, Husson College will field a football team.

Running the fledgling NCAA Division III program is former Bangor High School coaching legend Gabby Price, whose passion for football courses through his veins and is evident in his words.

Barely a year ago, Price was leading some 35 players through workouts in anticipation of the 2003 season. This week, 72 hardworking players are preparing for Saturday’s exhibition game at MIT.

“I’m very excited,” Price said. “We’ve got some great young men. We’re really looking forward to that [game] just to see where we stand, how we measure up.”

Husson’s administration is counting on football to help boost its annual enrollment by providing another alternative to Colby, Bates, Bowdoin, and Maine Maritime Academy, the state’s other Division III programs.

“We’re not the answer for everyone, but we’d like to be an option for people,” Price said.

Nobody was more excited about the return of football than Hampden’s Jim Tribou, a senior captain who hasn’t played competitive football in four years.

“I couldn’t pass up the chance. I’m excited to be out here,” Tribou said. “This is going to be my senior year, so it’s just an added bonus.”

Pittsfield’s Chad Bennett, a junior defensive back who spent a year at Alfred University in New York, had thought about transferring to a Florida school.

“It’s close to home, a good opportunity, a new program,” said Bennett, a former standout at Maine Central Institute. “I heard that they were going to have football up here, so I decided to stay around. You don’t get many opportunities to start a new program.”

Jason Jack of South Paris, a junior tight end, considered leaving Husson after his freshman year. He was re-energized when he learned football was coming.

“I decided to stay and play here,” Jack said. “We’ll be competitive.”

Husson is blessed with a supportive administration that has provided a new practice field, sharp uniforms, top-notch equipment, and revamped locker rooms and meeting space in Newman Gymnasium.

Still, it’s hard for Price and his players to evaluate where the program stands without having played any games. That is especially true since about 50 of Husson’s players are freshmen.

“Probably the biggest thing is the inexperience,” Price admitted. “The speed of the [college] game’s different. I think that’s the biggest thing our players have to get used to.”

Tribou said there is no way the Braves can get a good feel for the level of competition from watching videotape. They’ll simply have to learn it first hand.

Price is convinced there is tremendous talent on his roster. And most of it comes from within Maine. Only 11 Husson players hail from other states.

“I don’t think kids that play Maine football get the respect they deserve, especially out of state,” Tribou said. “It’s going to be a good chance for Maine kids to prove themselves.”

The Husson talent pool also includes former UMaine recruit Lee St. Hilaire, a quarterback from Winthrop, along with speedy Belfast receiver Colby Horne, Lisbon defensive back Josh Willey, Belfast linebacker Jackie Morse, Skowhegan wideout Kyle Poissonier, and a host of others.

“There’s a lot of good players in this state who are very well-coached,” Price said.

Perhaps the hardest part of getting Husson on the field this spring was putting together a schedule. Three teams, Assumption and Mount Ida in Massachusetts, along with Wesley (Del.) even agreed to play in Bangor this season. Husson must travel for its other contests at Alfred (N.Y.), Bluffton (Ohio), Utica (N.Y.), and Fairleigh-Dickinson at Madison (N.J.).

Three teams originally on Husson’s schedule canceled out during a 10-day span late last winter, forcing Price to scramble to fill the dates.

“It’s a challenging schedule that we’re looking forward to taking on,” Price said.

Husson anticipates encountering some challenges in re-establishing its program, but doesn’t expect to be a pushover.

“Nobody’s going to take pity on us,” Price said. “If we get beat, we get beat, but we’re not backing down.”