The University of Maine football team discovered during the 2003 season that little things make a big difference.

That is especially true in the Atlantic 10 Conference where turnovers, penalties and missed opportunities can turn potential victories into defeats.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears encountered some of those problems this fall on their way to a 7-5 record, well short of their goal of earning a third straight league title and NCAA Division I-AA postseason berth.

Still, UMaine has just completed the most successful four-year span in program history. The Bears’ nine seniors depart having posted a 32-17 record.

Defense carried UMaine much of this season. The Bears were second in A-10 total defense (308.5 yards per game), ranking second against the run and fifth against the pass while allowing 21.5 points per game.

They did so with a revamped unit that lacked starting cornerbacks Devon Goree and Jarrod Gomes, both of whom redshirted after shoulder surgery.

The success started up front, where senior end Dennis Dottin-Carter (43 tackles, 6 sacks), an A-10 second-team pick, joined tackles Dan Joslyn (7 sacks) and Pat Pa’u, and ends Marcus Walton and Brian Mann, to form one of the A-10’s fiercest units.

UMaine’s relentless pursuit of quarterbacks (28 sacks) was a big key to its success.

In the middle, senior Fred Lazo (73 tackles) and sophomore Jermaine Walker (83), both first-year starters, quickly emerged. Brandon McGowan team-high 85 tackles) moved to free safety and had a strong season heading the secondary.

Joan Quezada was steady at strong safety, while injuries forced UMaine to use four different players at rover, where Clinton Brown (44 tackles) started the last six games. Junior John Baumgartner and freshman Manauris Arias capably manned the corners, despite being the frequent targets of opposing offenses.

Senior defensive back Derek Martinez was a capable backup.

Offensively, the Bears (27 ppg) were not as proficient as in past years. They ranked only eighth in total offense (377 ypg), averaging 152 yards on the ground and 224 through the air.

Freshman quarterback Ron Whitcomb went into the season an unknown and emerged a star. He completed 186 of 329 passes (.565) for 2,428 yards and 21 TDs on his way to Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors.

The agile Whitcomb had some struggles early, throwing six of his 10 interceptions in the first four games, but did not throw a pick in four straight games and five of the last seven.

Whitcomb’s progress shows he could become one of the school’s all-time greats, especially throwing to a talented corps of receivers. Sophomore Ryan Waller led the Bears with 53 catches for 528 yards and 5 TDs, while junior Christian Pereira (52, 820, 10) was an A-10 second-team choice.

Soph Kevin McMahan (36, 598, 5) also came into his own, while tight end Dante Fusco was a capable blocker and receiver. Frosh TE Kendrick Ballantyne played only five games before suffering a broken rib.

UMaine produced the league’s top rusher in Marcus Williams (1,284 yards, 117 ypg). The junior tailback moved into third place on the school’s all-time rushing list (2,863 yds.) playing with a torn knee ligament the last eight weeks.

However, the Bears ranked only eighth in A-10 rushing with 152 ypg. Senior fullback Michael Zyskowski was one of the primary blockers.

The offensive line featured all-league, first-team tackle Pete Richardson of Millinocket and senior tackle Matt Hammond, along with center Mike Leconte of Portland, guard Evign Dodge of Berwick and guards Ryan Bird and Mark Lehner.

UMaine played without two-year starter Ben Lazarski, who sat out after shoulder surgery.

Special teams were adequate. Mike Mellow was perfect on 36 PAT kicks, but converted only 7 of 14 field-goal attempts with a long of 39 yards. He averaged 38.2 yards per punt.

The Bears’ kick coverage was suspect at times, while it appears freshman Arel Gordon may be the dynamic return man for whom they’ve been looking. He netted 27.5 yards per kickoff return and 14.9 yards on punt returns.

The Bears head into the offseason with a renewed focus they hope will bring them an Atlantic 10 championship and an NCAA playoff berth in 2004. Provided they can minimize injuries, improve offensive line play, kick more effectively and play better pass defense, those goals appear reachable.

“The potential’s there, but everybody’s got to look at themselves in the mirror and say, ‘what have I got to do to get better?'” Whitcomb said.