Bears get experience in spring UM football focuses on rebuilding offensive, defensive lines

ORONO – The University of Maine football team went into its spring season with numerous holes to fill.

Not only did the Black Bears lose 12 starters (six defense, five offense, one kicker), several key players were sitting out injured or rehabilitating injuries. That made putting less-experienced players into game situations of critical importance to coach Jack Cosgrove and his staff.

UMaine capped off spring workouts Saturday morning with a 55-play intrasquad scrimmage at Alfond Stadium.

“We had a lot of inexperienced guys coming into the spring who needed to play the game of football and be put into scrimmage-type situations,” Cosgrove said. “In credit to the staff, we did a nice job of managing the kids through it because we had some injury concerns coming off the offseason surgeries and the like.”

Two areas of concern were the offensive and defensive lines. The offensive line lost three starters.

On Saturday, starting tight end Josh Radulski (wrist), guard Justin Roberts (shoulder), and guard Brian Quinn were unable to participate.

The defensive line graduated tackle Pat Pa’u and end Marcus Walton, while end Kurt Bulwith was unavailable because of an injury. That’s why the Bears were put through more frequent, though shorter, scrimmage sessions this spring.

Most were held Wednesdays and Sundays, with limited hitting in between.

“We needed to manage our players so that we could get better as an offensive line, a defensive line,” Cosgrove said. “We had a critical need for those groups to develop, because they’re the most inexperienced two that we have on the team.”

Junior quarterback Ron Whitcomb, senior QB Chris Legree, senior wide receiver Kevin McMahan, senior linebacker Jermaine Walker, and junior defensive tackle Mike DeVito were among the Bears’ top performers Saturday.

Whitcomb completed seven of 11 passes for 151 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Legree, who was in the mix late last season, demonstrated the skills that will put him on the field again in the fall.

He was the leading rusher with 33 yards on 10 carries and completed two of four passes for 85 yards and a score.

“Chris will play; how much depends on how well that package is doing during the game,” Wilder said. “We’re certainly not looking to take Ron off the field, but Chris’ ability to run the ball will help us in some other areas.”

Legree, a slippery runner, completed a 55-yard TD pass to McMahan (3 catches, 95 yards) on well-executed play-action pass set up by his fake.

“Right now it’s just another aspect for a defense to defend,” Legree said. “You can look at me as sort of another running back who can throw the ball.”

“I’m going to work hard to help the team, but I’ll just play my role,” he added.

The defense proved stout behind Walker (7 tackles), DeVito (3 tackles, interception), and linebacker Travis Hitchcock of Scarborough (7 tackles). The unit held the offense to 74 rushing yards and only two TDs, including a 4-yard scoring toss from Whitcomb to Ryan Waller.

“We definitely have a lot of potential,” Walker said. “We have a lot of young players on the defense, so we’ve got a little growing to do.”

Also Saturday, Walker and senior center Ben Lazarski were named the 2005 captains.

UMaine opens the 2005 season Sept. 3 at Division I-A Nebraska.