Intensity on increase as Black Bears huddle up for Huskers

ORONO – With a two-hour practice on Morse Field drawing to a close Monday morning, the University of Maine football team ran a “live” play to simulate a fourth-and-one situation.

Senior tailback Montell Owens pounded into the slim hole as though he were driving toward the goal line during an NCAA playoff game.

Having gained the yard, and then some, with a hard-nosed run, offensive teammates rushed over to congratulate the fired-up Owens. Simultaneously, offensive players on the sideline burst onto the field, leaping and shouting in celebration.

That’s the kind of emotion and intensity that has characterized practices as coach Jack Cosgrove’s team prepares for its Sept. 3 season opener at perennial Division I-A power Nebraska.

“We have to do a great job in practice of getting them to perform correctly what we’re doing and then with an intensity level that matches it. That’s what football is,” said Cosgrove, who is entering his 13th season as the UMaine coach.

Heading into the third week of preseason camp, it isn’t uncommon for players to become physically beat up and tired, and emotionally exhausted.

Instead, the Bears appear to be generating momentum toward the huge challenges that await them on game days this season by feeding off the emotion of their own hard work on the practice field.

“You look at our first opponent and sometimes I think I’m dreaming when I see them [Nebraska] on our schedule,” Cosgrove said.

“We didn’t have a perfect practice, but our players were responding,” he added. “I think you saw a real high level of intensity and it has to start right at the top [with the coaching staff] and go right to the bottom.”

The Bears have been blessed with warm, sunny weather for most of the preseason. That has allowed UMaine to test its players physically.

“We have gone through a tough, hard preseason,” Cosgrove said. “It’s been hot and sticky, really good for conditioning and challenging our players.”

As it has been for many years, the biggest challenge for the UMaine staff has been readying younger, less experienced players for game situations. The Bears are trying to replace three departed players on their offensive line and retool their defensive secondary.

Overall, the goal is to make sure UMaine has a formidable starting unit and adequate backups to provide much-needed depth.

“You’re pushing your front-line players to get better, trying to provide experience for your guys that have kind of been on the bubble in the past, but now have an opportunity to start or play, and then blend that with some guys that were in high school last fall – and there are a lot of guys that are in that category here,” Cosgrove explained.

Cosgrove expects several first-year players will make their UMaine debuts this season. Among those who have made an impression during camp are cornerbacks Lamir Whetstone, Steven Barker and Lionel Nixon Jr.

“We really feel like they’re three kids that can play that corner position for us – sooner rather than later – because we need them,” Cosgrove said.

Other freshmen bidding for playing time are tailback Jerron Pearson and wide receiver Kenny Fersner.

“[Pearson’s] got some great skills: he catches, he runs, he’s smart,” Cosgrove said. “He’s done a nice job.

Quarterback Michael Brusko and linebackers Andrew Downey and Sean Wasson also have made a positive impression.

Several players leave UM squad

As happens every season, a handful of players have left the UMaine football team.

Some did not return, while others did not report to training camp or have since quit.

Joining Bobby Gilbert of Greenville among the players who are no longer on the squad are sophomore defensive end Rob Sampson of Portland, sophomore cornerback Marcus Shell, sophomore tight end Mike Moran, redshirt freshman defensive back Devin Shephard of Brunswick and recruits Kyle McKague, a linebacker from West Buxton, and defensive end Thomas Nocera.