ORONO – Nobody in the history of the University of Maine football program has completed more passes, thrown the ball more often or passed for more touchdowns than Ron Whitcomb.

The senior from East Rochester, N.Y., also is closing in on Black Bear career records for passing yards and total offense.

Nobody could care less than Whitcomb.

“If you look at the top 10 passing performances in my career, I’m 1-9,” Whitcomb said, trying to put his statistical achievements in perspective.

“This is about winning. That’s all it’s about.”

This week, Whitcomb is gearing up for the most important game of his career as he leads No. 19 UMaine into a crucial Atlantic 10 contest Saturday at No. 3 Massachusetts.

If the Bears win, they remain eligible for a postseason berth that has eluded the program since 2002. If they lose, those hopes are dashed.

“I always based the legacy of my career on whether we made the playoffs or not. And I still do,” Whitcomb said. “I didn’t care if I had every record.

“If we make the playoffs this year, I definitely will be completely happy with how my career went and my place in history, at the University of Maine.”

Whitcomb has a wealth of experience directing the offense. After redshirting in 2002, he has started 42 consecutive contests for UMaine, helping the Bears post a 22-20 record.

In 2003, UMaine went 7-5 and he was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year.

UMaine went 5-6 each of the last two seasons, but Whitcomb called the signals in the Bears’ historic victory at Division I-A Mississippi State in 2004.

“He’s playing in the top I-AA conference in the country,” said UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove. “You probably can’t find a more experienced quarterback in the country in terms of how many starts he’s had, where he’s been, who he’s played against. And probably in a lot of cases we’ve been doing that in an underdog role. Our teams the past two years weren’t great football teams.”

Whitcomb said his extensive experience against high-level teams, including I-A Nebraska and Boston College, have enabled him to handle virtually any challenge on the field.

“Nothing really fazes me anymore,” he said. “Being at Nebraska, Mississippi State; I’ve pretty much seen it all.”

Whitcomb began his career as a traditional drop-back style passer. That all changed midway through last season when UMaine scrapped its I-based offense in favor of a spread.

The move produced immediate dividends as the Bears won three of their last five games and put up some impressive offensive numbers.

This season, Whitcomb and UMaine were forced to incorporate several first-year players at running back and wide receiver. Cosgrove equated it to the situation faced by QB Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

“Ronny allowed us to make that change, because he did have the intellectual ability to learn and could embrace the change,” Cosgrove said.

While the spread has a reputation as being a wide-open passing offense, UMaine has used it to run the football and mix in some throws. The Bears have demonstrated steady improvement as the season has progressed.

Whitcomb, who dropped 20 pounds during the offseason and improved his speed, has made an impact not only throwing the ball but as a ballcarrier. He makes all the decisions about both who runs the ball and to whom it is thrown.

“I think it simply allows me to do what I do best, which is see the whole defense, sit back there, make a read, make a throw, scramble,” Whitcomb said.

The new scheme has taken more of a physical toll on the 6-foot-2, 208-pounder, who is averaging 14 carries per game.

With the inexperienced personnel, UMaine has thrown less than in recent years. Even so, Whitcomb has passed for 1,013 yards (102-for-173) and eight touchdowns with six interceptions.

“He’s had incredible patience this year with the young players,” offensive coordinator and associate head coach Bob Wilder said. “He has been very much a mentor and a teacher. He’s really been our most valuable player this year.”

Whitcomb’s name is now listed among such UMaine greats as Mike Buck, Mickey Fein and Jake Eaton. He owns the school career record for completions (706) and passing attempts (1,209) and is tied with Buck with 67 TD passes.

He needs only 148 yards of total offense to pass Buck (8,457) for that mark and is 519 yards away from Buck’s passing yardage record of 8,491.

Wilder, who works with the quarterbacks countless hours each year, said Whitcomb’s commitment to learning and improving has been incredible.

“The thing that has impressed me most about Ron is I’ve never had a quarterback who’s come close to his level of preparation,” Wilder said. “He holds meetings with the receivers and the tight ends on his own.”

Whitcomb wants to be remembered for what UMaine accomplishes as a team rather than any numbers he puts up.

“Ronny’s a great decision-maker as well as a playmaker and he has been a great leader,” Cosgrove said. “As much as he’s accomplished in terms of records and statistics, it really has been all about the team.”

WHITCOMB’S NUMBERS

Records

Career completions: 706

Career passing attempts: 1,209

Career TD passes: 67 (tied with Mike Buck)

Closing in on records

Total career yards: 8,309 (Buck’s record, 8,457)

Total passing yards: 7,972 (Buck’s record, 8,491)