ORONO – Josh Caldwell enjoyed considerable success playing football, hockey and baseball at Brewer High School.

Nothing could have prepared him, though, for the exhilaration he would experience the evening of Sept. 3, 2005.

Caldwell was on the field as the University of Maine football team battled traditional national power Nebraska [a 25-7 loss] at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

“To go out and be on the opening kickoff at Nebraska, looking around seeing 77,469 people, all wearing red and white, I couldn’t believe it,” said Caldwell. “[I was thinking], ‘a kid from Brewer, Maine, what am I am doing at Nebraska playing in front of this many people?’ It was definitely a rush.”

While he saw significant action against the Cornhuskers, Caldwell has served primarily as a backup defensive end during his career with the Black Bears.

This season, the 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior is intent on doing whatever he can to help UMaine in its quest for the Colonial Athletic Association title.

“Over the summer I took some time to refocus myself and put a little more weight on, make sure I was in good shape and give it a good run, as much as I can, my last year here,” Caldwell said. “You always want to finish strong.”

Each year, there are a handful of UMaine players who don’t finish at all. High school stardom often doesn’t translate into a starting spot at the Division I level.

And in an era of tougher competition – where players have to be bigger, stronger and faster – the challenge of playing Division I football is particularly daunting for athletes from Maine.

Caldwell is the first Brewer product to play football at UMaine since Andy Nickerson, who graduated in 1988. That fact isn’t lost on Caldwell.

“They recruit their top recruits out of state,” he said. “It’s good to be a local kid and be able to compete on this level. It is good sometimes to get back to Brewer and find some people who do kind of appreciate you and what you’ve done. Up here you’re just a small fish [in a big pond].”

Caldwell arrived at UMaine in 2003 as a recruited walk-on. The All-LTC Class B pick spent his first two seasons at fullback. He then asked for the opportunity to move over to defense and got a shot at end.

While he hasn’t cracked the starting lineup, Caldwell hasn’t allowed that to dampen his enthusiasm.

“I’ve kind of carved out a little niche for myself,” he said, conceding he often goes up against offensive tackles who weigh more than 300 pounds.

Though Caldwell would love to play more, he hasn’t let the frustrations of playing college football get the best of him.

“My parents [Linda and the late Thomas Caldwell], the one thing they did really instill in me was to never quit anything until it was over,” Caldwell said. “I just stuck it out and believed that things would work out for me. I just try every year to play my role and do the most I can for the team when they call on me, just go in there and perform at my best.”

Nobody knows better than UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove the challenges faced by instate players hoping to earn playing time with the Bears. It isn’t every former high school star that can accept a part-time role.

“He’s persevered and he’s become a very reliable player,” Cosgrove said. “He hasn’t gained front-line status in terms of being a starter, but he’s been in some very important football games at very important times.”

Anything Caldwell lacks in terms of physical prowess he has made up for with determination and an extensive knowledge of the Bears’ schemes and opponents’ tendencies.

“He’s very smart, knows what he’s supposed to do and can go in there and get it done for you,” Cosgrove said.

Caldwell also has gotten it done in the classroom. The Dean’s List student expects to graduate in May with not only a bachelor of science degree in biology but minors in business, chemistry and neuroscience.

He said having to balance a busy football schedule and a full class load have taught him to be well organized and able to manage his time well.

Tom Caldwell died suddenly when Josh was a sophomore in high school. Ever since, Josh has tried to live his life with an integrity befitting his father’s example.

“It started going back to everything I do, trying to make it something he would be proud of,” Josh said. “And I think this [success as a student-athlete] is definitely something he could look down upon us and say, ‘this is my son.'”