ORONO – As a youngster, Bruno Dorismond was a young man in whom people saw tremendous potential.

Despite being quite shy and dealing with learning disabilities, Dorismond’s enthusiasm was obvious in his intensity in the athletic arena and his kind, gentle personality.

Dorismond’s mother, Marie Milord, always pushed her son to do his best.

Lou Marinelli, the football coach at New Canaan High School (Conn.), convinced Dorismond to give football a try – and helped motivate him.

And Rams assistant coach Duncan Della Volpe helped create in Dorismond a desire to help kids with special needs.

Many years later, Dorismond continues to reward those people by maximizing his potential as a student-athlete at the University of Maine.

Saturday night, the senior defensive tackle will show off his skills when the Black Bears face Bowl Championship Subdivision member Connecticut at in East Hartford.

“I’ve got a lot of people coming to the game,” said the UMaine tri-captain, the only son of a Haitian immigrant who was raised in an affluent, predominately white community.

The soft-spoken Dorismond, a key cog in the Bears’ defense, was an All-Colonial Athletic Association preseason pick.

“Sometimes people don’t give him enough credit for being such a good technician,” said UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove, who recalled a video presentation made at CAA media day this summer.

“When they were showing the clips of the all-conference players, the only guy who got more oohs and ahhs was [New Hampshire quarterback] Ricky Santos,” the national offensive player of the year, he said.

Dorismond had wrestled since sixth grade, but wasn’t introduced to football until his freshman year when Marinelli approached him.

“I did it because everybody said football would make you better for other sports and I wrestled,” said Dorismond, who helped lead New Canaan to back-to-back Class M football state titles in 2001 and 2002.

Dorismond, who as a senior weighed 240 pounds, also was the Class M wrestling state champion at 275 pounds. In the state open meet, the future defensive tackle lost by one point to John Sullivan of Greenwich, who is now the starting offensive center at Notre Dame.

As a junior, Dorismond was told by Marinelli he might have a chance to play college football. He received some interest, but didn’t have an impressive academic record.

UMaine was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“My grades weren’t that good in high school,” he admitted. “I got lucky. [UMaine assistant coach Rich Nagy] gave me the chance, I got the grades up, and I barely got in.”

Marinelli and New Canaan athletic director Vin Iovino convinced Cosgrove that Dorismond could succeed.

“Based upon the evaluation we did in terms of his character, his work ethic and the people who stood beside him at his high school, we felt it was worth the risk,” Cosgrove said.

Though initially shy and introverted, Dorismond did not disappoint.

Dorismond broke into the starting lineup in 2005 and started all 11 games last fall, making 32 tackles, including eight for negative yardage.

“He’s very good at tying up a couple of blockers so that our linebackers or the noseguard can be in a one-on-one situation,” Cosgrove said. “He gives you everything he’s got.”

Cosgrove attributes some of Dorismond’s success to his wrestling background and the skills he learned on the mat.

At UMaine, Dorismond has made great strides in all aspects of his life. With added confidence and experience, he has become more comfortable.

“He’s developed his social skills, his interpersonal skills, his relationships with coaches and teammates and faculty and staff,” Cosgrove said.

The child development and family relations major has excelled in the classroom. Two semesters ago, he led the football team in grade point average at 3.86.

“It’s special because the guys know he’s had to work so hard in the classroom and on the football field,” Cosgrove said.

Last spring, his teammates elected him as a captain.

“I was never a social guy, one of those big yellers,” Dorismond said. “I like to lead by example.”

Dorismond is determined to make a difference.

He appreciates the tireless support of his mother, a single parent who worked two jobs to support him. And he has taken to heart the example set by Della Volpe.

“I want to work with kids who have behavioral issues and problems at home,” Dorismond said. “Special education was what did that for me.

“I saw [Della Volpe] had a real big impact on them and I said that’s what I want to do.”

Milord, Della Volpe and Marinelli will be among those in attendance Saturday game to witness Dorismond’s growth.