ORONO – Ben Lazarski has considerable responsibility on the University of Maine football team.

As the center, the senior handles the ball every play. He must make sure it is deposited quickly and securely into the hands of the quarterback.

The Black Bears’ co-captain also must make the offensive line calls prior to the snap and then execute his blocking assignments.

This season, the All-Atlantic 10 first-team performer is putting his talent and experience to use while anchoring a revamped offensive line that includes three first-time regulars.

“We’re still not at the point where we’re all jelled together and working as a complete unit yet,” Lazarski said of the group, which is preparing for its Oct. 1 game against Albany in Portland. “You have to play and work on the relationship in games.”

Lazarski has been a fixture on the line since halfway through his freshman season in 2001, when he helped UMaine earn a share of the A-10 title and reach the Division I-AA national quarterfinals.

At 6-foot-11/4, 279 pounds, the New Windsor, N.Y., native has been one of the Bears’ top linemen ever since.

“He’s the unquestioned leader of that O-line,” said UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove.

Lazarski tried to describe playing center in the most basic terms.

“The ability to snap the ball is probably the biggest attribute,” Lazarski chuckled. “It sounds so simple, but it’s hard when you’ve got a heavy nose [tackle] on you that wants to kill you and you’ve got to get that ball back to the Q [quarterback] and take your proper steps.”

Lazarski also is responsible for making the offensive line calls at the line of scrimmage. That includes identifying the location of the middle linebacker, making the call for pass protections based off that, then pointing out the alignment of the defensive front.

“You’ve got a 25-second clock ticking and you’ve got to get up on the ball, make your calls,” Cosgrove said. “You’ve got to get set in your position; you’ve got to think about the snap count. “It’s a very challenging athletic and intellectual endeavor and he is very good at it.”

Lazarski’s job has been a bit more interesting this season. Not only has he had to learn to execute longer snaps when UMaine uses the “shotgun” formation, he also has been working with two quarterbacks, Ron Whitcomb and Chris Legree, as part of a platoon system.

“I think one of the most important attributes is just having a great relationship with the quarterbacks,” he said. “I don’t have to adjust to them very much. I just keep everything the same.”

Lazarski sat out 2003 as a redshirt after suffering a broken socked and torn labrum (cartilage rim) in his right shoulder. On the sidelines, he learned to appreciate football from a new perspective.

“I was able to actually really take time and look at the game from a mental standpoint,” Lazarski said, crediting former offensive line coach Mark Nori with teaching him about some of the intricacies of the game.

“You can see how the management part sees the team, so you can become an attach? between the coaches and the players,” he added.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and physical education in May, Lazarski is working on a master’s degree in KPE. He may get involved in teaching and coaching once his football career ends.

“He’s a mature kid who takes great pride in his leadership role,” Cosgrove said. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid and a good person.”