It was a season to remember for the University of Maine football team.

Even though it’s over, the individual awards continue to roll in for the Black Bears.

Stephen Cooper received one of the most prestigious honors in Division I-AA football Tuesday when he was named to The Associated Press All-America First Team.

Cooper, a junior linebacker from Wareham, Mass., is the first UMaine player to earn first-team All-America accolades since defensive end Jojo Oliphant was chosen to the Burger King/American Football Coaches Association first squad in 1999. The last UMaine non-senior to gain first-team recognition was free safety Aaron Dashiell, who was on the ESPN/USA Today team in 1998.

UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove was excited to hear the news.

“I got a shot of goosebumps off of that one,” Cosgrove said. “That’s awesome to be a junior and to be recognized like that.”

Bears senior tight end Chad Hayes of Old Town was named to the AP second team.

Cooper and senior return specialist Lennard Byrd also were listed Tuesday on the ECAC Division I-AA Football All-Star team. Hayes was on that group’s honor roll.

On Monday, Cooper, Hayes and Byrd had been selected for The Sports Network’s Division I-AA All-America Team. Cooper and Hayes were second-team choices and Byrd made the third team.

The AFCA All-America Team, which has not been announced, is expected to include Hayes as a first-team pick, Cosgrove said.

Cooper emerged as the leader of the UMaine defense at inside linebacker. He led the team with 115 tackles in 12 games on his way to a share of the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year award and consideration as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented to the nation’s top I-AA defensive player.

“We felt all year long that he was the leader of our defense,” Cosgrove said, “but it was also kind of a no-name defense in a lot of ways. There wasn’t a lot of front-line recognition until Stephen was named defensive player of the year.”

Cooper, a 6-foot-1, 220-pounder, made six sacks and had three interceptions. He has developed not only physically, but mentally.

“You always need a guy in there that can make big plays for you and who wants to assume the leadership role,” Cosgrove said. “To be categorized as an All-American, a great linebacker, he had to become more than just a good physical player. He’s become a good student of the game.”

Hayes was the only tight end recognized among the six receivers honored by the AP, which did not distinguish between wide receivers and tight ends. It’s a fact Cosgrove believes is important.

“Tight end is a position that some teams don’t even use, but we know how important it is in our offense and how important he was to our offense,” Cosgrove said.

Hayes, a 6-6, 252-pounder, made 39 catches for 510 yards and nine touchdowns last season. His regular-season totals – 28 receptions, 382 yards, 7 TDs – were all-time bests for a UMaine tight end.

Hayes also was an outstanding blocker for the Bears.

“This recognition is awesome for him,” Cosgrove said. “We’re talking about a kid who played high school football in Old Town, Maine. I think he has a bright future in front of him in another league [the NFL] and I think that will motivate him.”

Husson field hockey joins NAC

Husson College athletics director Pam Hennessey announced Tuesday that the Braves’ field hockey team will compete next season as a member of the North Atlantic Conference.

Husson will be an associate member of the league, which includes Massachusetts institutions Bay Path College, Becker College, Elms College, Lasell College, Lesley University, Mount Ida College and Wheelock College, along with Maine Maritime Academy of Castine.

Simmons College and Western New England College, both in Massachusetts, are the other associate members.

“I’m very excited to be part of this conference,” said Husson coach Ruth Fitzpatrick. “Husson is ready for this competition. It’s a great league with challenging play and will be wonderful competition for us.”

Husson made the move after six Maine Athletic Conference schools announced recently they would combine with three others to form the new Sunrise Athletic Conference. The SAC will sponsor five women’s sports, but not field hockey.

This fall, the Braves posted a 9-4 record and won the MAC title by beating UMaine-Farmington.

UMaine’s Jake Eaton honored

Jake Eaton, a quarterback for the UMaine football team, was among 46 players named to the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference Team released Tuesday.

Eaton, a junior from Rutland, Vt., compiled a 3.01 grade point average while studying elementary education.

To be eligible, student-athletes must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be a starter on key reserve on their teams. Voting is conducted by the league’s sports information directors.