Two weeks ago, Chad Hayes of Old Town was working hard behind the scenes in the University of Maine field house, preparing himself for a chance to get drafted in April or signed as a free agent by a National Football League team.

The fortunes of the Black Bears’ senior tight end took a dramatic turn for the better after he signed with Indianapolis-based sports agent Andrew “Buddy” Baker, who was instrumental in helping Hayes get a roster spot in last Saturday’s Rotary Gridiron Classic senior all-star game in Orlando, Fla.

In front of a large crowd and a national television audience, Hayes caught four passes – three for touchdowns – to help Team Florida beat the Team USA. The exposure should be beneficial.

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” admitted Hayes, a 6-foot-6, 252-pounder who got his first taste of competition against Division I-A players with the help of a phone call to Classic coordinators by UMaine receivers coach Jeff Cole.

“I knew I was going to be playing with all-stars from I-A, guys from Florida, Florida State, Nebraska… The guys are bigger, faster and stronger,” he said.

Hayes, with his parents, his sister, his paternal grandparents and some cousins in attendance, more than held his own on the field and appears to have boosted his stock considerably.

“My name’s out there even more so than it was,” Hayes said Tuesday night. “[The scouts’] one concern was if I was going to be able to make the jump [against better competition]. The pro level is definitely a jump from the I-A level and even more so from I-AA.”

While in Orlando, the commitment went far beyond football. Hayes was inundated by interviews with NFL scouts and college scouting service people, who were omnipresent during the week.

“You’re on the practice field and everywhere you look, there’s scouts surrounding the field,” Hayes explained. “The whole week is like a job interview. How you carry yourself, how you interact with other people and how you talk to the scouts is all scrutinized.”

Hayes even was subjected to psychological testing, which apparently is routine in the process.

“It’s not necessarily stressful, but it was pretty intense all week long with all the eyes that were down there,” he said.

Hayes flew back to Boston on Sunday and was driving home when he received a call from Baker. This time, he had been invited to play in Saturday’s Hula Bowl senior all-star game in Hawaii.

However, Hayes would have been unable to get to Maui until late Tuesday, which meant he would have missed two days of preparations for Saturday’s prestigious game. The Hula Bowl features some of the best seniors in the country, including Heisman Trophy winner Eric Couch of Nebraska and Major Applewhite of Texas, the Big 12 Player of the Year.

Rather than try to make up for the lost time, and already having turned some heads with his impressive showing in Florida, Hayes and his agent decided to forego the Hula Bowl.

“[Baker] didn’t think it would be in my best interest to go out there [under the circumstances],” Hayes said. “It would have been tough with the fatigue factor and everything.”

For now, Hayes will return to the weight room and the field house, where he’ll continue working out daily in preparation for testing sessions with NFL scouts in March. He had been forced to take a couple of weeks off in December after he tore the finger nail off the middle finger on his right hand during UMaine’s NCAA quarterfinal playoff game at Northern Iowa.

Hayes has been working with UMaine strength and conditioning coach Chris Anderson to get stronger and faster.

“I’ve been working really hard every day,” Hayes said. “[Former teammate] Mickey Fein was back up here a little bit over break and we threw for a while. Jake [Eaton] also came up a little bit early, so I’ve been able to run routes and catch some balls.”

The NFL scouts are expected to visit Orono in March to put Hayes and UMaine’s other senior hopefuls through a battery of strength and conditioning tests.

“It’s crazy what’s going on right now,” Hayes said. “I’m trying to make the most of it and I’m trying to work as hard as I can to get the opportunity at the next level.”

Hayes capped a stellar UMaine career with a superb senior season during which he was selected a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association after catching 39 passes for 510 yards and nine touchdowns.

The captain’s regular-season numbers (28 receptions, 382 yds., 7 TDs) were all-time bests for a UMaine tight end. Hayes also was named a second-team All-American by The Sports Network, The Associated Press and Dan Hansen’s Weekly Football Gazette.

UMaine set for women’s awards

Several members of the UMaine athletics department will participate in Saturday’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day state reception at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

Black Bears volleyball coach Sue Medley is the keynote speaker for the event, which begins at 6 p.m. Former UMaine basketball All-American Rachel Bouchard will present the awards.

UMaine director of athletics Suzanne Tyler will receive a 2002 Exemplary Lifetime Commitment in Women’s Athletics & Wellness Award for her dedication to women’s athletics for more than 20 years. She has been the AD at UMaine since 1995.

Tyler owns the distinction of being the only Division I coach to win national championships in two different sports, lacrosse and field hockey, while at the University of Maryland. She is a member of the Maryland and U.S. Lacrosse Halls of Fame.

Terry Kix, the UMaine field hockey coach, will be honored with a 2002 Exemplary Professional in Women’s Athletics & Wellness Award. The two-time America East Coach of the Year led the Bears to a fourth-place finish last fall and owns a 119-85-5 record in 12 seasons at UMaine.

Adrienne Poplawski, a senior on the UMaine volleyball squad, will receive a 2002 Exemplary College Student in Women’s Athletics & Wellness Award. She played in every game (216) during her two seasons at UMaine, leading the team and ranking seven in the league in blocks (0.87 per game) last season to help lead the Bears to the AE title game.

Poplawski also serves as president of the Student-Athletic Advisory Board.

Patsy Wiggins will emcee the reception. Those interested in attending should contact Jen DeRice at 207-767-7650.