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Football: Brusko fills leadership role to fullest for Bears

Amy Brooks, The Maine Campus file photo

Mike Brusko carries several Delaware defenders as he reaches for a first down in a game earlier this season. The senior tri-captain has been a spark at wide receiver after Warren Smith took over the starting quarterback job.

By Adam Clark

Posted on Thursday, November 12th, 2009, 1:40 am

Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaching minds ever to set foot on an NFL sideline. If there are two things the three-time Super Bowl winning coach of the New England Patriots loves most of all in his players though, they are versatility and a team-first attitude.

At the University of Maine, Jack Cosgrove has one of the most versatile players and great team leaders that have ever stepped foot on the Orono campus. While he will not be moving on to the professional ranks after finishing up his senior season, Mike Brusko is the perfect example of a player not only Belichick covets, but any coach would be lucky to have and that Cosgrove is grateful for.

On Saturday afternoon, the senior tri-captain will set foot on the playing surface of Alfond Stadium for the last time. Brusko, who has played quarterback and wide receiver as well as being on the special teams unit and punting, leads his team into a Senior Day game against the University of Rhode Island at noon.

“When you put Michael out on the field, you have not only a gifted, talented player, you have an instinctively smart, intelligent, effort guy,” said 17-year head coach Jack Cosgrove. “I would say 99 percent of the guys that play the game aren’t even close to where he is upstairs.”

In addition to excelling on the field, Brusko is a top performer in the classroom. At UMaine he was in the Honors College and graduated last spring with a degree in broadcast journalism. He is currently taking graduate classes while he finishes out his football eligibility.

Despite success on and off the field though, Brusko’s time with the Black Bears has been a rollercoaster, where he has lost the starting quarterback job twice in his tenure. In addition to losing the starting job three games into his sophomore season, he alsolost the job to sophomore Warren Smith three games into this year’s season after leading the Black Bears to the national playoffs last year.

“Both times it was difficult, and I talked to the coaching staff and they knew how I felt about it as far as being upset and disappointed,” Brusko said. “But I told them at the same time I’d do what you think is best for the team, and I’ll do what will help us win.”

Cosgrove commended Brusko for keeping his head high and putting the team first.

“There are those that pout and moan and think they got screwed,” Cosgrove said. “Michael’s response was, ‘How can I help in other ways?’”

While he isn’t the quarterback anymore, his unselfish and team-first attitude has resonated throughout the young Black Bears locker room, particularly with the rest of the young quarterbacks on the roster.

“[Quarterbacks] Warren [Smith] and Chris Treister, I’ve tried to show them the way and show them the things they need to do to be successful,” Brusko said. “It’s a role that I embrace, and I just try to my best to help them out.”

No longer behind center, Brusko has not only provided a terrific locker room presence with his leadership skills, but he has thrived as a wide receiver and punter.

In last week’s game at James Madison University, Brusko caught a career-high 12 passes for 90 yards and scored a touchdown. He also pinned two punts inside James Madison University’s 5-yard line and threw an 82-yard touchdown pass on a fake punt.

“He’s as complete a football player that I’ve ever been around,” said Cosgrove, who has placed several players in the NFL. “He goes out and catches passes like he’s been a receiver his whole life.”

The 6-foot-3-inch Brusko only played wide receiver for a few games during his sophomore season at Emmaus High.

The former star from Zionsville, Pa., has enjoyed his time at UMaine. Brusko cited the family environment as one of the biggest positives, something that made him choose to come to Orono.

“Up here it just felt like guys were a much tighter unit, a lot closer and just cared for each other in general,” said Brusko, who chose UMaine over the University of New Hampshire. “That’s really what drew me up here between the two and I’m glad I came up here. I have no regrets.”

With a roster comprised of mostly underclassmen, the future is bright for the Black Bears. One thing that must be replaced for the team to take the next step is filling the leadership void left by Brusko.