Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
After last season’s playoff appearance, the University of Maine football team headed into this season ranked in the top-25 and poised for another playoff year. Initial struggles from the beginning, including an offense that sputtered, injuries to key players that were tough to overcome — Jared Turcotte and Mark Masterson – and a young, inexperienced team led to a 5-6 season for the Black Bears.
With only nine seniors on the squad and with Masterson hoping to pick up a medical redshirt to play next season, the team should be very optimistic heading into the 2010 season.
Offensive MVP – Landis Williams
The senior wideout will be one of the big losses for the Black Bears heading into next season. The speedy burner on the outside led the Colonial Athletic Association with 71 receptions. He caught nine touchdown passes and had 798 yards receiving. Williams was influential in the heavy passing attack that UMaine implemented early in the season after injuries and personnel changes caused the change from a rush-heavy offense.
Defensive MVP – Jordan Stevens and Donte Dennis
Another starter who will be missed next season is defensive end Jordan Stevens. Stevens stepped in for Jovan Belcher, now in the NFL and performed admirably with 10 sacks. He finished third in the conference in sacks.
Donte Dennis emerged as a star linebacker for the Black Bears in his first season as a Black Bear starter. He ranked fifth in the CAA in tackles with 106 and also had four interceptions on the season.
Team MVP – Mike Brusko
The senior tri-captain was the leader of the young team. After losing his starting quarterback job to Warren Smith, Brusko worked as a slot receiver, punter and on the special teams unit. Brusko rushed for two scores, passed for two scores and had three scores receiving on the season. He finished off his career at UMaine with a 13-catch, 119-yard performance.
Outlook
Offensively, the Black Bears lost three starters but return two healthy quarterbacks — Smith and Chris Treister — and preseason All-American fullback Jared Turcotte. With the addition of Turcotte, UMaine will have more of a balanced attack compared to this season where they had the league’s top passing offense but the second-worst rushing offense. Smith is the starter at quarterback, but Treister’s efforts at the end of this season when Smith went down with injury will make competition very tight and hopefully make both better. If UMaine can find a speedy wide receiver on the outside, their offense will be very dynamic.
Defensively, UMaine had its fair share of struggles, but had a niche for forcing turnovers. They ranked second in takeaways behind only the University of New Hampshire and lose only one starter in Stevens if Masterson is granted a redshirt. With Dennis back as one of the league’s top tacklers and a secondary that returns everyone, the young defense could take big strides into next season.
Prediction
Of the six losses this season, UMaine held the lead or was tied at halftime in five of them, including the season-ending loss to UNH. If the Black Bears can overcome that struggle, something that should be solved with the maturity and growth of the group, they will challenge UNH for the North Division crown once again.
Expect the UMaine-UNH matchup on the last day of the regular season to have a playoff berth on the line, making the rivalry even better.
Bangor Daily News