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You’ve heard this from every teacher or professor you’ve ever had. Your parents probably conveyed this piece of advice to you in some way, shape or form over the years. Every sports movie ever made relies heavily on this element throughout the story:
Work hard, seize opportunity and always be prepared.
University of Maine football junior wide receiver Maurice McDonald has had a stellar breakout season this year, becoming senior quarterback Warren Smith’s favorite target through the air and leading the Black Bears in receiving with 58 catches for 591 yards, averaging 65.7 yards per game.
And that was all before an injury he sustained two weeks ago in a game against Towson University. But McDonald was able to improve on last year’s 12-catch, 135-yard campaign by following the formula mentioned above.
“Staying up here [last summer] with the guys definitely helped,” McDonald said. “I built up a relationship with [Smith], and that made it easier. We got the timing down, and we were both able to see the same thing.”
The increased study time and preparation, as well as the drive to improve, helped McDonald’s play as well.
“Preparation, studying the game, looking at the film, planning and playing all helped out a lot,” McDonald said. “They’re all a factor in us going from 4-7 [in 2010] to 8-2. We wanted to change for the better.”
The Paterson, N.J.-native said he looked up to his father, a former high school wide receiver while he was growing up. As for NFL players, his favorite is New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.
“[Ochocinco] makes the game fun, keeps it interesting, and he has good footwork,” McDonald said. “But I mostly like how he just has fun with it.”
Another NFL player, New York Giants receiver and former University of Massachusetts receiver Victor Cruz — who also went to McDonald’s high school — is someone he looks to for motivation.
“It’s cool to see how he was able to make it that far, coming from my high school, then playing in our conference and making it to the NFL,” McDonald said. “It’s nice to see how he was able to make it. I talk to [Cruz] once in a while too.”
It’s also easy to draw parallels between McDonald and freshmen receivers DaMarr Aultman and Arthur Williams in terms of opportunities to play.
“Last year I got to play because of injuries; this year they get to play because of injuries. We’re similar in that sense, but I think that they are more prepared than I was,” he said. “They have that potential to grow and be great. Like me, they stepped in when the guy in front went down.”
When asked about his favorite game of his career, getting the Brice-Cowell Musket back topped his list.
“Beating [the University of New Hampshire], I didn’t play a whole lot in that game or make a lot of catches, but to be part of that team and get the Musket back, that was special,” he said.
McDonald will probably be out for this year’s game against UNH, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be preparing for it. He still goes to meetings and practices, and will continue to work to make the most of the next opportunity that comes his way.
Bangor Daily News