Mother’s Ultimatum Launched Umaine Linebacker’s Football Career

ORONO — Andrea Anderson was scanning a summer activities catalog to find something to keep her fifth-grade son busy. “She said ‘What about football?,’” recalled her son, University of Maine sophomore linebacker Deshawn Stevens. “I said ‘Sure, why not,’” Stevens said. “But after the first or second day, I told my mom I wasn’t really feeling football.” “She said ‘OK, but if you don’t go to football, there’s no more TV in your life.’ I said ‘Never mind, I’m going to practice,’” Stevens said with a chuckle. And the UMaine football program certainly owes Anderson a debt of gratitude. Her son currently leads the Black Bears in tackles with 17 through their first two games, wins over New Hampshire (35-7) and Football Bowl Subdivision team Western Kentucky (31-28).