ORONO, Maine — Brandon McLaughlin views life sort of as a big classroom, one filled with many eager students.
For him, the logical response was to become an educator.
The young man from Pittsburgh is already teaching on different levels. McLaughlin is sharing his knowledge and passion for teaching both on the football field and around the University of Maine campus.
This fall, the senior tri-captain is striving to help the Black Bears earn high marks on Saturdays. The next lesson comes Saturday at Albany.
McLaughlin, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker, is providing strong play and leadership on a revamped UMaine defense that is marked by inexperience.
“I just try to model the right way and lead by example,” McLaughlin said. “Before you try to lead somebody else, you have to lead yourself.”
Through two games, McLaughlin leads UMaine with 19 tackles, 4½ for a loss. He has made a smooth transition from strong safety to his linebacker (rover) position.
“He’s been very productive for us the first two games,” said coach Jack Cosgrove. “He’s been one of our better tacklers, as well as our leading tackler.”
McLaughlin, a third-year starter, got a late start in football. His father, Robert, wouldn’t allow him to play until his sophomore year at Schenley High in Pittsburgh.
There were some built-in football pressures for McLaughlin, a city champion in the long, triple and high jumps who also played basketball.
McLaughlin’s father played football at Schenley and his oldest brother Tres played at Texas-El Paso.
“He was a big superstar,” McLaughlin said of his dad. “We used to go up to the barber shop, and all the old guys up there would talk about my dad used to do this and do that.”
He also visited Prairie View A&M in Texas, but signed with UMaine because of the family atmosphere within the team.
McLaughlin has been active on campus. He is the president of the Black Student Union and volunteers at the ALANA (African, Latino, Asian, Native American) Center in UMaine’s office of multicultural programs.
Having grown up in a biracial family, he has good insight on how racial issues affect life among young people.
“It’s kind of hard being underrepresented in the university,” said McLaughlin, who said increased diversity at UMaine is beneficial for all.
“If you have someone that hasn’t left Maine and they graduate from here and they happen to get a (teaching) job down in the city of Boston, they’re not going to be able to relate to the kids at all without having that understanding that things are different down there than they are up here,” he said.
McLaughlin said the main goal of both groups is to create an environment in which UMaine students can learn from each other without worrying about race or religion.
“My mom’s white and my dad’s black. People are people to me,” he said.
McLaughlin developed his social conscience through his parents and grandparents, who stressed the importance of community involvement. He and his family were active with the “Meals on Wheels” and the Boys and Girls Club organizations in Pittsburgh.
His father is a retired firefighter and his mother, Mary-Jo, is a nurse.
“Volunteering was a big thing in my family,” said McLaughlin, whose plans to become a high school history teacher and football coach.
“That’s kind of why I wanted to be a teacher, so I could help people that are less fortunate and give them the opportunities that I had,” McLaughlin said.
Cosgrove appreciates how successful and well-rounded McLaughlin has been.
“I think he’s getting a very fulfilling experience as a college student-athlete,” Cosgrove said.
“He’s high-energy on the football field. He practices hard, works hard and sends the right message, sets the right tone.”
McLaughlin holds out hope he might get a look from a pro team, but he is prepared to start life without football.
“I’m excited to get in the classroom. That’s the main thing,” he said.
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