This looked like a win. I think the key play was when freshman kicker-punter Nick Ferrara -- who has had a very good season -- couldn't punt the ball out of bounds with the Terps leading and about two minutes left.

Florida State's Greg Reid, the ACC's leading punt returner, took it back 48 yards and the Seminoles were in great position to score the game-winning touchdown.

Having said that, how many backup punters in college football can do it as well as Ferrara (who averaged 43 yards) did Saturday?

Here are some random notes:

*Maryland tried in any way possible – including swing passes and a handoff -- to get the ball to wide receiver Torrey Smith, the school’s career leader in all-purpose yards.

Smith had seven catches for 74 yards and three kickoff returns for 62 yards.
But Smith appeared to miss a scoring opportunity.

In the second quarter, Smith took a pass from Jamarr Robinson 37 yards before slipping on a cutback at the Florida State 43 with loads of running room in front of him.

Said Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen of the play: “Smith is out in the open and trips and falls.”

Friedgen cited another play in which he said Maryland endured bad luck. In the first quarter, Florida State running back Jermaine Thomas bobbled a handoff, recovered it on one bounce and scored to make it 7-0.

Said Friedgen: “They fumble the ball on the goal line and it bounces right up into their hands and they score.”

Some more notebook items and an updated game story should be on the site soon.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 6:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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With Maryland trailing 14-13, receiver Adrian Cannon caught a swing pass, slipped a tackler and raced into the end zone for a 20-yard score on the opening possession of the fourth quarter. A two-point conversion pass failed, so Maryland led 19-14.

Offensive lineman R.J. Dill cupped his hand to the ear hole of his helmet as if it to say to the Florida State crowd, “Where’s the noise now?”

But, just like that, the noise returned. The Seminoles regained the lead on their next possession when receiver Bert Reed raced 42 yards on an end around. A two-point conversion pass to Taiwan Easterling put Florida State ahead 22-19.

Florida State 22, Maryland 19 fourth quarter

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Maryland had practiced during the week by piping in audio of Seminole fans’ “war chant.’

But the crowd of 66,042 – capacity is 82,300 – is not one of the school’s biggest or loudest. There are plenty of open bleacher seats in the end zones and corners, despite it being “Senior Day” and the final game for longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews.

Florida State 14, Maryland 13, third quarter

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Maryland scored an offensive touchdown. I promise.

It was the first such touchdown for the Terps in almost eight quarters since starting quarterback Chris Turner sprained his knee in the second quarter against N.C. State two weeks ago and Jamarr Robinson replaced him.

It was set up by the defense.

The Terps trailed 14-6 in the second quarter when linebacker Alex Wujciak intercepted E.J. Manuel’s third-down pass and ran 82 yards to the Florida State 7. Wujciak had returned an interception 70 yards two weeks ago.

Three plays later, Maryland had a fourth and goal at the 1 and opted to go for it. Running back Davin Meggett plowed into the end zone, cutting the deficit to 14-13 in the final minute of the first half.

Florida State 14, Maryland 13 halftime

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Running back Da'Rel Scott got the start for Maryland today against Florida State after missing five games (wrist).

Maryland has run Scott a bunch with only moderate success. He has six carries for 16 yards.

The Terps are now "working" on a streak of seven straight quarters without an offensive touchdown since Chris Turner sprained his knee in the second quarter of the N.C. State game and was replaced by Jamarr Robinson. Robinson got the start again today.

Florida State scored on its second possession after Greg Reid took Nick Ferrara’s 54-yard punt back 33 yards to the Maryland 41.

The Seminoles moved to the 3, where Jermaine Thomas bobbled a handoff, recovered it one bounce and scored to make it 7-0.

Maryland didn’t make a first down until the final moments of a first quarter in which the Terps totaled 11 passing yards.

The Terps won't have a chance unless Robinson, in his second career start, can hit a few passes .to loosen up the Seminoles defense.

Florida State 7, Maryland 0, second quarter

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The latest NCAA graduation success rate figures are out, and two Maryland teams – women’s soccer and women’s swimming – recorded perfect, 100-percent scores.

Some other sports, including men’s basketball and football, didn’t fare as well. The team’s coaches said both programs have made progress that is not reflected in the current figures but will be in future years.

The data released this week covers the four freshman classes who entered from 1999 through 2002.

“We’ve graduated eight of our last 10 players and our three seniors are on schedule to graduate, and our underclassmen are doing very well,” men's basketball coach Gary Williams said.

Maryland has said in the past that the rates for men’s basketball were lowered by players leaving to pursue professional careers. Men’s basketball’s rate was 8 percent, men’s tennis was 17 percent, men’s cross country-track was 57 percent and football was 60 percent.

Last year’s announced rates were 10 percent for men’s basketball and 68 percent for football.

“It varies year to year when you have attrition,” football coach Ralph Friedgen said. “I think you have to look at the whole body of work. This year is probably a little lower. Next year I think will be higher.”

The so-called “Graduation Success Rates” counts incoming transfer students and mid-year enrollees. It does not penalize schools for transfers who leave in good standing.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 9:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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How much does Gary Williams value Dino Gregory?

Well, enough that the Maryland coach was ready to anoint the power forward as a starter when I spoke with Williams before the season began.

Gregory gives the Terps an energetic big body on defense and on the boards. He also brings something that Jordan Williams and James Padgett lack -- experience in ACC games and in postseason play.

I think many fans began to appreciate Gregory only when there was the possibility of his missing a number of games.

As it turns out, he will have missed eight games by the time he returns on Dec. 12.

Gary Williams wasn't providing details about Gregory's suspension, which remain private. I'm looking for some more info if possible. Violations of team or university rules can draw a whole range of penalties, depending on the severity of the alleged infraction and whether it is a first offense.

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*The Terps won't always shoot well (43.1 percent against Fairfield). But they seem to consistently scrap. Landon Milbourne (eight rebounds) and Sean Mosley (seven rebounds) play much bigger than their actual size -- and they need to. Mosley found himself playing some power forward against the Stags.

*Greivis Vasquez knew the question was coming. Sure, Maryland won the past two games and that's what matters most. But Vasquez knows that when a team's senior leader shoots 6-for-25 in his first two games, the media will pounce on it.

Vasquez said the key is to remain "calm" and "let it come to me."

I can't help but think that he's almost trying too hard when he gets in a shooting slump. He seems to be overthinking his shots. It's like in baseball when a pitcher aims the ball too much instead of trusting his body.

But Vasquez had six assists and now has 19 in two games. He also collected his 500th career rebound.

*Former Terp Walt Williams has joined the Terrapin Sports Radio Network broadcast crew, joining Johnny Holliday and Chris Knoche.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
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Like last year, the Terps made up for their relative lack of size against Fairfield with inside toughness and defense.

The Stags turned the ball over five times in the first three minutes of the game. That was an indication of what was to come tonight.

Fairfield had 25 turnovers and the Terps won, 71-42.

Landon Milbourne was especially tough inside (eight rebounds).

For the second game in a row, the Terps won despite a subpar shooting night by Greivis Vasquez, their senior leader.

Vasquez missed eight of his first nine shots and finished with seven points. Vasquez was three for 14 but had 13 assists in the opening-game win over Charleston Southern.
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Posted by Jeff Barker at 9:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Forward Jin Soo Choi is nowhere in sight as the Fairfield game is about to begin.

He sprained an ankle in the season opener and appears unable to go, leaving Maryland thin in the frontcourt.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Looks like the same starting lineup for Maryland tonight as in the season opener.

Greivis Vasquez-G
Eric Hayes-G
Sean Mosley-G
Landon Milbourne-F
Jordan Williams-F-C

It's a step up in competition for the Terps tonight. They beat Charleston Southern in the opener. Tonight, it's Fairfield (2-0) from the MAAC. The Stags rebound the ball pretty well.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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QB Chris Turner (knee) has been ruled out of the Florida State game. That means another start for backup Jamarr Robinson.

"They told me Sunday there is a 50-50 chance he (Turner) could be ready for the last game," coach Friedgen said.

But RB Da'Rel Scott (wrist) may return. Scott will practice today (non-contact) with a brace that allows motion in his hands.

Coaches will assess how Scott is faring and whether he can hold on to the ball adequately enough coming back from his injury. Then a decision will be made on whether he can play.

Also out are safety Kenny Tate and punter Travis Baltz.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
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You know the numbers: Maryland has been on ESPN360.com seven times this season.

But the Terps game against Florida State on Saturday will be on television locally. Specifically, it's on WJZ-TV (CBS 13) in Baltimore and on WTTG-TV (Fox 5) in Washington. Kickoff is at noon.

It's the fourth TV game for Maryland football this season. The others were California on ESPN2, and Virginia and Clemson (both ESPNU).

Posted by Jeff Barker at 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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You like small ball?

I do. I've enjoyed watching the Phoenix Suns in recent years because they relied so much on speed and precision and passing and running, And then there's that guy. Nash.

The Terps are playing some small ball, too. I wrote a piece for today's paper about how Gary Williams said he may occasionally play four -- count 'em, four -- guards at once.

It's partly out of necessity, of course. Maryland finds itself thin up front these days, as you all know.

Obviously you're gambling when you play four guards. You know you could have a defensive and rebounding liability. Williams tempers that by playing more zone defense than he's accustomed to.

But, as a coach, you hope that you can make up for such liabilities with speed and quickness that can create advantageous matchups on offense.

Sure, it's challenging for a guard like Sean Mosley to move inside and cover a forward. I expect we'll see that against Fairfield tonight.

But the upside for the Terps is that Mosley gets to maneuver on offense against a larger man who may seem slow and lumbering by comparison.

Williams notes that Villanova has played this style. And done it pretty well.

Answer to my Twitter trivia question: Steve Nash had 28 points and 12 assists as Santa Clara beat the Terps, 91-79, in the 1996 West Regional. As if you didn't know.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Here is something I'd been expecting Gary Williams to say.

He's got two freshmen, Jordan Williams and James Padgett, who both had solid opening games against a less-than-ACC-caliber opponent. They've stirred up a lot of excitement.

But they're freshmen -- not "one-and-done" freshmen ready to leap to the NBA, but rather talented first-year guys who need work.

Here is what Williams said about them in advance of tonight's Fairfield game:

"It’s nice to see the excitement around them. At the same time, it takes time," the Maryland coach said.

"There will be games where they’re good and there will be games where they appear to be a little confused because they’re playing on a team with eight players that basically were here last year."

Let's not forget who Padgett and J. Williams are, and who they are not.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Here is Fridge on the loss:

ON THE 'GAP'
"There is a gap (between Maryland and Virginia Tech) right now. One of the things that I hope that will close it is when some of our younger guys mature and grow up. We have to go out and recruit (too)."

ON MARYLAND'S ATTITUDE
.
"I don’t see guys with attitudes, I don’t see guys pointing fingers. I’m waiting for it to collapse, I really am.But they keep coming back"

ON WHAT HE SAID AT HALFTIME

"I said, 'We're better than we’re playing right now. I’m disappointed in our energy."

Posted by Jeff Barker at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)
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Safety Kenny Tate (high ankle sprain) is probably lost for the season, coach Friedgen said.

Also likely lost is punter Travis Baltz (broken finger).

Can things get any worse for the Terps this season?

Said Fridge:" I’m seeing plays I haven’t seen in my whole coaching career. You just wonder what spell are we under."

Virginia Tech 36, Terps 9 (final)

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And the beat goes on.

Virginia Tech has four first-half touchdowns and 12 first downs. The Terps have seven first downs, zero touchdowns.

Jamar Robinson (73 passing yards, including a 21-yarder to Torrey Smith) can't get the offense going, although he is improving

Meanwhile, the Hokies made it 20-3 on a 10-yard swing pass to Dyrell Roberts with 11:37 left in the second quarter. The extra point failed.

The lead became 27-3 after Tyrod Taylor threw over the middle to Jarrett Boykin midway through the second quarter. Safety Jamai McCollough swiped at the ball and missed, leaving Boykin to race into the end zone to complete a 64-yard play.

Virginia Tech 27, Terps 3 second quarter
Terps turnovers: zero

Posted by Jeff Barker at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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What impressed you most tonight?

Sean Mosley continuing to shoot well from outside (on top of everything else he was already doing last season)?

The freshman bigs' performance in their regular-season debut?

Don Markus will have the coverage for you, and I'll return to preview and cover Tuesday's Fairfield game.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Could Maryland run a Paul Johnson-style option offense next season?

Coach Friedgen isn't ruling it out.

The subject of the option came up at Fridge's media availability today during a discussion about Georgia Tech's success with it this season.

Fridge, who has used a variation of the option when he was offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, said he'd think about it for the Terps next year.

"(Redshirt freshman) C.J. Brown and I think (transfer) Clay Belton could do it," the coach said. "
"I’d like to get back to doing some of that stuff if you can get the right guys."

Posted by Jeff Barker at 6:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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