I asked Torrey Smith after the game whether he had expected to break a kickoff return for a touchdown before now. His 99-yard touchdown yesterday was a key to the game.

Smith replied with a smile that he had thought he was about to break one "against Florida State, Eastern Michigan, Cal and Wake Forest."

Smith set the single-season Atlantic Coast Conference record for kickoff return yards.

He's also part of a promising young receiving corps for next season.

Note: I'll look back at Maryland's season in a story to follow.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Terps football
        

Did you notice that...

*In an odd way, Da'Rel Scott's first-half suspension worked out well for the Terps. He came in with fresh legs against a tired defense in the third quarter and gave Maryland a big lift.

*The suspensions meant that linebacker Jared Harrell had to step in and learn the "Leo" linebacker position. "He had to learn a new position pretty much overnight," fellow linebacker Alex Wujciak said.

*Punter Travis Baltz had another solid game. He narrowly missed pinning Nevada deep in its own territory in the first half. It was ruled a touchback. He repeatedly pinned Nevada inside its 20.

*Have you ever seen a ball fall off the tee at precisely the wrong time? Obi Egekeze was already into his kicking motion when the ball tumbled, forcing the kicker into a squib kick.

*Nevada’s potent offense hit its stride in the second quarter against Maryland’s defense, which was just good enough. A key play was quarterback Colin Kaepernick taking off on third-and-eight and running for 19 yards to the Maryland 17 on Nevada’s second touchdown drive in the first half.

*Asked to compare Kaepernick to another quarterback, Maryland's Jeremy Navarre said he was "Pat White-ish," referring to the West Virginia quarterback.

*Nevada’s ill-timed late hit gave Maryland an extra 15 yards after a Ronnie Tyler catch in the final moments of the first half. The added yardage helped Maryland score a touchdown to make it 28-14.

*Kaepernick passed for 370 yards but looked scattershot at times, overthrowing receivers. With Nevada trailing 28-14, he missed a wide-open Mike McCoy down the sideline in the third quarter. But he is deceptive as a runner.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
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• Nevada's pass defense is as porous as advertised. The Wolf Pack entered the game ranked last in the nation, and now we know why.

Chris Turner had two touchdown passes and 158 yards in the first half. Maryland put up 243 total yards in the first half.

• The Terps took a 28-14 halftime lead despite Da'Rel Scott and Danny Oquendo being kept out the entire half because of curfew violations. Turner surely misses Oquendo, his favorite third-down receiver. But Ronnie Tyler has five receptions and Morgan Green has 64 rushing yards in place of Scott.

Two of the punished players -- Jamari McCollough and Moise Fokou -- came in during the second quarter.

• Nevada’s “pistol offense” ranked second in the nation in rushing. But Maryland held the Wolf Pack to 47 yards rushing as Nevada threw instead (159 passing yards).

Posted by Jeff Barker at 6:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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Seven Maryland players -- most expected to play a lot -- violated curfew and will not be permitted to start today's bowl game.

The players are RB Da'Rel Scott, LB Moise Fokou, LB Trey Covington, LB Antwine Perez, DB Jamari McCollough, WR Danny Oquendo and LB Derrick Drummond.

Maryland says all will be permitted to play, but none will start. The players' absences, however brief, could be significant.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 4:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
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*The Bronco Stadium press box affords a scenic view of the electric blue field (known here as "The Blue") and of Treasure Valley, with snow-covered mountains in the distance.

You know, a bowl game in Boise really is not so bad. It's just that it has to compete with all those warm-weather bowls in places like Orlando. Basically, it has to compete with Splash Mountain. No easy feat.

*Terps are wearing all white for the game -- white jerseys, white pants. Nevada is in blue.

*The final Humanitarian Bowl ticket count for Maryland is about 800 sold. That doesn't sound like much but it's not that bad considering the economy, the distance to Boise, and the fact that Georgia Tech sold about 250 for last season's game.

*Darrius Heyward-Bey is warming up and looks to be moving well despite getting over a calf strain.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Sure, the state capital dome is nice, and the snow-covered mountains are picturesque.

But if you're a sports fan, you want to take a pilgrimage -- as I did yesterday -- to what they call "the blue."

Bronco Stadium’s famed blue field (it’s the same color as Boise State’s uniforms) is even brighter and bluer -- a deeper blue -- when you see it live.

It seems fans love to have their photos taken next to that turf. Spectators also love -– perhaps too much -- to climb aboard the bronco statue in front of the stadium. “Keep off horse,” a nearby sign says.

Nevada has an interesting offense, but it would have been fun for the Terps to have had the challenge of playing Boise State in its own backyard.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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BOISE, Idaho -- Here it is, the last game day of Maryland's football season. It's too bad the Terps couldn't have finished a tad closer to home.

Maryland has a reputation for traveling well. But it was Clemson fans who set the Atlantic Coast Conference record in 2001 for buying tickets to see their team in the Humanitarian Bowl. The Tigers fans bought about 3,500. By comparison, Georgia Tech sold about 250 for last season’s game (won by Fresno State).

Most ACC teams have sold between 300 and 1,000 tickets-- which is about where Maryland is expected to be for today's matchup with Nevada.

Do these figure tell you something? The sluggish ACC ticket sales -- it’s a long way to Boise, baby -- are one of the reasons the bowl game and the conference won’t be linked after this season.

ACC teams did play some memorable games in Boise, though. In 2005, Matt Ryan threw three touchdown passes as Boston College defeated Boise State, 27-21. In 2004, Virginia lost 37-34 in overtime to Fresno State.

I'll be blogging during today's game, and we can all offer the usual sharp analysis when it's over.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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BOISE, Idaho -- This seems a strange place for Maryland to end its season -- 2,300 miles from campus in a slightly sleepy valley town surrounded by snow-covered mountains. Also seems odd to be playing on Boise State's blue field without the hometown Broncos being in the game.

Be that as it may, Maryland might catch a break with the weather. It's not as cold or snowy as it had been.

Coach Friedgen has said Boise's weather was often comparable to College Park's norm, and that's not far from what the Terps and Nevada are going to get tomorrow -- temperatures in the high 30s.

I think Maryland is aided by the fact that there is this month-long gap between the last regular-season game and the Humanitarian Bowl. It really took the Terps a long time to come to grips with how their season ended. Maryland simply would have been too down to manage a good game immediately following the Florida State and Boston College losses.

So do the Terps have a motivation issue? This is a litmus test of coaching, isn't it? To see if you can rally your team when everyone knows that this bowl game was far from the players' first choice.

I'll have more on the motivation issue in a story later. Fridge has said the players had practiced well and seemed to be rebounding from the last two games.

My sense is that the players have found varying reasons for playing hard.

Many Terps say they want to send Fridge's largest-ever senior class out with a victory. Others are eager for a win to avoid ending the season with a three-game losing streak -- hardly the finish a team wants as it looks ahead to next year.

“It would just be nice to end on a high note,” junior quarterback Chris Turner said.

By the way, I'm feeling like Maryland might lose this game. Not because of motivation, but because Nevada has a potent offense led by a 6-6 quarterback who rushed for more than 1,000 yards. I think the Terps can score on Nevada, but they need to prove they can play a full four quarters in a game away from home.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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* Gary Williams seems to appreciate the hustle -- and the potential -- of 6-foot-8 freshman Jin Soo Kim.

"You're going good," Williams said to the forward after yesterday's 72-51 victory. "Thanks," the player replied.

* Freshman center Steve Goins missed the game with lower leg pain and is due for magnetic resonance imaging.

* Williams was almost bowled over by his own players when a ball got loose near where he was standing on the sideline.

* Maryland's next opponent, Elon, is 4-4 after beating Lipscomb, 79-76, in overtime on Monday night.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

* Gary Williams has used three starting fives this season. The current three-guard lineup of Eric Hayes, Greivis Vasquez, Adrian Bowie, Landon Milbourne and Dave Neal is 5-0.

* Neal has become quite the versatile player, capable of hitting jump hooks in the lane or jumpers from the wings.

* Bryant committed 19 turnovers, and that was the ballgame. Many of the miscues came off Maryland's press. "We're pressing every time," said Greivis Vasquez, who seems to like and appreciate this team more than last season's unit. He's a happier camper.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 5:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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I understand the way it goes in major college basketball and football. The big dogs place the little dogs on the schedule to pad the home gate revenue and improve the season record.

Having said that, let's look at today's opponent, Bryant University.

*Bryant, which is in Rhode Island and has about 3,300 students, is in the early stages of transitioning to Division I.

*Its 59-50 win over Quinnipiac on Nov. 22 was its first Division I men’s basketball win in the history of the program.

*The Bulldogs have lost seven games in a row and are 1-9. The losses include by 16 points to Columbia, by 25 to Iowa and by 30 to Connecticut and Rutgers.

*Bryant has struggled most in the first half, averaging 23.8 points.

I'm just wondering whether the scheduling of this game serves both schools well. Is this matchup a good idea? Feel free to debate the point.

Note: Bryant coach Tim O’Shea played for Maryland's Gary Williams at Boston College from 1982 until 1984.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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I was interested this season in seeing what life is like for a freshman adjusting to major college football.

So I decided to pick one first-year player and talk to him frequently to monitor his progress.

I picked Kenny Tate. He had been a star at DeMatha and his story had the added ingredient of a position switch. You all know he was heavily recruited as a receiver and ended up playing safety.

Another reason I picked Tate is because of his potential.

He possesses the ability (and size, at 6-foot-4) to play in the NFL one day if the stars are so aligned.

Danny Oquendo, a senior, said the laid-back Tate possesses just the right balance of assurance and humility to succeed in college, and perhaps beyond. Like many former high school stars, Tate doesn’t lack confidence. But he’s not a showboat.

“He’s a great guy and he’s a freak athlete,” Oquendo said. “But he’s not cocky.”

One of the things that struck me about Tate -- and the other Maryland freshmen -- is just how young they are. That might sound like a truism. At 18, Tate never needed an alarm clock until college because he always had his mother to wake him up.

I'll have more on Tate this weekend. One interesting item is that Terps coach Ralph Friedgen said he and Tate would talk after the season about whether Tate will remain at safety next year or move back to receiver. He played both ways at DeMatha.

This is a tough call. Tate could be an outstanding receiver, but the Terps have some other good ones coming back, too. He might be needed more at safety. No matter what position he plays, he could end up stepping in for Oquendo as the punt returner.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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The blog will return soon with more basketball and Humanitarian Bowl items to discuss and ponder.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Kevin McDonald, executive director of the Humanitarian Bowl, tells me this is the last season the Atlantic Coast Conference will have a tie-in to the game.

"We know it's very expensive to bring teams out west," McDonald said. "The ACC already brings a team out to the Emerald Bowl [in San Francisco]."

Next year's game is expected to pair the Western Athletic Conference with the Mountain West.

Does Maryland care about any of this? Not so much.

"It would just be nice to end on a high note," quarterback Chris Turner said of the Dec. 30 game against Nevada.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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It occurred to me recently that this really feels like a Gary Williams team.

I began to feel that way after talking to Dave Neal after practice. Neal was saying how this team got little respect in the media or by fans in the preseason, and that this sort of treatment has prompted the players to try harder.

What a perfect Gary Williams group. A chip-on-its-shoulder team is perfect for the intense, driven Williams.

Williams has always fared best with scrappy guys who are motivated enough to overachieve. It's not that he hasn't had great players at College Park such as Walt Williams, Joe Smith, Steve Francis and others.

It's just that he has -- by necessity -- had to get accustomed to playing with less talent than many other teams in the ACC.

Consider the following quote from a story I wrote about the Terps last March:

"A good way to say it is Gary Williams constructs basketball teams to his personality," said Dave Telep, national recruiting director for scout.com. "Given the choice between a prima donna top-10 player or a blue-collar top-50 player, he'll take the blue-collar guy every time. That's his comfort level."

Not that Williams always gets to make that choice ...

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Maryland contacted Navy assistant coach Buddy Green about its vacant defensive coordinator position, athletic department officials said.

But Green told Maryland he's not interested.

Maryland made no offer to Green, the school said, but merely wanted to talk to him and gauge his interest. Maryland is looking for a replacement for Chris Cosh, who departed recently for Kansas State.

Green told The (Annapolis) Capital: "I have the utmost respect for [Maryland coach] Ralph [Friedgen] and I appreciate his interest, but I decided to turn down that opportunity because I have a great situation here at the Naval Academy."

Green is in his seventh season at Navy, where he is defensive coordinator and secondary coach.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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Did you notice that...

*American guard Garrison Carr, who had 34 points against UMBC in his previous game, had 11 last night -- but just two in the second half when it really mattered. That's testament to Maryland's defense, which was far more aggressive than in last season's game between the teams.

"We worked on Carr not hitting threes and staying in front of [Derrick] Mercer," said Maryland freshman Sean Mosley, who was not down despite scoring just one point. "The scoring will come when it's time for me to score," Mosley said.

*With Maryland up by 23, Greivis Vasquez threw away a pass, then screamed and shook his arm in anger. He's a perfect match for Gary Williams, isn't he? Lots of intensity and bluster.

*Vasquez was characteristically blunt comparing last year's effort against American with this one. "This is a different team. We play harder and play better defense than last year," Vasquez said.

*Cliff Tucker missed an open layup -- a lapse that coach Williams blamed on fatigue. Williams said there was a sub at the scorer's table ready to replace Tucker. "Cliff can get way over the rim. Except not there," Williams said with a smile.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Maryland will encounter a different sort of offense when it plays Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl. It’s called the “pistol.”

In the pistol, the quarterback lines up in shotgun formation, but closer to the line. A running back is set directly behind.

The pistol is designed to give the quarterback the shotgun formation’s advantage of reading the defense. But it puts added pressure on the defense because the quarterback can also hand off or run.

Nevada coach Chris Ault said the offense suits quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Ault had seen Kaepernick at a football camp while the quarterback was in high school and wanted an offense to capitalize on his multi-dimensional skills.

“In high school, my impression of it was that it was definitely very diverse with what you could do with it,” said Kapernick, who has rushed for 1,115 yards this season.

Running back Vai Taua, who also topped 1,000 yards, said he likes the system because he’s farther from the line than in other offenses. “I get the ball deeper. There’s a lot more I can do with it,” he said.

If you watch Canadian football, you’ll notice some teams up there running the pistol.
Sounds like a challenge for a Maryland defense whose coordinator, Chris Cosh, recently left for Kansas State. Al Seamonson has been filling in on an interim basis.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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OK, show of hands. How many of you thought that Steve Blake would be more in demand as an NBA player than Juan Dixon, his former Terps teammate?

You guys checked out Blake with Portland lately?

I watched his game on television Thursday night against Phoenix. There are all these luminaries on the floor: there's Shaq and Steve Nash and Brandon Roy and Greg Oden. And then there's Blake -- who enrolled at Maryland after he couldn't get a scholarship to N.C. State -- scoring 22 points (4-for-7 on threes) and dishing out 10 assists.

Blake has started every Blazers game this season and averages 11.2 points and 4.5 assists.

Blake, who keeps in touch with Maryland and with Gary Williams in particular, is testament to the importance of finding the right system. Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard really wanted Blake because he was grounded and unselfish, and would be a good example for young players like Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Blake's success proves -- happily -- that there is room in the NBA for a guy who might not possess otherworldly athletic talents but who works extremely hard. He manages the floor, has made his three-point shot more consistent and is pretty quick going to the hoop.

For those of you who remember Blake from his Maryland days, I thought you'd enjoy this scouting report on Blake that I got when I profiled him for the paper in 2007.

"First and foremost, a tough guy," says Dave Telep, national recruiting director for scout.com. "My recollection of him as a high school player is he wasn't as under control as he is now. He was a really fast kid who was burning it up, but he didn't have the same command of a team as he has now."

Posted by Jeff Barker at 9:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Let's relive, shall we, one of the most awful games in recent Maryland history. Sound like fun?

I covered the American game last season in which the Terps fell, 67-59. It marked the first time Maryland had lost three straight at home since February 1993, when it fell to North Carolina, Florida State and Clemson. But last year's losses were to Boston College, Ohio University and American.

American is not a bad team. But I really think the Terps took American lightly -- and a couple of Maryland players told me much the same thing at practice Sunday.

Here's the tipoff. Maryland shot 20.8 percent from the field in the first half (5-for-24), going nearly 11 minutes without a field goal. Then the Terps frantically rallied but came up short. Greivis Vasquez scored 21 of his 28 points in the second half.

I think that's telling. It shows Maryland was capable of playing winning basketball that night -- but didn't do so until urgency compelled it to. The problem with creating a hole for yourself is that you create little margin for error trying to dig yourself out.

To their credit, the Terps seem to be avoiding those sleepwalks that characterized last December. Having lost Bambale Osby and James Gist to graduation, this team seems to understand that it can't afford to relax in the first half of games, not even against inferior opponents.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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I was watching North Carolina on ESPN last night. Is it statutorily required that either the Tar Heels or Duke must be on TV every night, or does it just seem that way? It seems like those schools get as much air time as Seinfeld reruns.

Carolina has so many weapons. I saw Evansville repeatedly double Tyler Hansbrough down low. Sometimes, Hansbrough would try to muscle both defenders to the hoop. (Tyler, do the math, buddy. There's a man open somewhere.)

But often the double team would allow the Heels to pass to an uncovered player in the paint, leading to a score.

Which is a long-winded way of asking you all how the Terps managed to upset North Carolina last season. I wasn't on the beat at that point of the season and didn't see the game.

Unfortunately for Maryland, I fear your answer is going to be that James Gist had a monster game. I know from the box score that Gist had 22 points, but he's not around anymore.

So help me out. How did Maryland pull off that upset and what strategies might the Terps employ to do it again this season? Let's talk some hoops strategy.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

*You all know that junior receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey has a deadline looming. Jan. 15 is the early entry deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft.

Heyward-Bey might not have had huge numbers this season -- he finished only honorable mention All-ACC -- but he's the real deal. He's speedy, he's tall enough (6-2) and he's shown a Santana Moss-like ability to go up and pull deep balls away from defenders. And he has an outsized, NFL-style personality.

Maryland says Heyward-Bey plans to ask the NFL for an "evaluation." That means -- without jeopardizing his amateur status -- he may seek information about where he might be drafted to help inform his decision.

*So how many Terps fans do you think will ultimately show up at "The Blue" -- the nickname for Boise State's famous blue field? Keep in mind that Georgia Tech sent about 250 fans to the Humanitarian Bowl last season. I'm guessing there will be more Terps fans than that -- but not by much.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
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Hope you've enjoyed or at least tolerated (cheerfully abided?) the Terps football blog because you'll be receiving a continued dose of me -- a periodic regimen -- during the basketball season as well.

Things are slow now with players taking finals, but I’ll be easing into the basketball blogging business with you between now and the American game Monday night.

I covered last season’s Maryland-American contest and remember it well. Like a bad cough, it probably stuck with many of you Terps fans as well.

What I remember best is the stunned home crowd that seemed to be thinking, "Are we really going to lose to American?"

And I remember Maryland being victimized by American’s speedy guards -- both under 6-feet tall.

That was kind of a trend last season, wasn’t it? The Terps getting beaten by smallish guards? I remember VCU’s Eric Maynor and Boston College’s Tyrese Rice also having big games against Maryland.

Anyway, I look forward to hoops and thank you all for your comments and passion during the football season.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

It's made its way onto the vast expanse of the Web that Maryland has sold all of 16 tickets to the Humanitarian Bowl and Nevada has sold eight.

Maryland says those numbers are inaccurate.

"As for that quote, we can't find the source of it," says Brian Ullmann, Maryland's senior associate athletics director. "It certainly is not accurate and it certainly did not come from us. Nor is the Nevada number correct."

It's true that Maryland isn't expecting big ticket sales. The cost of getting to Boise and the economy aren't helping.

Maryland isn't ready to release any numbers, and I've got inquiries into the bowl folks in Boise to get their figures. I've been told by others in Boise that a crowd of 25,000 would be expected -- largely composed of locals. My best estimate is that Maryland will have a contingent in the hundreds.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Terps football
        

On the season: To the Terps and their coaches, the way the regular season ended was more disappointing than they will ever let on publicly. You could see it in their faces after the Virginia Tech, Florida State and Boston College games. The whole program just seemed to sag.

Beginning in the preseason, the team really believed it was headed to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. They believed it more deeply after the Clemson win, and it was confirmed for them again after they shut out Wake Forest.

On what was missing: The Terps are talented, but not so much that they can ever afford to cruise. When momentum, their home fans and a sense of urgency were behind them, they were one of the conference's top teams.

But when those forces weren't propelling them, they could be overwhelmed -- perhaps more easily than they imagined.

On the offense: There's no doubt that Maryland scared rival defensive coordinators with its veteran offensive line and the speed of receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and running back Da'Rel Scott.

The Terps have a poised, intelligent quarterback in Chris Turner.

But it didn't always come together the way that offensive coordinator James Franklin drew it up on the board. The offensive line was the year's biggest puzzle -- up some weeks, down others. There were big games (Virginia Tech) in which Terps running backs put up horrific numbers, largely because there was basically no place to run.

Turner is going to work on his arm strength during the offseason. Maryland coaches would love to have a quarterback with more mobility to apply additional pressure on the defense. But that's not happening with Turner.

One of the biggest disappointments was quarterback Josh Portis, who can really run. He seemed to struggle managing the offense.

I knew Portis was in trouble with his coaches after the North Carolina game. He threw a pass that missed an open Heyward-Bey on a deep pattern. Portis later fumbled to begin the fourth quarter. For all intents and purposes, the grand Portis experiment was over.

On the defense: I've said before that this was basically a "contain" defense. It wasn't one that -- like a Boston College or a Wake Forest -- specialized in big, game-changing plays. The Terps struggled to get turnovers.

Maryland was last in the ACC in recovered fumbles, next to last in interceptions and tied for last in tackles for loss. That suggests they weren't penetrating into the backfield as they would have liked.

To its credit, Maryland's defense adjusted well. It often played a better second half than first.

But I think the Terps were really hurt by the season-ending injury to cornerback Kevin Barnes in the Wake Forest game. He was an aggressive defender who made things happen -- the Terps desperately needed hitters like that.

Maryland also missed linebacker Rick Costa, suspended last month after being accused of punching a police officer. A coach recently confided to me how much Costa meant to the defense because he was skilled at doing what the defense desperately needed -- wreaking havoc behind the line.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
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Anybody glanced at the weather in Boise? Coach Friedgen said last week that the weather there had pretty much paralleled conditions in Maryland. And it had, until lately.

Today: "Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Lowest wind chill readings around zero," according to wunderground.com.

By Tuesday night, the forecast calls for "wind chill readings around 5 below zero." With isolated snow.

But maybe it will warm up by the time the Terps arrive. To 20 or 30 degrees.

Could give the nickname "Fridge" a whole new meaning.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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For some reason, I'm not loving Maryland's chances against Nevada.

Could it be because:

*The Terps haven't played well on the road. They won just one away game this season, coming back against Clemson after a dismal first half at Death Valley. Maryland was far better at Byrd -- a different team, really. Except for the Florida State game.

*Maryland had such great expectations until so late in the season. Fridge says they practiced well last week -- with intensity. But it's not easy picking yourself up off the mat and traveling to a bowl game that was far from your first postseason choice. The Terps can't help but be disappointed. And that's not an emotion that is conducive to playing good football.

*Nevada has the easier "commute," being located much closer to Boise. The Terps will need to adjust to Mountain Time Zone.

*Nevada's offense poses challenges for the Terps. The Wolf Pack have two 1,000-yard rushers -- including quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Think it's easy to defense a mobile quarterback? Remember how nervous N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson made the Maryland defense? Nevada also has a 1,000-yard receiver. This is a first-rate offense.

*Making matters worse for the Terps: Nevada has a top field-goal kicker, Brett Jaekle, who scored 100 points on was 14 of 17 on field goals. He can really help his team in a close game.

*Nevada hung in against some talented teams (Texas Tech, Boise State). The Wolf Pack won four games away from home.

I'm not saying Maryland can't win-- I think they can score on Nevada's defense. But the Terps will need to play better than they have on the road all season if they want to give their 30 seniors a happy going-away party.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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Turns out there was a chance we could have seen Rick Costa in the Humanitarian Bowl.

You'll recall that the linebacker was indefinitely suspended from the team last month after being accused of punching a police officer in the face at a local bar.

Costa, a senior criminology major, had been splitting time with Trey Covington at outside linebacker. The Terps have missed him on the field down the stretch.

Costa had a chance to return because -- according to online court records and Maryland officials -- the linebacker's first-degree assault charge was recently reduced, and is now a misdemeanor instead of a felony. That made him eligible to play.

But coach Friedgen said Costa opted against it. "I think he was a little embarrassed by the whole thing," said the coach.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Remember this guarantee from coach Ralph Friedgen? It came after starting quarterback Jordan Steffy was awaiting X-rays on his right thumb following Maryland's season-opening victory over Delaware.

"I can tell you this, regardless of who plays this week or next week or whatever, Jordan will come in and win the game for us before the season's over. I promise you that," Friedgen said at the time.

Well, it turns out Fridge hasn't forgotten that pledge. He reminded reporters yesterday that "I've said all along" that Steffy would return from what turned out to be a fracture. Then Fridge said: "It wouldn't surprise me if this [the Dec. 30 Humanitarian Bowl] is the one."

I asked the coach if he considers Steffy to be the No. 2 quarterback these days behind Chris Turner. "Probably," he said.

Steffy said he'd be happy to play in what will be his last game for the Terps. He said he won't be able to grip the football the same as he once did -- at least not until until he has surgery following the season. But he can still throw.

Steffy, a graduate student, said he'll appear at halftime of the Sugar Bowl to receive an award from Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association for his off-the-field charity work.

Friedgen isn't shy about his affection for Steffy. "I love the kid," the coach said.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Terps football
        

Jerome Burney, who has barely played this season for Maryland despite the team's lack of inside players, will miss three to six weeks with a stress fracture in his foot, Gary Williams announced today.

It marks the second time in his three years in College Park that the 6-10 center has been sidelined because of a foot injury. Burney was redshirted as a freshman because of a recurring foot problem. Williams said he didn't know if it was the same foot.

In Burney's absence, Williams will now turn back to sophomore Braxton Dupree or freshman Steve Goins, or possibly go without anyone over 6-7 if he stays with a combination of senior Dave Neal or sophomore Dino Gregory.

Asked specifically about Dupree, who was benched for missing class against Michigan and played only one minute against George Washington, Williams said, "I think he's trying to figure out what he has to do to get back on the court. With Jerome Burney going down for a while, he's certainly going to get a chance in practice. Even today is an important practice for him for tomorrow night."

Posted by Don Markus at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Al Seamonson said he hasn't been interviewed yet for the defensive coordinator position vacated by Chris Cosh, who left for Kansas State.

Seamonson, who coaches outside linebackers and is a special teams assistant, is the interim coordinator while the search is conducted.

He said he's hoping for a shot at having the "interim" removed from his title.

"I hope that opportunity presents itself when the season is over. I certainly hope a lot of them [the players] are pulling for me," Seamonson said.

Coach Friedgen appears not to be waiting for the bowl game to begin the search process. The coach suggested the process has begun in earnest and didn't rule out taking action before Maryland's Dec. 30 bowl game.

Might Fridge hire someone before Christmas? "If I found the right guy I might," Fridge said.

Seamonson has been at Maryland eight years. Before arriving at College Park, he worked under former Terrapins defensive coordinator Gary Blackney at Bowling Green.

And what's it like without Cosh? It's quieter, for one.

"[Dave] Sollazzo and Cosh would be going crazy," Fridge said of games this season. "Al is so monotone. Al was the guy in the press box who was pretty valuable. Very rarely does he get excited."

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Terps football
        

Quarterback Chris Turner said what I suspect a lot of other Terrapins players and coaches believe.

"The bowl shuffle, it wasn’t fair. We don’t look at ourselves as the eighth-best team. We deserved better than this and obviously we hurt ourselves," Turner said.

Maryland is going to the Humanitarian Bowl, which had the eighth pick of Atlantic Coast Conference teams.

Four teams in the ACC finished ahead of Maryland at 5-3. The Terps were one of six teams that finished 4-4.

Of those 4-4 teams, Maryland beat all but Miami, whom the Terps didn't play.

But the bowl selection process isn't a ranking, it's a popularity contest. Teams were picked for games not just on the basis of records, but on other factors, too. Among those considerations was how many of their fans the teams would likely bring to the bowl.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Terps football
        

* Maryland players are clearly trying to put the best spin on their trip to Boise for the Humanitarian Bowl. "I just really want to see this blue field (at Boise State's stadium)," center Edwin Williams said.

*Coach Friedgen said the senior-heavy team, which has lost three out of four games, believes it's important to go out with a win against Nevada. "Eight and five. I think, is a very commendable season with a bowl trip," he said.

*Fridge said there is a possibility that linebacker Rick Costa, accused last month of punching a police officer, could return for the game. He was indefinitely suspended after being charged in the incident.

*Maryland is getting ready to entertain 22 prospects. They'll be shown around campus on Friday. Fridge and other coaches then will depart for recruiting trips next week while team members take final exams.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Terps football
        

Coach Friedgen used the word "interim" to describe Al Seamonson's role as defensive coordinator in place of the departed Chris Cosh.

But Fridge also made it clear that Seamonson will be a candidate for the post.

Seamonson, who coaches outside linebackers and is a special teams assistant, has been at Maryland eight years.

Before arriving at College Park, he worked under former Terrapins defensive coordinator Gary Blackney at Bowling Green.

Said defensive lineman Jeremy Navarre: "The team respects him and likes him."

Posted by Jeff Barker at 9:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Terps football
        

Too early to talk about next season? Not to dismiss Maryland's bowl game completely, but I think next season's outlook is just as interesting (maybe more so) as the bowl. A reporter asked Fridge about it, and here is a summary of the coach's assessment:

In short, Fridge said next season's team will be "very young." That's what happens when you have 30 seniors on the roster.

The coach said holes will need to be filled on the offensive line, where the Terps lose center Edwin Williams and others. Phil Costa and Bruce Campbell are key returnees.

The team will also lose a lot at linebacker, although leading tackler Alex Wujciak returns.

"Our lines and our linebackers are where we've got to get better," the coach said.

On Maryland's plus side, quarterback Chris Turner returns, as do running backs Da'Rel Scott and Davin Meggett.

Wide receiver Danny Oquendo departs and -- trumpets please, because this is a big one -- the Terps don't yet know whether receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey will return for his senior season. "I think he's still contemplating it," the coach said. "He's my kid and I want the best for him." Fridge has high hopes for receiver Ronnie Tyler.

In the secondary, the Terps lose Kevin Barnes and Jeff Allen, but Terrell Skinner and Jamari McCollough are back. Kenny Tate is also back, but will he remain at safety? Fridge said freshman Cameron Chism is an up-and-comer.

Steady punter Travis Baltz is back, but kicker Obi Egekeze will need to be replaced.

A big question, of course, is who will replace the departed Chris Cosh as defensive coordinator.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
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I couldn't help but notice those empty seats in Tampa last weekend during the ACC championship game.

Here's the thing about the ACC. All this parity (mediocrity?) is great for the individual campuses because each school can imagine they've got a shot at the title. And most of them do have a shot.

But having no dominant teams -- no heavweights -- doesn't play as well on the national stage because there's no compelling storyline. Fans tend to get involved with powerful teams -- loving them or hating them -- but less so with mediocre ones.

I think the two best ACC teams at the end of the regular season -- the two I wouldn't want to play -- were Georgia Tech and N.C. State (four wins in a row). And neither was in the championship game.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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In talking about the game against George Washington game last week, Greivis Vasquez said that beating the Colonials could be the start of "one of the best months ever" for Maryland basketball. Not sure I agree with that, but this has the makings of one of the greatest months for the junior guard from Venezuela.

Vasquez was honored again today as the ACC's Player of the Week, for the second time in three weeks and the third time in his career. Vasquez averaged 20 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.5 steals in wins over Michigan and George Washington.

Vasquez currently ranks sixth in the ACC in scoring (17.8) and is tied for fifth in assists (4.9).

Posted by Don Markus at 4:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

It's interesting to look at the ACC stats to see who's doing the most for their respective teams.

There are the usual suspects -- Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson at North Carolina, Kyle Singler at Duke, Tyrese Rice at Boston College, Jack McCLinton at Miami, Trevor Booker at Clemson and of, course, Greivis Vasquez at Maryland. There are also some newcomers to the list -- Gani Lawal of Georgia Tech and Jeff Teague at Wake Forest.

Just to show how much Vasquez has to do, he's the leading rebounder in addition to scoring and assists. The junior guard had 11 rebounds against GW last night after getting a career-high 12 against Michigan last week.

This is not to suggest that Vasquez is the ACC's best all-around player, but he is the only player in the league leading his team in those three categories. It also might have to do with the fact that he doesn't have nearly as much as the others in terms of a supporting cast.

A lot was made in the preseason about how Vasquez wasn't going to have to play as many minutes or carry so much of the load as he did last season. His minutes are down slightly and from what I've seen, he is definitely fresher at the end of games than he was last season.

Vasquez is certainly an acquired taste, but rebounding is the one stat that has nothing to do with trying to be the star (unless you're Dennis Rodman). If Vasquez keeps that up, and he might have to given Maryland's frontcourt situation (though Dino Gregory grabbed nine boards last night), he might win a few critics over to his corner.

Even me.

Vasquez was named ACC Player of the Week today after averaging 20.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.5 steals in wins over Michigan and George Washington. It was the second time in three weeks Vasquez was honored as the ACC's top player, and the third time in his Terps career.

Posted by Don Markus at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

*Terps will start practice immediately and hold a media availability on Tuesday. The players will have final exams later in the month, will pick up practice again at mid-day on Dec. 20, then break for Christmas on the 23rd. Then it's back to work after the holiday.

*Coach Friedgen said wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (calf strain) won't be practicing immediately but is expected to be available for the game.

*Fridge said Al Seamonson, the outside linebackers coach and special teams assistant, would play a greater role while candidates are evaluated to fill the vacant defensive coordinator and special teams coach positions.

The coach is putting no timetable on hiring replacements for Chris Cosh and Danny Pearman. "I don’t want to rush into anything," Fridge said. "To me, it's more important to select the right person. I've got to find out who's interested in coming. I've had a lot of inquiries into the special teams job."

*Is altitude a factor in Boise? Fridge said he didn't know. Boise is about 2,700 feet above sea level. By comparison, Denver's elevation is almost twice that.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Terps football
        

So we're going to Boise. By "we," I mean the Terrapins and the traveling media. Not sure how many fans will be joining us.

Boise fact: Boise is about 2,170 miles from College Park.

Maryland was pretty candid about the fact that it wanted to play closer to home, but also said clearly that any bowl game is better than none.

Maryland's hopes of landing in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte depended on a ripple effect that could have been created if the Champs Sports Bowl hadn't selected Florida State. But Champs did pick the Seminoles.

Said Fridge: "Once they took Florida State we were pretty much slotted for Boise."

Boise fact: Average minimum temperature in December is 23 degrees.

Nevada won three of its last four games. The Wolf Pack is fifth nationally in total offense at 510.6 yards per game and has two 1,000-yard rushers.

Against teams of note, Nevada lost 35-19 to Texas Tech, 69-17 to Missouri and 41-34 to Boise State.

Here is the way the Humanitarian Bowl announced the matchup on its Web site:

“We are very excited to have two high caliber teams coming to our bowl game,” said Kevin McDonald, executive director of the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl. “ We look forward to welcoming a Maryland that defeated four Top 25 opponents and spent three weeks ranked in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls this season. Nevada comes in having played two teams , Texas Tech and Missouri that were then ranked nationally in the top ten. They also gave ninth ranked Boise State their toughest Western Athletic Conference game.”

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
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I just got off the phone with Kathy Worthington, Maryland's senior associate athletic director, regarding the school's stance on why the football team is heading to Boise to play Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl rather than stay home and play Navy in the EagleBank Bowl.

Worthington said that Maryland officials actually checked into the possibility of changing the rule that states no exceptions can be made for final exams unless a team is playing in either an ACC championship game or an NCAA championship game, and were told there was no wiggle room.

"The rule is one of the longest-standing and hard and fast rules the university has," Worthington said.

Worthington admitted that going to Boise is not the best-case scenario given the cost of the trip for the school and the fact that not many Maryland fans are likely going to be heading there. I asked her what would have happened if the EagleBank Bowl had been the team's only post-season possibility.

"I believe we wouldn't be going to a bowl game," Worthington said. "I can't say absolutely, but I think we would have stayed home."

Worthington said that Maryland's decision to go to Boise had nothing to do with avoiding Navy and the fact that it's difficult to prepare for the triple-option offense.

"Who the competition would be never came up," Worthington said. "We recognize how attractive the EagleBank Bowl would have been to our fans."

I guess we'll have to wait for the 2010 season opener between Navy and Maryland at M&T Bank Stadium.

The Terps might get a preview of that game in Boise, since Nevada finished the season second in the nation in rushing behind the Midshipmen. Since we all know how strong the Terps have been against the run this season, they will need to get as much practice time in as possible. At least when they're not studying.

Posted by Don Markus at 6:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Terps football
        

By tonight, when Maryland accepts its bid to play Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl, the points I am about to make might be moot. But as much as I believe Maryland athletic director Debbie Yow that the football team had no choice but to take a trip to Boise rather than stay home and play Navy in the EagleBank Bowl, I have a gnawing feeling that it's not the whole story.

In talking with Yow last week, I can understand her point about how the Dec. 20 game at RFK Stadium in Washington conflicts with the school's final exam schedule and that as many as 25 players would be impacted. One thing Yow did say was that the only time exceptions that were made were in the event of an ACC championship game or an NCAA championship game.

If there is wiggle room then, why can't Maryland figure out a way to do it now?

I think it's more because they don't want to play in a game designated for the ACC's No. 9 team and that they don't want to play Navy. That's a lose-lose situation for the Terps, or so they think. But Maryland had its chances to play in a more prestigious bowl game, and blew them by losing to Florida State and Boston College.

As for playing Navy, I think you can make a case for the Midshipmen having a better season than Maryland. They both beat Wake Forest, the team it appears Navy will likely play again in the EagleBank Bowl. Maryland's embarrassing losses -- to Middle Tennessee and Virginia -- were worse than Navy's one blowout defeat -- to Pittsburgh.

Here's another reason Maryland should have stayed home to play Navy -- do you think many Terp fans are going to shell out $1,000 to go to Boise for a few days, rather than pay probably $100 (less if they take the Metro or the MARC train) if they play in D.C? A year ago, the athletic department lost around $60,000 for the team's trip to San Francisco for the Emerald Bowl. It probably would be less expensive for the team to go to Boise, but what's the point of playing a bowl game when very few of your fans will be there?

I have spoken with a number of Maryland season-ticket holders who are ready to give up following both football and basketball because of the mediocrity of the respective programs, and this decision doesn't make them want to renew for next season. The Navy players who actually pay attention to this situation think the Terps just don't want to have to face the Midshipmen until their next scheduled game -- the 2010 season opener in Baltimore.

I told one of them about the finals conflict.

"What, we don't take finals?" he asked, smiling. "Anybody there taking Quantitative Economics?"

Obviously not, because if they were, somebody would figure how much Maryland would be losing by going to Boise.

And I'm not talking just money.

Posted by Don Markus at 1:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

As I was walking out of Comcast Center Wednesday night, I mentioned to a member of the Maryland sports information staff that the Terps had lost seven of their last nine games in the BB&T Classic.

He assured me that I wouldn't read that particular note in the pre-game press notes for Sunday's matchup with George Washington.

I didn't realize that the Terps had struggled so much at the Verizon Center (previously the MCI Center), but if you include a first-round loss to Clemson in the 2005 ACC Tournament, that's two wins in their last 10 games in Washington, D.C.

You have to go back to 2002 when Maryland beat Princeton and Connecticut to win what was then a two-game tournament. That was also the year the Terps started their NCAA title run with wins over Siena and Wisconsin in the nation's capital.

Can ancient history be repeated?

No, not another national championship, just a win tonight at the Verizon Center.

Posted by Don Markus at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Maryland's best hope of playing in Charlotte's Meineke Car Care Bowl hinged on Boston College beating Virginia Tech in today's ACC championship game. That would have created the possibility of the Champs Sports Bowl grabbing Virginia Tech (instead of Florida State, as is likely now).

That would create a ripple effect in which North Carolina – which many had envisioned playing in Charlotte – could move to the Music City Bowl in Tennessee and free up the Meineke for Maryland.

But it didn't happen. Virginia Tech beat Boston College, and the Terps -- barring an unexpected new scenario -- are likely headed to the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise on Dec. 30, most likely to play Nevada.

Too bad Maryland's final exams conflict with the Dec. 20 EagleBank Bowl and a matchup with Navy. The Maryland flavor of that one would have been fun.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 5:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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Now is the time to weigh in on defensive coordinator Chris Cosh. Here are my thoughts on Cosh this season and the decision to leave for Kansas State:

What he did well:

Cosh had some success this season in his halftime adjustments, notably against Clemson.
Maryland was getting run over in the first half at Clemson and was down 17-6. The Tigers had 195 rushing yards by halftime.

The Terps said later they had been over-pursuing. Quarterback Cullen Harper seemed to be able to fool the Terps with multiple fake handoffs or fake pitches. In the second half, the Terps stayed home better and kept in their lanes. They also got more penetration from their line, notably on a fourth and inches by Harper that failed in the waning moments. Maryland shut out the Tigers in the second half.

Maryland also shut out North Carolina in the second half, shut out Wake Forest in both halves and held N.C. State to seven points after halftime.

What the defense struggled with:

Maryland's defense was not one that -- like a Boston College or a Wake Forest -- specialized in big, game-changing plays. The Terps were more of a "contain" unit. They struggled to get turnovers.

Maryland was last in the ACC in recovered fumbles, second to last in interceptions and tied for last in the ACC in tackles for loss. That suggests that they weren't penetrating into the backfield as they would have liked.

When they did penetrate, they sometimes allowed quarterbacks to escape. Too often, opposing passers would dodge a Terp behind the line and make a big play.

The timing:

Leaving before the bowl game is interesting because it means the Terps will have to scramble to get their defense together for a final game without Cosh. Did Kansas State need an answer immediately? I'll try to get more info on the timing. One thing that's clear is that Cosh felt targeted by fans and the media, and that made for a trying year -- so it's not surprising he would leave.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (25)
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--It's ironic that N.C. State, with its 6-6 record, is the 10th ACC team in a conference with nine bowl tie-ins. Ironic because the Wolfpack is one of the teams I'd least want to play.

After losing 27-24 to the Terps, N.C. State won its last four games. The Wolfpack scored 41 on North Carolina and 38 on Miami in its last two. Quarterback Russell Wilson, the redshirt freshman, just got better and better.

Somehow, it's fitting in the unpredictable ACC that the hottest team isn't guaranteed a bowl game. But the Wolfpack could -- and should -- get an at-large bid to a game.

--A couple statistics jump out about the Maryland defense. The defense had some memorable games (shutting out Wake Forest, for one).

But it wasn't a defense that accumulated turnovers (last in the ACC in recovered fumbles, second to last in interceptions). And it wasn't a defense that made many plays behind the line (tied with North Carolina for last in the ACC in tackles for loss).

The Terps were ninth out of the 12 ACC teams in total defense.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Here are holiday-time greetings to:

--Jordan Steffy, the fifth-year senior who was named the starting quarterback but was injured almost immediately. He's a smart, ambitious and thoughtful guy who will do well in the "real world."

--Kevin Barnes, the senior cornerback who fractured his shoulder blade against Wake Forest and missed the rest of the regular season (and will miss the bowl game). He asked to travel with the team to Boston College and joined his teammates on the sidelines.

--Punter Travis Baltz. The fans paying the closest attention know what kind of season he had. Maryland led the ACC in net punting, which says a lot about Baltz but also about his teammates on punt coverage.

---Gloria Friedgen, Ralph's wife, who plays a big role holding the team (and her husband) together.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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There's been a lot of talk on this blog comparing Greivis Vasquez to Walt Williams, and this season's team to the one "The Wizard" played on during his senior year in College Park.

I have two thoughts, having covered Walt throughout his career at Maryland (yes, I am that old!): They are similar in that Williams tried to prove he was a point guard (he wasn't) and so does Vasquez (he is more of a point guard than Walt, but takes too many chances). Also, this season's team is similar to the 1991-92 version and probably will finish with a similar record (14-15, 5-11 in the ACC).

But Vasquez certainly had a Wizard-like game Wednesday night against Michigan -- 23 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and one turnover in 35 minutes, along with solid defense against Manny Harris (5 of 15 from the field). It was one of the best games I've seen Greivis play as a Terp, but he will have to do that nearly every night (or close to it, especially with the turnovers) for Maryland to be competitive.

When Walt played at Maryland, I used to whistle the theme song from "The Wizard of Oz."

Anybody have any suggestions about a theme song for Vasquez this season?

Posted by Don Markus at 6:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

How I miss the days when you could determine whom Maryland was playing next simply by looking at your pocket schedule.

These days, deciphering Maryland's next opponent (in a bowl game) requires solving a series of mysteries. It's like playing a game of Clue.

Probably, the Terps are heading to Boise (that blue field is nicknamed "Smurf Turf") for a matchup with Nevada, a Western Athletic Conference team, in the Humanitarian Bowl

What's interesting about this bowl is that Maryland wasn't its first choice, and it wasn't Maryland's first choice either.

Bowl officials wanted a matchup of undefeated Ball State and Boise State. But Ball State, which had reservations about playing on Boise State's home field, decided not to come.

As for Maryland, its first choice is the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. Maryland had considered itself out of that game -- largely because the Meineke bowl has seemed enamored of North Carolina.

But there remains one scenario that gets the Terps to Charlotte rather than Boise. (Nothing against Boise, but have you tried booking a trip there from this area? It's not easy or cheap. You can get routed through Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Minneapolis or Las Vegas. I don't think you can go nonstop unless you're Donald Trump or Warren Buffett.)

Here's how it would have to play out for the Terps to get to Charlotte:

Boston College beats Virginia Tech in this Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference title game. Then the Champs Sports Bowl, which gets the fourth pick of ACC teams, would need to select Virginia Tech rather than Florida State for its game. This is possible because Virginia Tech has a large, loyal following that makes it popular at bowl time.

That pick would create a ripple effect in which North Carolina – which many had envisioned playing in Charlotte, in their home state – could move to the Music City Bowl in Tennessee and free up the Meineke for Maryland.

If you want the Terps to go to Charlotte, root for Boston College on Saturday. Not that a BC win would guarantee a Meineke bid, but it would make things interesting.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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As expected, Gary Williams made some changes in his starting lineup tonight against Michigan.

Dave Neal was at center in place of Braxton Dupree, and Adrian Bowie started for Sean Mosley.

The interesting part was that Dupree, who had started all five games, and Cliff Tucker, who had started the first four games before giving way to Mosley last Sunday, didn't get off the bench until Tucker came in with 5:58 to go.

The changes didn't last, though. Neal was taken out quickly in favor of Jerome Burney, who came out nearly as fast for Dino Gregory. Mosley got into the rotation early, and seems to be finding some offensive rhythm.

With Maryland trailing 23-14 and having trouble with Michigan's 1-3-1 zone, Bowie and Mosley are helping bring the Terps back into the game. A three by Mosley, Maryland's first after missing his first seven and the first of his college career, made it 23-19.

Michigan picked a bad time -- at least for Maryland -- to start hitting threes. Shooting under 28 percent from the field this season, the Wolverines keep burying them. Michigan made six of 14 in the half and the Terps just one -- Mosley's -- for 11. Maryland trails at halftime, 35-27, and there've been no Dupree or Jin Soo Kim sightings yet.

Stay tuned.

Oh, I forgot, the game is on ESPNU.

Posted by Don Markus at 7:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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An early December game against a non-conference opponent is certainly not a must-win situation for any team, but tonight's matchup against Michigan at Comcast Center is very important for Maryland's psyche as well as for not losing any more of its seemingly dwindling fan base.

I watched some of last night's Duke-Purdue game and was struck by the atmosphere at Mackey Arena. It had the feel of a big game, between a pair of top 10 teams. I will be curious to see if there's a sellout in College Park between a pair of teams expected to finish in the second division of their respective conferences.

The Terps and Wolverines had similarly dire predictions made about them going into the season, both have beaten top 5 opponents (Michigan upset UCLA, Maryland over Michigan State, and both have been outclassed by better teams (Michigan by Duke, Maryland by Gonzaga and Georgetown).

Matchups shouldn't be a problem for the Terps tonight since Michigan's top scorer, Manny Harris, is a 6-5 wing player and its best inside player, DeShawn Sims, is about the same size as Braxton Dupree. The Wolverines are not voracious rebounders, and don't shoot particularly well -- making under 29 percent on threes.

The other curiosity I have with tonight is whether Gary Williams, who is 9-3 in these ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchups and 4-0 at home, will change his starting lineup again. There are any number of possibilities, but I think switching things up after the debacle against the Hoyas could get the message to his players that no positions are safe.

It's only early December, but somehow tonight's game -- one of the few against teams from bigger conferences until the Terps hit the ACC -- seems to have long-reaching ramifications.

Is that a reach?

Posted by Don Markus at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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I received a good question: Why does it seem the Terps have fallen to eighth in the bowls with ACC tie-ins, even though Maryland beat many of the teams slated for higher-echelon games?

It does seem like Maryland has fallen far. But the thing to remember is that no one actually ranks the ACC teams to distinguish among all those with 5-3 and 4-4 conference records. Maryland finished 4-4.

Bowl selection is a very subjective process. The bowls follow the pecking order and choose the teams they want. Their choices don't always reflect records or quality wins. The selections also reflect geography and the size of schools' fan bases.

This could change, but it appears that those bowls above No. 8 don't have the Terps first on their lists. One of them, by the way, is the Emerald Bowl, which took the Terps last season and wouldn't select them two seasons in a row.

Geography is a bigger consideration than ever this season. The closer you are to a bowl site, the better chance you have of being picked so that many of your fans can get there easily -- and cheaply.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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The Atlantic Coast Conference gave me an explanation this morning of how the Humanitarian Bowl might NOT take an ACC school such as Maryland for the Dec. 30 game.

The Humanitarian Bowl is under contract to take an ACC school for the game in Boise, Idaho. "At this point, we absolutely expect them to take us per our contract," said Michael Kelly, the ACC's associate commissioner for football operations.

The Humanitarian Bowl may try to opt out of the contract so it can select Ball State instead of an ACC school. The bowl wants to match undefeated Ball State against undefeated Boise State.

"The Humanitarian Bowl has informed us that if a Boise/Ball State matchup became possible they would get back in touch with us by the end of the week and would potentially seek our consideration to vacate the spot," Kelly said.

The ACC suggested it wouldn't allow the contract to be broken unless satisfied that an alternative game could be found.

Said Kelly: "If they did pursue it and sought our consideration for vacating our spot there, we would of course expect options laid out for us as to where our team we go. We would then share those options with the potentially affected schools and make a decision from there."

In other words, the ACC doesn't want Maryland or another ACC team to be left with no game.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Thoughts on the still-muddled bowl picture for the Terps:

It's symptomatic of Atlantic Coast Conference parity that the Terps were near a berth in the ACC title game several weeks ago -- and now they await word on a POSSIBLE spot in the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho.

With all those ACC teams bunched up in the standings, it sure was easy to drop from near the top to near the bottom in the course of a few games (and by "games," I mean "losses"). The Humanitarian Bowl gets the eighth pick of ACC teams.

Here's the deal: The Terps aren't the Humanitarian Bowl's first choice. First choice would be Ball State, and why not? How many bowl games have the opportunity to pit undefeated teams? A Boise State-Ball State matchup would look mighty good to the Humanitarian Bowl folks, so long as Ball State remains undefeated by winning the Mid-American Conference title game on Friday night.

But Boise State-Ball State is far from a done deal. Ball State is bound to have concerns about playing on Boise State's home field. And Boise State has some interest in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. If Boise State bows out, by the way, then it's likely Nevada would take its place ... and possibly play Maryland.

And what happens to the Terps if Ball State ends up playing in Boise? Maryland then likely gets an at-large bid to another game. It could well be the Motor City Bowl in Detroit. At this point, the Terps will take what they can get. They need a dance partner.

By the way, Navy still needs an opponent for the EagleBank Bowl on Dec. 20 at Washington's RFK Stadium. The Terps aren't a candidate because the game conflicts with final exams. Late word is that N.C. State, with a 6-6 conference mark, won't be coming to Washington either, and will have to seek an at-large bid. The Wolfpack is the odd school out --- the 10th ACC team in a conference with nine bowl tie-ins.

So who does that leave to play Navy? Well, Wake Forest already played Navy once this season. Navy says there's stipulation with the bowl that the Midshipmen would not play a team they had faced already. Could that be waived? We'll see.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Terps football
        

Running back Da’Rel Scott, center Edwin Williams and punter Travis Baltz made the All-ACC first team picked by the media.

Linebacker Alex Wujciak made the second team.

Offensive lineman Scott Burley, tight end Dan Gronkowski, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, defensive lineman Jeremy Navarre and offensive lineman Jaimie Thomas got honorable mention.

Quick thoughts: Most media members and coaches certainly believed Heyward-Bey would be first team before the season began. Is it the receiver's fault that his numbers weren't so high, or do you place the blame with the quarterback, the game plans or the offensive line?

Also, I thought Wujciak had a shot at first team because he gets in on so many plays. But Wujciak is still young and the ACC has some pretty fierce linebackers -- first-team selection Mark Herzlich of Boston College comes to mind.

Your thoughts?

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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Here's a list of my most memorable plays of the year -- some positive for Maryland, some not so much.

My only criterion is what stuck in my head after 12 games and countless practices. While many of the plays become a blur over time, these are ones that stood out:

*Obi Egekeze hits the crossbar on his first kick of the season against Delaware. A bad omen?

*Kevin Barnes blasts Cal running back Jahvid Best and becomes a YouTube star for the most memorable hit of Maryland's season.

*Darrius Heyward-Bey cuts inside and races 76 yards to give the Terps momentum in their win at Clemson. "Just having one big play was all we needed to say, 'Hey, they’re not unstoppable,' " the receiver said.

*Also at Clemson, Alex Wujciak snuffs quarterback Cullen Harper on fourth-and-inches to protect a 20-17 fourth-quarter lead.

* Chris Turner throws deep against Wake Forest and the ball is tipped before Heyward-Bey secures it falling down for a 41-yard gain. Best catch of the year? Perhaps, but you can't forget about the leaping grab by Ronnie Tyler in the fourth quarter against North Carolina.

*Also against Wake, it all begins ominously for the Terps, who win the coin toss and choose to receive the ball. Coach Friedgen had wanted the ball to begin the second half, but his captains got it wrong.

*Egekeze kicks the game-winner against North Carolina State in a driving rain. I didn't know until later that the kicker says he likes kicking in the rain.

*Turner takes off and runs on on fourth-and-five from North Carolina's 32, giving the Terps a criticial first down near the end of a tight game.

*Boston College linebacker Mike McLaughlin vaults over Maryland running back Davin Meggett to sack Turner at the end of the first quarter. And Boston College leaps into the ACC title game.

Other things I'll remember: The stunning silence in Death Valley when it was clear Maryland was going to beat Clemson. The Virginia fans singing "The Good Old Song" over and over and over after Cavaliers' scores. Not getting my wakeup call in Boston and almost missing my flight home.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Coach Friedgen says injured receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (strained calf) is expected to be available by bowl time. "I'm hoping so," the coach said.

Fridge says defensive linemen Travis Ivey and Dion Armstrong have bad ankles and O-lineman Bruce Campbell has a sore shoulder, but "I think everybody will be back for the bowl game."

Maryland clearly is happy to be bowl-eligible. A bowl offers a chance to have some fun and end the season on an up note after losing three of the last four games.

But it's not easy for coaches to wait around to find out which bowl game wants Maryland -- especially since it's not likely to be an upper-echelon game.

"Right now I don’t think we’ve got a lot of choice. We’ll go where we have to go," Fridge said.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
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How active are schools in making the case that they should be invited to particular bowl games?

The answer is that some schools are quite aggressive. It's similar to what some institutions do to promote their players for the Heisman Trophy.

So, yes, I expect Maryland to be talking to officials from the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. That's a game that would have a big upside for the Terps. The game is close enough for area Terps fans to drive to, and could pit the Terps against border rival West Virginia. The Meineke could easily select North Carolina or another ACC school instead of Maryland.

Maryland and other schools know there is a risk to coming on too strong. You don't want to alienate other bowl games that could be suitors. So it's a delicate process.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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The Terps will likely get a week off starting today, then begin practicing again...for a bowl game against some team somewhere.

While bowls sometimes make their picks early, it's possible Maryland won't know where it is headed, if anywhere, until after the ACC championship game next weekend. The process of selecting the ACC runner-up's bowl game sets in motion a chain reaction that dictates choices lower down.

When it does begin practicing again, Maryland will concentrate on running the ball.

"We've regressed in our run-blocking and our running game. We've got to get back to running the football," Fridge said.

The coach wasn't very criticial of the O-line's pass protection in the 28-21 loss to Boston College, despite the fact that it surrendered five sacks.

Sacks are inevitable when you are a "one-dimensional" offense, Fridge said, and you throw the ball 57 times.

Chris Turner, by the way, had a career high for yardage at 360. But it's not the type of 360 he'd prefer because it came as the result of desperation. Maryland simply couldn't run.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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Back in the spring, I wrote that Maryland was going to be overmatched in the Old Spice Classic.

After the Terps beat Michigan State Friday night, I thought I was wrong.

After the Terps lost to Gonzaga by 22 Saturday, I thought I was partially right.

After what happened Sunday against Georgetown, well, you tell me.

Here's what I think: Maryland now knows that it can beat a top 5 team if the team plays without one of its better inside players, provided the Terps get the opposition in foul trouble and shoot very well from three-point range. If the Terps play good teams at full strength and shoot the way they did the past two days, they're obviously going to be in for a long season.

I watched the first two Old Spice Classic games in their entirety and I thought a few players did some impressive things. I loved Sean Mosley's instincts and basketball IQ, and will continue to give Dave Neal props. Maybe the shoulder injury did impact his game, because he is shooting well from the outside, but he can't be expected to stop players bigger, stronger and more athletic -- certainly not those in the ACC. I also think Adrian Bowie has been Maryland's most consistent backcourt player and deserves to start along with Greivis Vasquez and either Mosley or Eric Hayes.

I didn't see the second half of Sunday's 75-48 loss to Georgetown after seeing all that I needed to in the first half. I have often been on Vasquez's case for taking bad shots, but how about hardly shooting at all? Was Georgetown's defense that good or is Vasquez suddenly doing his imitation of Kobe Bryant when the Los Angeles Lakers star wants to prove that his team needs him to dominate the ball? (For those of you who think I'm putting Vasquez in Kobe's class, even on the college level, I'm not.)

Where do the Terps go from here? It's good they come back home to play a quality, beatable, opponent in Michigan Wednesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Wolverines beat UCLA last week, so Maryland is not going to just be able to just show up at Comcast Center. I think Gary Williams can build on the win against Michigan State, but the last two games, especially Sunday, had to be disconcerting to say the least.

Sunday's loss was Maryland's biggest margin of defeat since getting blown out by 34 by No. 3 North Carolina in 2004-05, and the Terps were ranked No. 22 at the time.

That was also the fewest amount of points the Terps have scored since a 50-47 loss to UMass in 1995-96.

Getting back to what I wrote in the spring, do you think the Old Spice Classic turned out to be a good tournament for the Terps?

I'm conflicted, so I'd like to know.

I have to figure out what to write in the spring about next year's tournament in Maui.

Posted by Don Markus at 12:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (29)
Categories: Terps basketball