We followed the Terps to the Emerald Bowl last year and had a great time in San Fran. It was my first in-person Bowl experience and I was looking forward to another this year...but we drew the line at Boise. Nothing against those robust folks in Idaho, but in these economic times, it seems more like a cruel punishment to sit in the cold in a expensive, hard to get to locale than a holiday get-a-way. Our group had decided that we would follow the Terps to any Bowl but Humanitarian.

In the words of the old song by MeatLoaf..."I will do anything for love...but I won't do that."

We're having a Bowl watch party with food, drink and a 47" HD TV...GO TERPS!!! BEAT NEVADA!!!!!!!
--------FROM JEFF---
Enjoyed the MeatLoaf reference. I believe that's the first MeatLoaf mention on the blog this season.

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.

Well, at least we are number one in something.

It would seem the blogs are relying on a news report (see link) from December 8th, one of the first days tickets became available. The bloggers failed to check the date of the post and have forwarded it around.
--from Jeff---

I think you're right. The actual number of Terps fans will probably be in the hundreds.

The " Humanitarian" approach would have been admitting the "Finals Week" excuse was a big farce and playing Navy Saturday at RFK. The Naval Academy is knee deep in Finals this week and last. It would have been a sell out with plenty of interest and no travel costs. Thanks to Ralph and Debbie for not making it happen !

My first thoughts when I heard who the Terps are playing in this bowl game were ...Who? Nevada? I'm sure Nevada had a decent year or they wouldn't be in this bowl but I don't remember them being a relavent program recently (not that MD is a serious BCS contender). Sure I'd KINDA link to see Maryland play another game this year but I care about as much about them playing Nevada as I do wathcing them play Middle-Tenn. Oh... wait that didn't turn out so good. Anyway, not much hype or excitement aorund this game. Just money for the school coffers I guess. Playing Navy at RFK would have been huge!

I can't believe that people are still upset that Maryland isn't going to be playing Navy - and then blaming it on the coach (really?) and on the AD.

I think its pretty clear that if any of the major teams that UMD fields, Football is among the most committed to academic excellence. This is evidenced by the graduation record and the team GPA.

Student Athletes are students, too.

Not sure I agree with Jacob. This matter is not about academics. Maryland made a big mistake by not playing Navy. I don't think Debbie Yow grasps that it is important to build local rivalries (Navy in football; Georgetown in basketball). Maryland-Navy would pack any local stadium.

Just for the record, I'll buy Humanitarian Bowl tickets and then I'll donate them. Won't go though. But I want to get better seats for my season tickets. Not a lot better. Even move down to the end of the row in the same section I'm in. And the ticket office better not give me a bunch of crap about it, either.

You just watch. Season ticket sales will be off next year.

We followed the Terps to the Emerald Bowl last year and had a great time in San Fran. It was my first in-person Bowl experience and I was looking forward to another this year...but we drew the line at Boise. Nothing against those robust folks in Idaho, but in these economic times, it seems more like a cruel punishment to sit in the cold in a expensive, hard to get to locale than a holiday get-a-way. Our group had decided that we would follow the Terps to any Bowl but Humanitarian.

In the words of the old song by MeatLoaf..."I will do anything for love...but I won't do that."

We're having a Bowl watch party with food, drink and a 47" HD TV...GO TERPS!!! BEAT NEVADA!!!!!!!
--------FROM JEFF---
Enjoyed the MeatLoaf reference. I believe that's the first MeatLoaf mention on the blog this season.
-------FROM TERPSFAN-----
Glad you enjoyed the reference! Do I win a T shirt or something for first mention? lol
-----FROM JEFF------
You win the respect and gratitude of MeatLoaf fans everywhere.

give me a break, Todd, it is a joke that Fridge wouldn't play Navy. It would have been a fantastic game that the fans who support Fridge with season tickets (me included) would have been rewarded in being able to hop the metro to the game. I am POd the powers have decided to hike the team across the country to play in frigid temperatures when they did not need to do so. Academics?? How much practice time do you need when the bowl is three weeks or more after your last game and a short drive away. Sadly, the truth is Yow and Fridge don't want to chance losing to a very good Navy running game.

Well my dad and I are 2 of the 16.
He played for Maryland in the late 50's/early 60's and we've been to all of the bowl games since Coach Friedgen took over. They've all been a lot of fun. We drove to the game in a limo from the team hotel with Josh Wilson's mom, Richard Novak and his wife last year by strange luck. I'm a travel agent and the day they announce the game the cheapest airfare was almost $800 so if we didn't have frequent flyer miles on Southwest our streak of attending Bowl Games would have ended. Hope they get some games closer to home after 2 trips in a row out west.

I dont agree that not playing Navy @ RFK is a mistake. IMHO it would not have been a huge game - at least for Maryland.

Theres nothing to be gained from playing Navy in a bowl game, and sorry, but as much as I loved going to RFK when I was younger for Redskins games - the place is well past its day as a host for significant sporting events. Did you go to any Nationals games the last two years? Its a smelly old dump with inadequate concessions and bathrooms.

I probably would have gone because its close but with an 11am kickoff in cold clammy weather, no real opportunity to tailgate with fellow Terp fans & friends because of the early kickoff, and the lack of any real excitement about playing Navy in a bowl game - I honestly dont see it being "huge" -except for all the local Navy supporters and military personnel (God bless them) who get in for free or at a disounted rate.

As I've stated before there is no 'rivalry' to be had with Navy. They would love to play and beat us (sure) but their real rivalries are with Army, AF, and Notre Dame. Ours - or the closest thing to it - although we have no real 'rivalry game' - are with WVU and UVA. No disprespect to Navy. (I actually like and respect Navy football) Its a great competitive program and they are a worthy opponent but a regular season game every year or every other year would make more sense (definitely much better competition and interest/paid fannies in the seats than some of the OOC cupcakes we schedule)

But even travelling to Boise to play Nevada - even if few fans go (which is normal for ACC teams going to Boise - not just us- read the articles - when I talked to the TO this week they confirmed a 3000 ticket allotment and 500-600 tickets sold) - it gives our program some exposure in a different region (recruiting) and should create excitement and interest in playing a team we've never played before. (Nevada) Something new.

I'm not sure why Todd and a few others have it in their minds that a Maryland-Navy matchup at the EagleAlliance Bowl would be "Huge".
Why and for whom?

If we get invited to a FL bowl or Charlotte, theres no question Terp fans would follow, so why not any 'outrage' from the Terp fans when we decide - for whatever reason - to pass on the EagleAlliance Bowl?

I'll save my money (not a bad idea in todays economy) and instead pay for all 3 Tobacco Road road trips next year at NCSU, Dook, and WF. Meaningful regular season ACC conference games.

Or maybe the "Boise fund" gets me out to the CAL game in September or FSU.

For Boise I'll be gathering with fellow Terp fans and tailgate buddies in a local establishment dressed in red cheering my team on to victory.Supporting them in the best way I can.

Happy Holidays everyone!!
GO TERPS!!

I'm going!!!! But I live in Reno an easy 1 hour flight or 6 hour drive to Boise. BUT, for the rest of you in Terpland, I don't blame you for staying home. Boise is a nice little city, but hardly a great place to vacation unless you want to spend some time at Sun Valley Skiing. By the way, I hope Maryland is ready for Nevada ground game or else the game could get ugly for the Terps!

Nevada has sold 100 tickets according to the Reno Gazette Journal on Dec 18th!

For all the griping about not playing in DC, remember that the Humanitarian Bowl got to pick it's team BEFORE the Eagle Bank Bowl. That means if the Humanitarian had selected Wake instead of MD, then the Terps would probably still have passed up on the DC bowl game because of the previously stated conflict with final exams. They would have probably ended up in the PapaJohns.com bowl against Rutgers, with NC State playing Navy. Which all sounds pretty good compared to Boise, but then they would have been the tenth team selected out of ten bowl eligible teams in the conference.

Jack, I don't think DC could have taken NCSU if they wanted to, without some serious NCAA negotiations, since they were the ACC's at-large team....

I just did a search on Southwest and Expedia from Baltimore to Boise and both Washington airports to Boise, it was about 750 per person - including three night hotel stay. There was no significant difference to any other intermountain city - SLC was about 725. We have a lot of new snow out here and 6 ski areas within 3 hours. The closest, Bogus Basin, is only 1/2 hour from Bronco Stadium. Night skiing is only $10 at up there - a great value. You can get all sorts affordable packages just for coming to the Bowl. Hope to you in Boise!