I have a story today about how long Ralph Friedgen might remain as head coach – and how his current thinking squares with the school’s “coach-in-waiting” agreement with offensive coordinator James Franklin.

There is a bit of a discrepancy here – which is one reason I wrote the story (i.e., to try to make sense of the situation).

Fridge says he’s not trying to set a record for coaching longevity. He says he won’t be Joe Paterno. But he doesn’t seem to want to be limited to three years. He talks generally about coaching three to five more years. He says he might be tempted to stay past 2012 if the Terps go to the Orange Bowl in, say, 2011.

But Maryland has a contract with Franklin that says the university is liable to Franklin for $1 million if Friedgen remains head coach beyond Jan. 2, 2012.

So how do you reconcile these two things?

One way would be for Franklin – who has passed up opportunities in the NFL and at other colleges -- to simply remain as offensive coordinator if Fridge stays on and therefore not exercise his right to claim the $1 million. Another way would be for Friedgen and Franklin to agree to amend the timetable, provided the school’s administration agrees.

Here’s a quote from Athletic Director Debbie Yow that didn’t appear in the story about the $1 million promise to Franklin:

“We have a legal obligation at this point in the document to (pay) that. If Ralph wanted to have that conversation with him, that has to be an agreement they would have that changes the document.There could always be a conversation – of course – between the two of them.,” Yow said.

Continue reading "Friedgen, Franklin and the $1M Promise" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 11:02 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Quarterback Chris Turner says he wants to leave a "legacy" at Maryland. He wants to be remembered -- to stand out.

It's always good to aim high, and Turner is doing that. It's not easy to rise into a group that includes Boomer Esiason, Frank Reich, Stan Gelbaugh, Neil O'Donnell, Shaun Hill and others.

Turner knows he'll need a big senior season to end his career where he and the Terps want to be.

Entering the season, Turner ranks fourth on Maryland's career completion percentage list and seventh in career passing yards. He's seventh in total offense, fifth in completions and tied for 11th in touchdown passes.

Turner knows there's room for improvement. Here's an analysis of his game:

Assets: Poise, smarts, toughness. Turner is at his best in big games. Maryland says he has led the Terps to six wins in seven games against Top 25 teams in the AP poll. Among the most memorable came when he entered after Jordan Steffy suffered a concussion in Turner's sophomore season and helped beat No. 10 Rutgers.

Needs to work on: Arm strength, mobility. Sure. Maryland would love to have a quarterback making plays with speed and moves when the pocket collapses. That's not going to happen much with Turner.

I almost fell out of my seat in the press box last season when Turner took off and ran on fourth-and-five from North Carolina's 32, giving the Terps a criticial first down near the end of a tight game.

He's a good college quarterback. He's a bit streaky -- he calls himself a "rhythm" passer. He was picked off twice in each of last season's final two regular-season games. But he doesn't quit when things go poorly. His coolness can be mistaken for apathy. Truth is, he cares a lot.

I think he'll have an excellent senior season if the offensive line -- last year's wild card -- provides him ample protection and a consistent running game.

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

Brian Ullmann’s day job is senior associate athletics director for the University of Maryland. In his spare time, he writes.

He’s completed a book called "Darwin's Race,” about an adventure race in southeast Tibet.

Ullmann says he included a Maryland reference in the story. “The hero of the book --
Conner Michaels -- is a Terp alum, and at one point gives a Terps hat to his
then-girlfriend,” Ullmann says. “Years later, after a tough break-up, he sees her again, and she's wearing the hat.”

Ullmann says his literary agent is the same one who handled “Sweet Redemption,” the Gary Williams book.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

We talked a lot last year about true rivals, or more specifically the absence of one for the Terps to lustily despise.

Maryland is, in a sense, a solo dance partner. It’s Alabama without Auburn, Army without Navy, Harvard without Yale.

Sure, Virginia is a rival of sorts. Maryland and Virginia play every year, are in neighboring states and have played some exciting games.

But I took notice of the announcement recently that Maryland and West Virginia have signed on for two more football games.

The teams were already scheduled to meet in 2010 and 2011. Now they will also play in 2012 and 2013.

Maryland-West Virginia just feels like a rivalry. It feels hot. Maybe it’s because West Virginia has been more successful than Virginia in football and poses a big challenge. I think it’s because both schools’ fans get amped up for each other. It doesn’t hurt that former standout tailback Steve Slaton vowed revenge for the Mountaineers after being rebuffed by Maryland, his original school of choice.

Credit Maryland for keeping this rivalry alive. I’ve complained in this space before about soft non-conference scheduling by Maryland and other schools. I detest the mismatches that schools put on the early-season schedule simply to fatten their bottom lines. Obviously, the Mountaineers aren’t a cupcake for the Terps.

Continue reading "Bring on the West Virginia "rivalry"" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (56)
        

It's often a guessing game -- a popular sport among the Maryland beat writers -- as to exactly what times football games will start. As you know, many of the times aren't known until 12 days before the game to allow ESPN/ABC or Raycom Sports flexibility.

But we do know the start times now for the first three games of the season, courtesy of Maryland media relations:

--The Cal game on Sept. 5 will begin at 10 p.m. ET and be televised on ESPN2. I'll be drinking sugary, caffeinated beverages in the press box to stay awake. We knew this start time already, thanks to the Pac-10.

--Maryland’s home opener against James Madison on Sept. 12 will kick off at 6 p.m. No television scheduled. You think players will appreciate the late start time because it can be hot and humid this time of year?

-- The next week’s game against Middle Tennessee State begins at 3:30 p.m. and is to be streamed live on ESPN360.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 1:06 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Fear not, Terps fans. Maryland won't be heading back to the Humanitarian Bowl anytime soon.

Not that it was such a bad bowl game. It's just that Boise, Idaho, proved a long way for most Maryland fans to even consider traveling. Plus, Boise competes with warm-weather bowl sites. It competes with Splash Mountain.

Anyway, the ACC announced its new bowl tie-ins and -- as expected -- the Humanitarian Bowl is no longer on the list.

The only new addition to this year’s ACC bowl slate is the GMAC Bowl, played in Mobile, Ala. on January 6. If the ACC has a ninth bowl-eligible team available, the GMAC Bowl can choose it.

Still on the list, by the way, is the EagleBank Bowl, the District of Columbia-based game that debuted last season. It will have the eighth pick in the selection process and be played later this year than last -- December 29.

Here, courtesy of the ACC, is the whole list:

FedEx Orange Bowl: Jan. 5 — FOX, 8 p.m

Chick-fil-A Bowl: Dec. 31 — ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl: Jan. 1 — CBS, 1 p.m.

Champs Sports Bowl: Dec. 29 — ESPN, 8 p.m.

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl: Dec. 27 — ESPN, 8:15 p.m.

Meineke Car Care Bowl: Dec. 26, ESPN, 4:30 p.m.

Emerald Bowl: Dec. 26 — ESPN, 8 p.m.

EagleBank Bowl: Dec. 29 — ESPN, 4:30 p.m.

GMAC Bowl: Jan. 6 — 7 pm ESPN

Posted by Jeff Barker at 5:26 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Here are stats from the White Team in the spring game.

Offense

Rushing (Carries-Yds./TDs):
A. Green (7-53), Bonato (5-24), Braxton (7-17), M. Green (2-14), Brown (2-13), Robinson (7-8), Meggett (2-1 / 1 TD)

Passing (Comp.-Att.-Yds./TDs/ INTs):
Robinson (12-21-253 / 3 TDs / 1 INT), A. Green (0-2)

Receiving (Rec.-Yds./TDs):
McCree (4-163 / 3 TDs), Boykins (4-63), Lee-Odai (1-12), Smith (1-7), Meggett (2-3)

Defense

Tackles (Solo-Assisted-Total):
Gloster (5-5-10), Hartsfield (4-3-7), Davidson (3-3-6), T. Skinner (2-2-4), Hughes (4-0-4), Harrell (2-2-4), McCollough (1-2-3), Drummond (0-3-3), Galt (0-3-3), Moten (2-0-2), Wiseman (0-1-1), Tate (1-0-1), Drakeford (0-1-1), 96 (1-1-2), Bonato (1-0-1), Meggett (1-0-1)

Tackles for Loss (No.-Yards):
Davidson (2-11), Gloster (1.5-2), Francis (1-2), Kabongo (1-1), Drummond (0.5-1), Harrell (0.5-1), Hartsfield (0.5-0)

Sacks (No.-Yards):
Davidson (2-11), Francis (1-2), Kabongo (1-1)

Pass Breakups (No.):

Moten (1), Hartsfield (1)

Miscellaneous

Field Goals:
Wallace 2/3: (23-yard FG – GOOD, 24-yard FG – GOOD, 47-yard FG – NO GOOD)

Punts (No./Avg.):

Baltz (1/35), Townsley (2/34)

Punt Returns (No./Avg.):
Lee-Odai (2/2)

Kick Returns (No./Avg.):

Wiseman (3/18.7)

Fumble Recoveries (No.-Yards):

Downs (1-0)

Punt Blocks (No.):

Drakeford (1), Lee-Odai (1)

Posted by Jeff Barker at 10:19 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Here, courtesy of Maryland media relations, are statistics from the spring football game:

Red-White Spring Game
April 25, 2009
College Park, Md. (Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium)


Score by Quarters

1 2 3 4 Total
Red 7 3 7 7 24
White 7 14 7 6 34


Scoring Plays

Qtr. Time Scoring Play R-W
1st 8:27 RED - Adrian Cannon 30-yard pass from Chris Turner (Mike Barbour kick) 7-0
0:33 WHITE – Quintin McCree 58-yard pass from Robinson (Nick Wallace kick) 7-7
2nd 6:11 WHITE – Davin Meggett 1-yard run (Nick Wallace kick) 7-14
4:10 WHITE – Quintin McCree 22-yard pass from Robinson (Nick Wallace kick) 7-21
0:36 RED – Mike Barbour 43- yard FG 10-21
3rd 11:14 WHITE – Quintin McCree 75-yard pass from Robinson (Nick Wallace kick) 10-28
8:37 RED – Adrian Cannon 23-yard pass from Chris Turner (Mike Barbour) 17-28
4th 8:16 WHITE – Nick Wallace 23-yard FG 17-31
4:11 WHITE – Nick Wallace 24-yard FG 17-34
0:49 RED – Kevin Dorsey 9-yard pass from Chris Turner (Mike Barbour) 24-34



Red Statistics

Offense

Rushing (Carries-Yds./TDs):
Douglas (7-31), M. Green (6-27), Meggett (6-23), Logan (2-7), Turner (6-[2])

Passing (Comp.-Att.-Yds./TDs/ INTs):
Turner (15-21-235 / 2 TDs)

Receiving (Rec.-Yds./TDs):
Cannon (5-99 / 2 TDs), Douglas (3-53), Galt (1-31), Furstenburg (2-19), Tyler (2-14), Meggett (1-10), Dorsey (1-9 / 1 TDs)

Defense

Tackles (Solo-Assisted-Total):
Murray (3-5-8), Chism (2-3-5), Vellano (2-3-5), Kabongo (2-1-3), Perez (2-0-2), Walker (2-0-2), E. Skinner (2-0-2), Galt (0-2-2), Akunyili (1-1-2), Carl Russell (1-1-2), Kerr (2-0-2), Peterson (2-0-2), Lazero (1-1-2), Salvatico (1-0-1), Jackson-Mills (0-1-1), Law (0-1-1), Siderick (1-0-1), Sule (0-1-1), Hargett (0-1-1), Horton (0-1-1), Carter (1-0-1), Berman (1-0-1), Tate (1-1-2), Drummond (0-1-1), Harrell (1-0-1)

Tackles for Loss (No.-Yards):
Vellano (2-11), Kerr (1-5), Harrell (1-4), Akunyili (1-3), Murray (1-1), Peterson (1-1)

Sacks (No.-Yards):
Vellano (1-7), Kerr (1-5), Harrell (1-4)

Interceptions (No.-Yards):
Perez (1-0)

Pass Breakups (No.):

Perez (1), Chism (1)

Miscellaneous

Field Goals:

Barbour: 1/2 (25-yard FG – NO GOOD, 43-yard FG – GOOD)

Posted by Jeff Barker at 10:35 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

I've filed a "game" story. Here are some additional morsels for the football-hungry.

*Chris Turner looked very comfortable and in command, as you would expect of a senior quarterback in a spring game.

A lot of the media coverage of Darrius Heyward-Bey's NFL draft prospects seemed to disparage Turner by suggesting the receiver didn't have much of a quarterback to work with. I wonder if such talk motivates Turner.

I keep thinking how Turner said last year that he wants to leave a "legacy" at Maryland. He could be headed for a very good year if the offensive line comes together for him. He'll have some good receivers and running backs to help him out.

*Kenny Tate told me he made the call to remain at safety this season rather than return to the receiver position he had played in high school. "I feel a lot more comfortable (at safety)" than at the beginning of last season, Tate said. "I feel like I'm back in the swing of things."

*Tate looked good in the game. So did fellow strong safety Jamari McCollough, who made a bunch of tackles.

*If the spring game is any indication, Maryland will need to shore up its kick coverage, particularly protecting the punter. On the plus side for the Terps, freshman linebacker Darrin Drakeford looks like quite the special teams player.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:15 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

There was lots of reaction yesterday to the story I wrote about Maryland promising James Franklin $1 million if he is not named to succeed Ralph Friedgen as football coach.

I think two issues got jumbled together by some people reading the story.

The first issue is whether it is appropriate in this economy to spend -- or potentially spend -- seven-figure sums on coaches. This is a complicated debate. It's a debate worth having.

But I would argue that it shouldn't be a debate about James Franklin. The money he is promised is basically protection for him. Maryland knew he had an NFL job offer. Franklin was interested in remaining with Maryland, but he needed more than hope and a handshake to assure him the school was serious about promoting him. So Maryland wrote in a financial guarantee.

I'm all for scrutinizing college coaches' salaries and asking legitimate questions about how much is too much. But putting Franklin at the center of the debate doesn't seem quite fair. The debate should be about the system, not this one coach.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (18)
        

Notes from the opening day...

*Kenny Tate met with coach Ralph Friedgen and has decided to remain at safety. You all remember that he was recruited as a wide receiver, and a pretty highly touted one. "That's a position of strength," Fridge said of safety, where other returnees include Jamari McCollough, Terrell Skinner and Antwine Perez.

*Fridge says Jamarr Robinson will get "a bunch of reps" this season. With Josh Portis and Jordan Steffy gone, Robinson is the backup quarterback.

*Danny Oquendo has graduated, so there's competition at punt returner. Fridge said Tony Logan
"would have a leg up."

*Place-kicker seems pretty wide open. Nick Wallace, David May and Mike Barbour all competing.

*With the linebacker corps depleted by graduation, Fridge says freshmen Darin Drakeford and Avery Murray have "been kind of a godsend" by looking good early.

Continue reading "Spring football notes" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

I'll have a report on the opening of spring football later today.

After that, the blog (and the blogger) will take a break -- a "holiday," as they say in Europe.

By the way, you all notice that basketball recruit Lance Stephenson says he'll announce his school choice on April 1 at the McDonald's All-American game in Miami? Unless, of course, it's all just an April Fool's joke.

FYI, I did a Terps hoops season-ending Q&A on The Sun's new Toy Department blog. Should be posted later today.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Here's what I find interesting about Maryland's new special teams coordinator and tight ends coach -- he wasn't a predictable hire.

Some football programs make expected hiring decisions. You know the ones I mean. The guy who worked with the head coach or is from a safe coaching "tree" -- someone who is very much a known quantity. These can turn out to be solid hires.

But give Maryland credit in recent job searches (defensive coordinator and special teams coach) for looking -- really looking -- for talent, for gems.

Ralph Friedgen had never met Don Brown, the new defensive coordinator who was head man at Massachusetts. Brown was recommended by rival coaches Mickey Matthews of James Madison and Jimmye Laycock of William & Mary.

The just-hired special teams coach, Charles Bankins, has no obvious ties to College Park that I can discern (although he is from Leonardtown). Bankins was an assistant at the University of Richmond and is a James Madison graduate. He was previously at Hampton University and with the St. Louis Rams before that.

His recruiting areas while at Richmond included portions of Virginia. His contacts in that state could help the Terps.

I don't know Bankins, who will replace Danny Pearman. But I like the idea of a coaching search really being a "search" instead of a coronation.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:15 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

You may have seen the item that the Terps led the league with eight Academic All-Atlantic Coast Conference team selections.

It's noteworthy that two of those named -- punter Travis Baltz and center Edwin Williams -- made both the All-Academic team and the All-Conference team announced earlier.

A third Terp, tight end Dan Gronkowski, made All-Academic and was honorable mention All-ACC.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Quick take on the 2009 football schedule:

* It's a tougher non-conference schedule on balance than last season. That's because the Cal game is on the road this season and because Rutgers is on the schedule. For those who believed last season's non-conference games did little to prepare the Terps for the year ahead, this is a welcome, if expected, development.

* Terps were not invited to a single Thursday night matchup on ESPN. Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia Tech each make two Thursday night appearances.

* Five opponents ended last season ranked or receiving votes in the final AP Top 25.

Maryland will open its 2009 season on the road against a California team led by projected Heisman Trophy candidate Jahvid Best and close the year against the same two teams, Florida State and Boston College, that ended its 2008 regular season.

The Atlantic Coast Conference schedule, announced today, is highlighted by six nationally televised Thursday night games – none featuring Maryland.

Maryland’s nonconference schedule appears tougher than last season’s. The Terps will face Cal, winner of last season’s Emerald Bowl, on Sept. 5, and Rutgers, which won the Papajohns.com Bowl, on Sept. 26.

Maryland opens its ACC season – as it did last year – against Clemson. This year’s game will be at Byrd Stadium.

Maryland will play both teams that played in the ACC championship game, Virginia Tech and Boston College, at home.

The Terps will not play three strong conference teams -- Miami, North Carolina and Georgia Tech – that all finished .500 or better last season and participated in bowl games.

There is a bye week on Oct. 31.

The schedule:

Sept. 5 at California
Sept. 12 James Madison
Sept. 19 Middle Tennessee
Sept. 26 Rutgers
Oct. 3 Clemson
Oct. 10 at Wake Forest
Oct. 17 Virginia
Oct. 24 at Duke
Nov. 7 at NC State
Nov. 14 Virginia Tech
Nov. 21 at Florida State
Nov. 28 Boston College

Posted by Jeff Barker at 2:51 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

The Atlantic Coast Conference is releasing its 2009 schedule on Thursday.

I know you guys track this stuff, so let's review what we know so far about Maryland.

We know the Terps will visit Cal early in the season. Running back Jahvid Best, held in check last season by Maryland and particularly by Kevin Barnes, returns for the Golden Bears.

Other nonconference games include Rutgers, which owes Maryland a home game and will come to Byrd Stadium.

There's also Middle Tennessee State at Byrd -- a revenge game for the Terps who never stopped hearing about their early season loss to this team on the road last year.

James Madison is listed as the final nonconference opponent on some sites that track these things. This is one I haven't confirmed.

By the way, West Virginia will be on the 2010 schedule. So will Navy.

Here, in no particular order, are Maryland's ACC opponents for 2009:

Continue reading "ACC to release football schedule Thursday " »

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

I did a couple stories on the just-announced scenario under which James Franklin will eventually become the head coach of the Terps.

Here's my take on it:

Maryland said repeatedly that there is no date certain for the switch. Athletic officials were vague because they were being deferential and polite to coach Ralph Friedgen, who deserves that sort of respect for his service. Franklin himself referred to becoming head coach in "10 years from now, five years from now, whenever it is."

But it sure seems that Franklin will be in by 2012. Fridge's contract is up in January 2012. If you're Maryland, would you really consider extending the incumbent coach's contract while you've got a hot young prospect waiting in the wings? To do so would be to risk that Franklin decides to take a walk.

So let's assume Fridge has three more seasons. That's the transition period Debbie Yow was envisioning when she suggested that Franklin, 37, would be 40 by the time he was elevated to head man.

Continue reading "The football coach in waiting" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 10:20 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

I'm heading to the news conference to announce James Franklin as coach Ralph Friedgen's eventual successor.

My early take on this is that Maryland is ...

1) ...concerned that Franklin is a hot property -- particularly as a recruiter -- and they don't want to let him get away.

2) ...concerned that Ralph's age -- he'll be 62 in April -- and rumors of his retirement could eventually affect recruiting if there isn't a clear succession plan.

3) ....adopting an increasingly popular business model of naming successors in advance. The University of Texas has named a successor to Mack Brown, and Florida State has named a successor to Bobby Bowden.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 2:06 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

*Fridge still has to talk with safety Kenny Tate about whether the former high school wide receiver wants to switch back to his old position.

The coach said that conversation will happen soon.

*Fridge and recruiting coordinator Dave Sollazzo repeatedly used the term "blue collar" yesterday to describe the environment surrounding the team -- and the type of player they want to recruit. Fridge said he doesn't want players who feel they are "entitled" to anything because they are highly rated by scouting services.

*Wide receiver LaQuan Williams has been shelved for academic reasons. Fridge says he could "possibly" return, but not this semester.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

*Best late-breaking news was the signing of Pete White, the large offensive lineman. Maryland had been recruiting him for three years and his decision came down to the last night.

"Pete White was a great get for us," recruiting coordinator Dave Sollazzo said. "In his family they are all Terps. He's going to be a leader for us. We have a big need for offensive linemen."

*One of the two quarterback newcomers (C.J. Brown and Danny O'Brien) will probably be a backup and the other will redshirt. There was a lot more interest in Brown from other schools after his senior season, but he held his Maryland commitment.

*Dexter McDougle, a defensive back from Virginia, is versatile enough that he "could be challenging Torrey [Smith] for the kickoff return job," Fridge said.

Smith set the single-season Atlantic Coast Conference record for kickoff return yards and had a 99-yarder in the bowl game.

*Fridge suggested it might have been easier to recruit locally this year. "I think there are so many positives to staying close to home — especially with the economy being what it is," he said.

Sollazzo said players were also attracted to Maryland because a large, 30-member senior class is leaving -- and that created opportunities for playing time.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

It's no secret that Maryland was looking to fill some holes on the defensive front in its recruiting. The departures of Jeremy Navarre, Mack Frost and Dean Muhtadi will hurt the line. Travis Ivey and Dion Armstrong return.

So the Terps went out and got some help, led by 6-foot-4, 252-pound DL DeOnte Arnett of Forestville. Maryland said Arnett was rated four stars by Rivals.com and Scout.com.

Arnett and fellow D-linemen Cody Blue and Zachariah Kerr have now enrolled and will be eligible for spring practice.

Other new arrivals are LBs Darin Drakeford and Avery Murray. Alex Wujciak and Adrian Moten are among the returnees at that position.

The entire signing class will be announced Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Here, courtesy of Maryland media relations, are the 2008 Maryland football award winners named by the team:

Top Special Teams Performer – Travis Baltz

Freshman of the Year – Torrey Smith

A.V. Williams Award for Outstanding & Conspicuous Sportsmanship – Dan Gronkowski

George C. Cook Memorial Award for the senior with the highest GPA – Dean Muhtadi

George Boutselis Memorial Award for letterman with the highest GPA – Dan Gronkowski

Alvin L. Aubinoe Award as the unsung hero – Andrew Schmitt (special teams), Cory Jackson (offense), Jeff Allen (defense)

C.P. “Lefty” McIntosh Public Service Award sponsored by Don & Terry Wilson – Jordan Steffy

James M. Tatum Award for Lineman of the Year – Jeremy Navarre (defensive) and Edwin Williams (offensive)

Dr. John E. Faber Award for Iron Man – Jack Griffin

Terrapin Club Award for the greatest career contribution to football – Edwin Williams

Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year – Jamarr Robinson

Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year – Hakeem Sule

Most Improved Offensive Player – Da’Rel Scott

Most Improved Defensive Player – Jamari McCollough

Most Valuable Offensive Player – Darrius Heyward-Bey

Most Valuable Defensive Player – Alex Wujciak

Ray Krouse Award for Most Valuable Player – Jeremy Navarre

Distinguished Contributor Award – Tom McCausland

Maryland Football Fan of the Year – Joel Ryerson

Note: The Terps will announce their 2009 signing class on Feb. 4.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:58 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Maryland media relations says a number of Terps will play in postseason all-star games:

*Offensive linemen Edwin Williams and Jaimie Thomas will participate in the East-West Shrine game on Saturday.

*Linebacker Moise Fokou and defensive lineman Jeremy Navarre will play in the Texas vs. The Nation game on Jan. 31.

*Cornerback Kevin Barnes will attend the Under Armour Senior Bowl on Jan. 24 but won't play while recovering from injury and surgery.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:36 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

So why did coach Friedgen hire Massachusetts head man Don Brown?

*He's been a head coach at three schools and so is seen as helping with a range of items affecting Maryland's program.

*Fridge likes his "attack-style" defenses. "I think its going to be a very aggressive thing," Fridge said.

Said Fridge in a prepared statement: "He’s been successful against a lot of the new offenses that we’re seeing, like the spread. He played against Navy and Georgia Southern, so he’s faced a lot of the different styles we see, but he has a little different approach to it.”

*He's 53 and has been around, which means he's made contacts and can be a valuable recruiter. He hasn't yet been assigned a recruiting region yet. He's from Spencer, Mass.

*He must have interviewed well because Fridge didn't know him previously. He was recommended by rival coaches Mickey Matthews of James Madison and Jimmye Laycock of William and Mary.

Note: Alex Wujciak and LaQuan Williams are among the Terps who have had recent surgeries and will miss the spring workouts but are expected back for the fall.

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

Yes, it's true. Maryland has a new defensive coordinator. It's Don Brown, the head coach at the University of Massachusetts. We posted a story on this several hours ago.

Massachusetts made the announcement earlier today -- an action that irritated Maryland's athletic department, which hasn't yet made any announcement itself.

Here's what happened: Coach Friedgen decided recently that he wanted to hire Brown. But Maryland was waiting until the paperwork became official before publicly revealing Brown's name. They're still waiting.

But UMass jumped the gun. Apparently, Massachusetts wanted recruits to know immediately that there was going to be a change at the top.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 2:58 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Maryland tells me that backup quarterback Josh Portis still hasn't requested a formal release of his scholarship. What he did was request permission to talk to another school -- California University of Pennsylvania.

Requesting his release is a formality, but an important one. Portis needs to be officially released so that he can receive aid at his new school. Maryland is expected to grant him what he wants.

For its part, California University of Pennsylvania says Portis is indeed coming. By the way, Portis is just one class shy -- a Spanish class -- of having enough credits to graduate.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 2:51 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

I'll never forget the frustration etched on the face of quarterback Josh Portis when I interviewed him several weeks into the season. He was desperate for more playing time.

"It's frustrating sometimes, you know," said Portis at the time. "God blessed me with a God-given ability. I'm happy for my teammates -- Da'Rel [Scott] is breaking one, Darrius [Heyward-Bey] is breaking one. I haven't broken one yet."

"Oh man, it's just a matter of time," he said. "I'm just ready to explode."

The running quarterback's frustration was shared by his coaches. They said he struggled to master the offense.

"When Portis comes on the field, there are two people that are nervous -- me and the [other team's] defensive coordinator," offensive coordinator James Franklin said.

You might have seen the item in today's Baltimore Sun that Portis is transferring to California University of Pennsylvania. Players had talked about his imminent departure for weeks, but the university didn't confirm he was leaving. Portis told ESPN.com's Heather Dinich, who used to cover the Terps for this newspaper: "I have to move on."

It seemed it all ended for Portis during the North Carolina game, in which he threw a pass that missed an open Darrius Heyward-Bey and later fumbled to begin the fourth quarter. Said Franklin at the time: "You can't make those critical plays. It was clearly a fumble." Asked about Portis missing Heyward-Bey with the long pass, Franklin replied: "That was a touchdown."

You'll recall that Portis began his career at Florida, so Maryland turned out to be just a middle stop in his college career.

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

What do you think of Darrius Heyward-Bey's decision to come out a year early for the NFL?

I've said before that I have little doubt about his pro potential. He not only possesses great speed and good size, but he also has an ability to catch the deep ball in traffic.

He made some memorable catches this season. The one that stands out most was against Wake Forest. Chris Turner's pass was tipped before Heyward-Bey secured it falling down for a 41-yard gain. There were a number of plays where Heyward-Bey was running free in the secondary but Maryland couldn't get him the ball.

Are there aspects of his game that need to be developed? Of course. I've heard football experts comment that he should work on his moves after the catch -- cutbacks and the like.

He seemed to disappear for stretches during Maryland's season, catching zero passes against Clemson and Virginia before breaking out with 11 receptions against Wake the next week. Is it that he has problems getting open? Possibly, but I've said before that I think it was more a combination of defenses rolling toward him and the Terps simply not being able to deliver him the ball.

Continue reading "What do you think of Heyward-Bey's choice?" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (14)
        

With Virginia Tech's Orange Bowl victory, Atlantic Coast Conference teams were 4-6 in bowl games, breaking an eight-game conference losing streak in BCS bowl games. Is that about what you expected?

Biggest disappointment: Georgia Tech getting thumped 38-3 by LSU, and in an Atlanta-based bowl no less. I had thought Paul Johnson's group was better than that.

Most exciting game: West Virginia 31, North Carolina 30. There were a bevy of big-time offensive plays in this one. Would have been fun to see Terps-Mountaineers, though.

Obviously it wasn't a banner year for the ACC. But I think there are some positive signs for the conference in the future -- notably freshman quarterbacks Russell Wilson of N.C. State and Jacory Harris of Miami. North Carolina is a team on the rise, Florida State finished strong and ended with nine wins, and Virginia Tech had another good year.

Footnote: Will be fun to see if Maryland can again shut down talented Cal running back Jahvid Best next season. Best had 186 yards in Cal's Emerald Bowl win over Miami. Maryland will travel to Cal early in the '09 season.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

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.

Continue reading "Maryland-Nevada notes" »

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

• 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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

*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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

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.

Continue reading "A season about to end" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 12:48 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

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.

Continue reading "Being a freshman" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The blog will return soon with more basketball and Humanitarian Bowl items to discuss and ponder.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

*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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

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.

Continue reading "Impressions of an up-and-down season" »

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

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

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.

Continue reading "Looking at Maryland-Nevada" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

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.

Continue reading "Fridge says Steffy could get into bowl game" »

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

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.

Continue reading "Seamonson hasn't interviewed yet" »

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

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (15)
        

* 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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

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.

Continue reading "Wait until next year?" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

*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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

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.

Continue reading "Notes on Boise and the bowl game" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:02 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (17)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (25)
        

--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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

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.)

Continue reading "The muddled bowl picture, part deux" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

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.

Continue reading "The bowl picture" »

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

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

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.

Continue reading "Memorable plays" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 6:30 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

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 in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

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.

Continue reading "What's upcoming for Terps" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Maryland's prospects for a desirable bowl game dipped after Saturday night's loss in combination with wins by North Carolina and Clemson.

It's clear Maryland is still eyeing the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Dec. 27 in Charlotte, N.C.

In his media conference call today, coach Ralph Friedgen gave what I think is a preview of the case that Maryland will make to the Meineke bowl this week.

Remember that the Music City, Meineke and Emerald bowls have the fifth, sixth and seventh picks of ACC schools. So Maryland wants to be regarded as no worse than seventh among conference teams. It helps Maryland, of course, that the school has a large fan base.

This is what Fridge said:

“You have four teams that are 5-3 in the conference and another four or five that are 4-4,” he said. (Note that six teams actually finished 4-4).

“Of those 4-4 teams, we beat everyone but Miami and we didn’t play Miami,” the coach said. “As I look at it, we should be no worse than fifth in the conference. I would hope that would give us a leg up.”

Posted by Jeff Barker at 6:12 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

Did you notice that…

--Chris Turner continued to look for his favorite third-down receiver, Danny Oquendo. The senior caught six balls for first downs when Maryland needed plays on third or fourth down.

--The Terps continued a recent pattern of moving the ball early in games. They made 88 yards on their first two drives – all through the air.

--Torrey Smith, who holds the Maryland record for single-season kickoff yardage, continued to give the Terps good field position.

--Turner, who has been encouraged to run more, got his first career rushing touchdown in the first quarter.

--Boston College linebacker Mike McLaughlin literally jumped over Maryland running back Davin Meggett to sack Turner at the end of the first quarter.

Continue reading "Did you notice that..." »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (14)
        

Once again, the Terps are left dazed. They keep saying they’re better than their record, and sometimes it feels that way. But they’ve run out of time this season to rise above the pack.

Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly.

The good: Danny Oquendo was marvelous on third and fourth down; Chris Turner didn’t quit; and the defense was adequate.

The bad: The defense didn’t force any turnovers, which has been kind of a recurring problem. A couple players said Terrell Skinner slipped on the 45-yard Boston College touchdown reception, but I didn’t see it from the press box. Anybody catch that on TV?

The offensive line struggled against a good BC defense. The Maryland running game reminded me of how it had struggled against Virginia Tech. Fridge called the O-line play “disheartening” because it’s a veteran unit and he had expected more.

The ugly: Maryland had two 100-yard receivers (Torrey Smith and Oquendo). But the receivers sure dropped a lot of balls. Was it the chilly weather? A lack of focus? Who knows.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 9:30 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

As almost everyone predicted, the Terps can’t run against Boston College’s defense and have taken to the air.

It worked in the first quarter. Maryland made it 7-7 after quarterback Chris Turner hit Torrey Smith on a deep sideline route for 43 yards to the 1, then ran it in on the next play.

It was the first career rushing touchdown for Turner, who likes to jokingly boast that he runs a "flat 5.0" in the 40.

But Turner was intercepted by Mark Herzlich at the Maryland 45 in the second quarter -- the quarterback’s third interception in the last two games.

On the next play, Boston College's Dominique Davis hit a wide-open Rich Gunnell in the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown to make it 14-7. I’ll have to ask the coaches how the receiver got so free.

Maryland has eight rushing yards and 140 passing yards at halftime.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 5:11 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (leg) is out of today's game, according to Maryland media relations.

So the Terps lose their best deep threat on a day when they're expected to pass a lot because Boston College's run defense is so stout.

The nature of the injury wasn't specified.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 3:14 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

The bowl situation is so volatile. Could Maryland, with a win, make a return trip to the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, where the Terps have happy memories from 2006? Not impossible, but it seems unlikely with other ACC schools doing well today on the scoreboard and likely to be invited ahead of Maryland.

The Terps could end up in Charlotte (Meineke Car Care Bowl), Boise (Humanitarian Bowl), Nashville (Music City Bowl) or elsewhere.

The Meineke folks could opt for North Carolina over the Terps. Clemson, which is beating South Carolina today, is another possible candidate for Charlotte -- although the Tigers could be picked for Orlando.

I hear Boise is not a bad destination. But it's far. It's change-planes-and-please-don't-lose-my-luggage far. Am I whining? Well, I am a sportswriter.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 2:23 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

* The Terps are warming up on the Alumni Stadium field. Quarterback Chris Turner (white football pants, black sweatshirt with the hood up) looks cold. He keeps blowing on his hands. Not chilly for Boston -- in the 40s -- but there's wind. Remember, Turner is from California.

* Redshirt freshman Dominique Davis is the most untested quarterback the Terps will face this season, and he's starting for a Boston College team that needs a win to advance to the ACC title game. But he led the game-winning drive against Wake Forest last week after Chris Crane was injured. Davis, by the way, is the brother of Chicago Bears tight end Desmond Clark.

* Watch for Mark Herzlich, Boston College's junior linebacker. He sports a mohawk and plasters excessive eye black on his face. He leads the Eagles with 92 tackles and five interceptions.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 1:47 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. We'll be back and blogging on game day from Boston.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:39 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

I love gadget plays. They're so much fun. I'm always asking offensive coordinator James Franklin about them.

You remember the play in which receiver Danny Oquendo tossed a touchdown pass against Eastern Michigan?

You'll recall the Terps tried a variation of it against Florida State, but this time Oquendo overthrew quarterback Chris Turner in the first quarter.

Franklin told me last night that the play would have worked had the throw been on target. He said Florida State's aggressive defense shifted towards Oquendo's side of the field as Maryland had hoped, leaving Turner's side pretty clear.

"There's only one guy left and he [Turner] has got two blockers," Franklin said, imagining the possibilities.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 9:30 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Offensive coordinator James Franklin said there was a fight on the practice field yesterday. This is not uncommon.

Franklin said it it's a good sign. He said it means the players' energy and enthusiasm are up. He said the "fights" usually contain some levity.

He wouldn't identify the participants. Half-joking, he said these things often start with some trash- talking -- and he mentioned linebacker Alex Wujciak as a possible culprit.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:45 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I’d say the word to describe Fridge these days is “resolute.”

He seems pretty disheartened to have been eliminated from ACC title contention, but obviously he can’t sulk. It’s his job to get the players ready for Boston College, not to fret about the Florida State game. I’ll be curious to see whether the Terps can rebound Saturday the way they have in the past.

“This is a special group of kids to me,” the coach said. “I’m very disappointed for them. I really wanted them to win this game. But, like I said, that’s not going to help us against Boston College. If we start feeling sorry for ourselves – sit around and mope – that’s not going to help us.”

Then he said: “I told them our character is being tested again and every time that’s happened this year they’ve responded.”

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen discusses the Terps' game against Boston College on Saturday during his weekly news conference.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 7:49 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Terps won't play in the EagleBank Bowl at Washington's RFK Stadium. Sorry to those locals who were hoping for easy travel.

This is the new bowl game originally called the Congressional Bowl. Navy has already accepted an invitation to play in the Dec. 20 game.

But Maryland officials tell me the schedule won't work because the game would conflict with final exams.

The game gets the ninth pick of ACC schools that are bowl-eligible.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 6:36 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Where do you want the Terps to go bowling? Keep in mind that your vote can reflect a number of factors in various order.

*What's best for Maryland's program?
*What's best logistically for fans in terms of dates and travel?
*What's the most gosh darn fun place to be for a bowl game?

Here, courtesy of the Asociated Press, is a list of bowl possibilities with dates and times. I didn't include bowl games such as "Orange" that the Terps won't be invited to. We'll know more about the realistic possibilities, of course, after Saturday's game against Boston College.

Saturday, Dec. 20

EagleBank Bowl at Washington, D.C. 11 a.m. (ESPN)

Saturday, Dec. 27

Meineke Bowl at Charlotte, N.C., 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Champs Sports Bowl at Orlando, Fla., 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Emerald Bowl at San Francisco, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Humanitarian Bowl at Boise, Idaho, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Music City Bowl at Nashville, Tenn., 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Chick-fil-A Bowl at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Thursday, Jan. 1

Capital One Bowl at Orlando, Fla., 1 p.m. (ABC)

Gator Bowl at Jacksonville, Fla., 1 p.m. (CBS)

Posted by Jeff Barker at 11:12 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (19)
        

Here, courtesy of Maryland media relations, is a look at Boston College. Remember that Dominique Davis is now the quarterback, replacing Chris Crane. Crane broke his right collarbone in the win over Wake Forest on Saturday. This will be the first start for Davis. Looks like the Terps are facing another stout defense.

Here are the notes from Maryland:

• No. 20 Boston College (8-3, 4-3 ACC) enters Saturday’s regular-season finale needing to beat Maryland to clinch a berth in the ACC championship.

• Winners of their past three games, the Eagles are tied for the FBS lead (with USC) with three shutouts this season, but two of their three losses have come in Chestnut Hill.

• BC and Florida State have each won an ACC-best three league road games, but the Eagles are just 1-2 in conference home contests.

• Boston College boasts one of the nation’s most dominant defensive units this season. The Eagles rank among the FBS leaders in interceptions (first - 23), turnovers gained (second - 31), pass efficiency defense (fourth), total defense (fifth - 269.6 ypg), rushing defense (seventh - 95.8 ypg), scoring defense (15th - 17.3 ppg), defensive red zone efficiency (ninth - 70.0 percent), pass defense (17th - 173.8 ypg) and defensive third-down efficiency (19th - 32.1 percent). Boston College leads the ACC in both rushing defense and total defense.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 9:30 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Maryland's ACC title hopes are gone, along with its Orange Bowl dreams. Probably difficult for players, fans and coaches to get up for this Saturday's Boston College game after the Florida State disaster.

But this game is important in the broad scheme of things. For 20th-ranked Boston College, of course, it's a play-in game to the ACC championship a week later.

But for Maryland, I think it's meaningful because:

--Bowl position. Teams play all season for it, so why stop now? Maryland was in the Emerald Bowl last season. That's a bowl for teams that finish in either the fifth, sixth or seventh spot in the ACC. If the Terps are to demonstrate improvement from year to year, wouldn't they continue to aim higher than last season?

--Fridge's future. Coaches lose reputations (and sometimes jobs) not just because they lose big games like last week's. No, coaches lose jobs when the administration perceives they've lost their teams. They lose jobs when it can be demonstrated that there is a pattern -- a trend -- that seems irreversible.

Coaches want to demonstrate that their teams are moving in the right direction heading into the next season.

Consider what Notre Dame's Charlie Weis said after losing to Syracuse, a loss that doesn't help his chances of staying around. "I think that the team has a chance of being pretty darn good next year," Weis said, according to Notre Dame's athletics Web site.

Maryland, for all the disappointment, has won six straight versus ranked opponents over the past two seasons. Granted, some of those teams didn't hang around the rankings very long. But at this point, Maryland and its coaches need something to hang their hats on. A seventh straight win over a ranked team would show that the Terps haven't lost their will.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

One of the hardest parts of Maryland's Saturday night loss was that the blowout occurred in front of so many of the players' family members on "Senior Night."

The 30 seniors, including injured cornerback Kevin Barnes, were introduced to the crowd one by one before the game. Coach Ralph Friedgen embraced the players under the goal posts. They then trotted toward midfield and were embraced by family members.

The players and their relatives seemed so delighted to greet each other.

A half-dozen of kicker Obi Egekeze’s relatives surrounded him, each wearing black T-shirts with “OBI” emblazoned on the front.

Center Edwin Williams said that he'll have good thoughts about what transpired at Maryland in his career. But he wasn't in the mood after the game to think about those good times just yet.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:34 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Florida State defensive lineman Everette Brown entered the Maryland game with nine sacks, so it's not as if the Terps didn't know all about him or prepare for him.

So how did Brown end up with 3 1/2 sacks?

Coach Ralph Friedgen said the Seminoles did something Maryland hadn't seen on video -- move Brown to the inside of the line.

Moving inside got Brown single coverage by Maryland's offensive line, the coach said.

If you can say anything positive about Maryland's effort, it's that Florida State's sack parade slowed in the second half. But that's little consolation to quarterback Chris Turner, who said he was hurting after the game -- probably physically and emotionally.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:30 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Ralph Friedgen said there was plenty of blame to go around, but he was more frustrated with the offense. He said quarterback Chris Turner was not on his game, and that running back Da'Rel Scott's two fumbles obviously hurt.

"It was kind of a team effort. We didn’t play well at all. I thought the defense played a little harder than the offense," the coach said.

Friedgen was asked why Maryland seems to bog down when it approaches the red zone. The Terps moved the ball early but couldn't score.

"There's a lot of mental muistakes … really kind of unforced errors. That’s what's frustrating."

Friedgen wasn't ready to blame Scott's fumbles on the tailback's sore shoulder. As far as the coach knows, that wasn't a factor.

"He got stripped on the first one. The second one he got hit pretty good," the Friedgen said.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 6:07 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Coach Ralph Friedgen said today there's still something to play for, even after Maryland's 37-3 loss to Florida State ended the team's chance of playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game.

“If we were to win Saturday we would tie for division champ [but lose the tiebreaker to Florida State]," Friedgen said. "I think that has an impact on what bowl you go to. You’d have a chance to go to a pretty good bowl.”

Getting players ready for Satuday's regular-season finale at Boston College will not be an easy task. It's true that the game could certainly have a bearing on which bowl game the Terps play in. But Maryland had been shooting all season for the Orange Bowl, and it's not easy to kiss that dream goodbye.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 5:02 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

* Quarterback Chris Turner completed his first four passes, and Maryland moved the ball well on its first two possessions. But Obi Egekeze missed a field goal, and Maryland came away with no points. I’m not saying an early score or two would have changed the result of the game, but it sure would have set a different tone.

* The Terps gave receiver Danny Oquendo another chance to throw. The lefty tossed a touchdown pass against Eastern Michigan, but this time he overthrew Turner in the first quarter.

* Florida State tried to spread out Maryland with five-receiver sets. That’s something other teams have done often against the Terps.

* Turner took a beating. He got rocked on a late hit by linebacker Dekoda Watson and commented about "cheap shots" afterward.

* Da'Rel Scott lost two more fumbles. I wonder if the injured shoulder makes it more difficult to hang on to the ball when defenders are pulling at it.

* The offensive line remains a puzzle. It struggled -- clearly -- against the Seminoles, who have an excellent defensive front.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 11:18 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

These quotes from Chris Turner came after I asked him about getting hit hard, particularly on a late hit (Florida State was penalized 15 yards) in the second quarter.

Turner said: “They played dirty, that’s for sure. That’s their M.O. What goes around comes around. I can’t do anything about that.”

Then Turner was asked about all the talking on the field and he said: "They talk and they get in your face. There’s cheap shots all game. I was getting hit on run plays all the time.”

More from Turner: "It was a good pass rush. I’m hurting a little bit; nothing I won’t be able to get over."

And: "There's still a lot to play for -- an eight-win season. We're playing for a good bowl. We want to get out of Maryland for the bowl and have a good time."

Posted by Jeff Barker at 11:13 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Game, set, match.

Amazing how fast a season can tumble. I had thought Maryland would at least live to fight another day. Even if they lost, the Terps could have remained alive if Wake Forest had beaten Boston College. But it didn’t happen.

A really tough day for the Terps, obviously. What made it worse for the Terps was how the night began: with all the seniors introduced one-by-one and then trotting out to meet their relatives on the field. And then they lose badly.

The four turnovers obviously killed Maryland. But absent those miscues, they still didn’t seem able to win.

Florida State’s defensive pressure seemed too much for the Terps. Maryland couldn’t sustain a running game, and Turner was getting pounded. He said afterward that he was “in shock” emotionally and “hurting” physically.

It won’t be easy to pull things together to play for bowl position next week. The Terps have rebounded from losses all season, but this loss is like no other.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 12:35 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (19)
        

You all know the big problems:

* Chris Turner is getting absolutely rocked. Florida State's Everette Brown has sacked him 2 1/2 times and Derek Nicholson got him once. Not to mention the late hit Turner absorbed in which Dekoda Watson put him on his back.

* Turnovers. Turner has been intercepted twice, and one led to a touchdown. And Da'Rel Scott's fumble led to a score as well.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 9:32 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

Boston College's late touchdown to beat Wake Forest means the Terps can't clinch the Atlantic Division by beating Florida State tonight.

A Maryland win means the Terps and Boston College would play for the division title next weekend.

A Maryland loss ends the Terps' title hopes.

Which all means that it's still a giant game for the Terps but that they won't be able celebrate much tonight if they win because the business of the regular season won't be concluded.

Maryland players -- wearing their black jerseys and black pants for this "blackout" game -- were warming up on this chilly night when Boston College pulled ahead. I'm sure the Boston College-Wake Forest result isn't something that Fridge wants his players thinking about as they begin their own game.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:07 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Maryland fans might get encouraged at how Boston College ran through the Seminoles for 176 yards last weekend.

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden has likened Maryland's offense to Boston College's. Both, he says, are big and physical up front. Boston College is fourth in the ACC in rushing offense, and Maryland is fifth.

But Florida State's defense is good. Its strength is pressure and big plays. The Seminoles rank first in the conference in sacks at 2.9 per game and first in tackles for losses at 8.5 a game. Owing largely to that pressure, the 'Noles are second in the conference in pass defense.

On offense, Florida State averages 192 yards on the ground -- second in the ACC only to run-happy Georgia Tech.

Boston College beat the 'Noles last week not only because of its running attack, but also because the Eagles intercepted Christian Ponder three times.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 10:22 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Florida State has designated Saturday night's Maryland game as a "sod game." That means the Seminoles -- if they win -- will bring a sample of Byrd Stadium turf back to Tallahassee.

Only certain away games get selected for this by the 'Noles.

The Florida State Web site explains:
"Sod games still represent road games won when FSU is a significant underdog. However, all bowl games are now considered sod games as well as landmark road wins no matter who was favored. Each piece of sod is buried in the cemetery next to the practice field and a tombstone is placed above it with the score and date of the game."

Maryland has a tradition of its own. The Terps have "tombstones" near the practice fields with the names of Top 10 teams they have beaten.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 8:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Florida State has been thinking about the weather. It's supposed to be chilly on Saturday night --- football weather -- and the Seminoles want to be ready.

It might help Florida State that it hasn't exactly been balmy in Tallahassee.

It was "mid-40-degree weather Tuesday night" when Florida State practiced, according to the school's athletics Web site.

You might know that this is Florida State's second straight "blackout game." The Seminoles lost the first one on their own turf last weekend and now will encounter Maryland's sea of black-clad fans.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 7:00 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Maryland’s night games this season haven’t worked out well. The Terps lost at Middle Tennessee, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Facing another night game – this one at home – did Fridge consider practicing at night?

“Monday nights we do practice and after 4:30 [on the other days] it’s dark anyway,” the coach said.

Is there a reason for the night-game losses?

“I’d like to have a dollar for every guy who says, ‘Can you figure your team out?’ I don’t know what it is, I really don’t,” Fridge said. “They need to be ready to play this week, I don’t know why they wouldn’t be.”

Continue reading "The Terps under the lights" »

Posted by Jeff Barker at 6:30 AM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Back by popular demand is a list of bowl games picking ACC teams. Interesting to see where the Terps end up if they're not Miami-bound. I wonder what bowl games you Terps fans would most prefer if they're not in the Orange Bowl.

The Orange Bowl, as you probably know, gets the ACC champ.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl gets its pick of the rest. Then comes the Gator, followed by Champs Sports.

After that, the Music City, Meineke and Emerald bowls make bids for the ACC teams they want. Music City and Meineke are at the top of the pecking order.

Then comes the Humanitarian Bowl and the brand-new EagleBank Bowl in Washington D.C.

Posted by Jeff Barker at 12:47 PM in Terps football | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

I wrote a story for today's paper on coach Bobby Bowden and how many Florida State fans seem to be waiting impatiently for him to duplicate the success he had with the program in the 1990s.

It's no secret that many Seminoles fans believe Bowden's best coaching days are past -- that he's the "problem."

I think college football has changed since Bowden's Seminoles won national championships in 1993 and 1999. There are more schools trying to be big players -- consider the emergence of South Florida and Central Florida -- and more competition for recruits.

"I think there is a lot more parity than there was 10-15 years ago," said Michael Depiro, a Florida State grade from Alexandria, Va.

Continue reading "On Coach Bowden and his record" »