Terps Prepare for Beginning of Fall Football Drills
6/21/1999 8:00:00 AM | Football
July 15, 1998
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland's football program has announced its preseason training schedule which begins with the arrival of incoming freshmen and transfers on Monday, Aug. 10. Head coach Ron Vanderlinden begins his second season at the Terrapins' helm by welcoming 21 scholarship newcomers to the opening of 1998 practice.
Terp newcomers will practice exclusively for two days, Aug. 13-14, before returning players report and the squad hosts its annual Local Media Day on Friday, Aug. 14. Media day activities will be held during the afternoon at Byrd Stadium.
Vanderlinden and his staff will conduct the first full-squad practice on Saturday, Aug. 15. The Terps open their 1998 schedule on Sept. 5 against James Madison at Byrd Stadium, followed by their ACC opener the following week at Top 20-ranked Virginia.
Please contact the Maryland media relations office for practice schedules and times.
SCHEDULE
The '98 Terrapin schedule is again assured of being one of the nation's most competitive when including highly-touted West Virginia with the regular assembly of ACC opponents. Five opponents on the '98 schedule played in bowl games last season, and the seven that posted winning records in '97 combined to average eight victories among them. Overall, Maryland's 1998 opponents posted a 68-53 regular season record in 1997, a winning percentage of .562.
Though preseason AP and CNN/USA TODAY polls have not yet been released, a preliminary consensus of preseason magazines lists five Terp opponents among the Top 30: Florida State (2nd), West Virginia (10th), North Carolina (12th), Virginia (16th) and Georgia Tech (27th).
Game times for Terps games in September were announced last week. All games in September begin at 6 p.m. except for the ACC opener at Virginia which kicks off at noon.
COACH RON VANDERLINDEN
Terrapin head coach Ron Vanderlinden (Albion College '78) begins his second season at Maryland after helping rebuild struggling programs at Colorado (1983-91) and Northwestern (1992-96). Vanderlinden, 42, was named the Terps' head coach in December of 1996 after a five-year stint as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Northwestern under head coach Gary Barnett. He helped guide the Wildcats to a pair of Big Ten championships and a 1995 Rose Bowl appearance. As defensive line coach in nine seasons under Bill McCartney at CU, he helped guide the Buffaloes to the 1990 national championship, three Big Eight titles, and six bowl games. Counting two years at Michigan, Vanderlinden has coaching experience in nine major bowl games.
PRESEASON RANKINGS
Early preseason previews have the Terps ranked anywhere from fifth to ninth in the ACC. Football Action and Bob Griese's College Football Preview both selected Maryland fifth in their ACC rankings. Athlon Sports ranked the Terps sixth in the ACC.
PRESEASON HONORS
Five different Terps have been tabbed for various preseason honors including All-America mentions for ILB Eric Barton and RB LaMont Jordan. Barton has been named to All-America checklists and teams in The Sporting News, Lindy's National College Football and Bob Griese's College Football Preview. Jordan was on the All-America checklist issued by Lindy's.
LINEBACKING TANDEM
Maryland boasts one of the nation's top duos in seniors Kendall Ogle (138 tackles) and Eric Barton (134), the ACC's top two returning tacklers. Ogle registered double-digit tackles in 9-of-11 games last season while Barton recorded eight such efforts. Both were Butkus Award nominees last season.
Barton has made 23 starts over the past three seasons, including 22 consecutive as he enters his senior year. He recorded 48 tackles during a four-game stretch last season despite a cast on his right hand, and in 1996 became only the second sophomore in school history to lead the team in tackles. He was the Terps' defensive MVP in 1997.
Ogle, who came to Maryland originally as a running back, nearly doubled his sophomore total of 75 total stops on his way to finishing second in the ACC as a junior. He turned in a career-best 17 stops vs. Clemson and also recorded his first career interception to help set up a touchdown against the Tigers.
JORDAN TURNS SOPHOMORE
A preseason nomination for the Doak Walker Award presented to the nation's top running back, LaMont Jordan was the top freshman rusher in the ACC last season and fifth-best overall. Jordan was runner-up for ACC Rookie-of-the-Year in 1997 while leading the Terps with freshman records of 689 yards on 159 carries. His best games were at Temple and North Carolina State where he rushed for 135 yards on 21 carries, and 126 yards on 22 carries, respectively. At Florida State in just the second game of his college career, he rushed five times for 52 yards -- including a 44-yard TD which was the fourth-longest run ever by a Terp freshman.
TERPS PERSONNEL
Eleven starters are among the 36 letterwinners that return for Maryland in 1998.
On offense, key personnel include Jordan, wide receiver Moises Cruz, tight end Mike Hull and three starters along the offensive front. Cruz led the Terps in receptions and receiving yards while a redshirt freshman last season. Key among OL returners is 6-7, 299-pound tackle John Feugill who has made 23 starts in his career.
Defensively, Barton and Ogle are joined by returning starters Delbert Cowsette at defensive tackle, and cornerback Lynde Washington.
Placekicker Brian Kopka also returns, as does punter Russ Edwards.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for 1998 Maryland football are available by calling the Terp ticket office at 301-314-7070, or 800-462-TERP.
1998 MEDIA DAY
The Terrapins' annual Media Day for local outlets will be conducted on Friday, Aug. 14 at Byrd Stadium. Coach Vanderlinden and players will entertain questions from the media during a 90-minute session from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
ACC FOOTBALL TOUR
The annual ACC Football Tour for media will arrive in College Park on Sunday, Aug. 23. Coach Vanderlinden and select players will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a site still to be determined.
1998 MEDIA CREDENTIALS
Season and single game media credentials may be obtained by contacting the Maryland media relations office. Official request must be made on company letterhead, by mail, or fax to 301-314-9094.
