Football Fall Drills Move into Second Week
8/16/1999 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 16, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - "I think we have some playmakers this year," says Maryland head football coach Ron Vanderlinden. "I'm really encouraged by what's going on."
Vanderlinden, entering his third fall camp as field boss of the Maryland Terrapins, guides his troops into their second week of drills beginning on Monday, Aug. 16, the first day in pads. Maryland, hoping to rebound from a 3-8 campaign in 1998, opens its 1999 slate at Temple on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
ACC Media Tour
The annual tour of Atlantic Coast Conference writers comes to Maryland on Saturday, Aug. 21. The
Terps will conduct a brief practice at 10 a.m. before Coach Vanderlinden hosts questions from the
media at 11:30 from the team room of the Gossett Team House. The agenda for Saturday's ACC Tour
10:00 - Practice
11:30 -Vanderlinden press conference
12:15 -Player interviews (WR Jermaine Arrington, DL Delbert Cowsette, CB Renard Cox, TB LaMont Jordan, FB Matt Kalapinski, OT Brad Messina, TB Mukala Sikyala, DL Peter Timmins)
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MARYLAND (0-0, 0-0 ACC) |
Lunch and a work period are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Tyser Tower press box.
Vanderlinden Press Luncheons
In an effort to provide Washington, Baltimore and additional state media a greater opportunity to
cover Coach Vanderlinden's weekly press luncheons, this season's weekly address will move from Mondays
to Tuesdays in 1999.
All weekly press luncheons are conducted at noon at the Tyser Tower press box, level II. The opening luncheon takes place on Tuesday, Aug. 31 at noon, two days prior to the Terps' opening game at Temple.
Media Services
Game credentials will be distributed during the weeks prior to Maryland's Sept. 11 home opener
against Western Carolina. Credential requests must be made by contacting the media relations office in
writing, on company letterhead. Weekly releases are available by fax or email by contacting the media
relations office at 301-314-7064.
Terps On Ticketmaster Online
University of Maryland football tickets are now available on the Internet through Ticketmaster.
After aligning with Ticketmaster to offer Maryland football tickets in stores and local outlets last
year, ticket purchases can now be made online at www.Ticketmaster.com.
Maryland's home opener is Sept. 11 vs. Western Carolina at 6 p.m.
Doak Walker Nominee
Junior tailback LaMont Jordan (Forestville, Md.), already halfway to the Maryland career rushing
mark (3,317 by Charlie Wysocki, 1978-81) with 1,595 yards in two seasons, begins his climb up the
Terrapin career rushing chart when the Terps travel to Temple. He is currently 12th all-time. Jordan,
who rushed for 100 yards on five occasions in 1998, boasts 138- and 135-yard efforts against the Owls
during the last two seasons. He finished second in the ACC in rushing last season with 906 yards and
90.6 rushing yards per game. He was fifth in the ACC as a freshman, finishing as the runner-up for
conference rookie of the year honors.
Last season, Jordan was 94 yards shy of becoming only the fourth Maryland back in history to rush for 1,000 yards. His efforts through barely 10 games helped Maryland emerge from last in the ACC in rushing in 1997 to third in 1998. Maryland's rushing game was the sixth-most improved in the country last season.
He has been nominated for the Doak Walker national running back award for the second straight season.
Improve and Win More Games
"What I want to do in year number three," said Vanderlinden, "is to continue to improve and to win
more games."
Maryland, entering the third year of the Vanderlinden Era, saw marked improvement among rushing and defensive categories in 1998. Also notable were a reduction in sacks >from Vandy's first season, and a significant improvement in point differential.
From Youngest to Experienced
Maryland employed at least 20 freshmen and sophomores on its two deep in every game last season. At
least 10 first or second-year players started in four of the five games to end the 1998 campaign.
In 1999, though the team is still young, the Terps return 10 of 11 starters on offense and six on defense. Added to the defensive mix are Erwyn Lyght (Westfield, N.J.) and Lewis Sanders (Staten Island, N.Y.) who started most of the 1997 season but missed much or all of last year.
A 17th returning starter from 1998 is placekicker Brian Kopka (Hollywood, Fla.) who was a Groza award semifinalist last season.
Filling the Linebacker Void
The Terps will carry a new look among their linebacking corps in 1999, filling the vacancies left
by NFL draft picks Eric Barton and Kendall Ogle. Returning in the outside spot is sophomore Aaron
Thompson (Baltimore, Md.) who is the team's second-leading returning tackler.
Receiving preliminary attention as the probable starter at Ogle's weakside backer spot is sophomore Marlon Moore (Brandywine, Md.) who was a backup at that post during 1998. Contending for the strongside position in place of Barton are transfer sophomore Kevin Bishop (St. Petersburg, Fla.), and returning sophomores Monte Graves (Annapolis, Md.) and Reggie Lewis (Chicago, Ill.).
Secondary Strength
In recent years past, the defensive secondary has been considered a Maryland liability, however in
1999 it may be the strength of the Terrapin defense. Returning are three starters from 1998 and a
fourth, Lewis Sanders, who was regarded as the Terps' top DB in 1997.
Sanders, the team's fastest player, has moved from his former free safety post to right cornerback. At the left corner slot, senior Renard Cox (Richmond, Va.) battles with sophomore Tony Okanlawon (Forestville, Md.) who moved into the starting lineup late in his freshman season. Cox saw regular time all last season shuffling between corner and safety responsibilities.
Returning at safety are '98 starters Shawn Forte (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) and Tony Jackson (Ellicott City, Md.). Jackson only started a pair of contests, but saw regular duty and won the job from sophomore Rod Littles (Gainesville, Fla.) during the spring. All six players should make considerable contributions.
The QB Situation
"It's Randall's job to lose," Vanderlinden has been quoted as saying early in camp.
Randall Jones (Frederick, Md.) was a four-game starter last season as a true freshman, and in fact the first true freshman starting quarterback in Maryland history.
However, pressing Jones for the top spot are redshirt freshman Calvin McCall (Miami, Fla.), true freshman blue-chipper Latrez Harrison (Atlanta, Ga.) and fifth-year senior Trey Evans (Austin, Texas).
All four are expected to have a chance to compete for the position, with Jones and McCall entering fall camp in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Harrison is expected to be given time to learn the Maryland system while earning his shot at the position while Evans nearly had the job last fall before tearing an ACL during camp.
Specialty Additions
Leaving spring drills, Kopka was secure as the Terps' placekicker with Sean Starner (Mechanicsburg,
Pa.) the starter at punter. However, with the loss of three-year starter Russ Edwards in the punting
slot, Vanderlinden has brought a pair of transfers to camp, to compete with Starner for the post as
punter.
Brooks Barnard (Arnold, Md.) and Roger Evans (Parkton, Md.) both are former All-Met kicking specialists by the Washington Post, and both have been offered the chance to compete for the punting position with Starner. Barnard opted to attend the University of Oklahoma to study meteorology, but when shunned as a practice player with the Sooners, chose to return to his home state this fall. Evans transfers from Lackawanna JC in Pennsylvania.
Cruz Takes Leave in 1999
Citing personal and financial problems recently, wide receiver Moises Cruz (Germantown, Md.) has
chosen to leave the Maryland football program this season, with hopes of returning in spring 2000.
Seeing Red
Unveiled for the first time at the Terps' media day last week, were red jerseys that the Terps will
wear in 1999, a traditional move to reflect Maryland's original color, and the color worn by
nationally-ranked Maryland teams in the '50s, '70s and '80s.
Camp Facts and Coverage
Maryland Fall Camp Schedule
Aug. 16 Practice (8:50 & 3:30)
Aug. 17 Practice (8:50 & 3:30)
Aug. 18 Practice (8:50 & 3:30)
Aug. 19 Practice (8:50 & 3:30)
Aug. 20 Practice (8:50 & 3:30)
Aug. 21 ACC Media Tour,
Practice (10:00)
Aug. 22 Off
Aug. 23 Practice (8:50 & 3:30)
Aug. 24 Practice (8:50 & 3:30)
Aug. 26 Practice (2:30)
Aug. 27 Off - Begin Temple Week
Aug. 28 Practice (3:00)
Aug. 29 Practice (6:00)
Aug. 30 Practice (6:00)
Aug. 31 Vanderlinden Press Luncheon (Noon), Practice (6:00)
Sept. 1 First Day of Classes,
Travel to Temple
Sept. 2 at Temple (6:00)
umterps.com: Maryland sports news on the World Wide Web, updated daily. Live in-game statistics and
play-by-play.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Aug. 16 First practice in pads
Aug. 21 ACC Football Tour at Maryland
Aug. 31 Vanderlinden Press Luncheon
(Noon at Tyser Tower II)
Sept. 2 Maryland at Temple (6 p.m.)
Sept. 7 Vanderlinden Press Luncheon
Sept. 11 Maryland vs. W. Carolina (6 p.m.)
Sept. 14 Vanderlinden Press Luncheon
Sept. 18 Maryland vs. West Virginia (Noon)
MARYLAND (0-0, 0-0 ACC)S2 at Temple 6 p.m. S11 Western Carolina 6 p.m. S18 West Virginia (ESPN2) Noon S25 idle S30 * at Georgia Tech (ESPN) 8 p.m. O9 * at Wake Forest TBA O16 * Clemson TBA O23 * North Carolina TBA O30 * Duke TBA N6 * at NC State TBA N13 * at Florida State TBA N20 * Virginia TBA * ACC game1998 FINAL ACC STANDINGS
ACC Overall
Teams W L W L Streak
Florida State 7 1 11 2 L1
Georgia Tech 7 1 10 2 W5
Virginia 6 2 9 3 L1
NC State 5 3 7 5 L2
North Carolina 5 3 7 5 W3
Duke 2 6 4 7 L3
Wake Forest 2 6 3 8 L5
Maryland 1 7 3 8 L1
Clemson 1 7 3 8 W1
ACC Bowl Game Results
Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 19)
North Carolina 20, San Diego State 13
Micron PC Bowl (Dec. 29)
Miami 46, NC State 23
Peach Bowl (Dec. 31)
Georgia 35, Virginia 33
Gator Bowl (Jan. 1)
Georgia Tech 35, Notre Dame 28
Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 4)
Tennessee 23, Florida State 16
QUOTING COACH VANDERLINDEN
On fall camp, in general: "I think things are going well. This is the farthest along that we have been as a team. We have a considerable number of guys who already know our offensive and defensive systems. These guys want to win. They want to win badly. You can see it in them."
On the class of newcomers: "As recruiting is concerned, it was a good year for us. We really like the young guys we've brought in. We had a good year. I think we have some playmakers this year. I'm really encouraged with what's going on. It gives our fans some hope for the future."
On preseason polls: "I don't pay a lot of attention to the polls. Plus, you have to earn your spurs. Hopefully, we'll earn some respect this year. When I was at Northwestern, we beat Notre Dame when we were picked last in the Big Ten, and we went on to the Rose Bowl. When I was at Colorado, we were 1-10 the year before we went 7-4 and went to a bowl game. So I don't pay much attention to where people pick us to finish."
On goals for the season: "What I want to do in year No. 3 is continue making improvement, and win more games. To put a figure on the number of wins we'd like limits you, I think, so I'm not into predictions. First and foremost, our goal is to have a winning season, and once we accomplish that, then we can re-set our goals."
On moving forward: "A year ago we were in 10 games going into the fourth quarter. In 1997, there was a 13.4 -point differential between us and our opponents. Last year, that dropped to a four-point differential heading into the fourth quarter. Now what we need to do to take the next step forward is to improve our passing attack to complement the run game, and I believe if we do that, and continue to improve at every position, it will translate into increased wins."
On commitment to winning: "I told our team that what is important now is winning. We have come a long way, and I really do believe that we have a team that is capable of breaking through and winning. I've constantly told our players that success doesn't come to you and it doesn't just happen. You have to go get it. What I'm encouraged by is the attitude and chemistry within our ranks, and the fact we had 36 players make a tremendous commitment by staying in College Park this summer, whether they were in school or working. They made a commitment that they were taking control of this football team. I see all the positive steps. We are right on schedule."
On the quarterback situation: "Right now, coming out of spring ball, Randall Jones is our starting quarterback. He made tremendous improvement during the spring. You can look at (Georgia Tech's) Joe Hamilton or (NC State's) Jamie Barnette, or John Elway, Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf ... first-year quarterbacks don't play well. Randall played well the last two games of last season. He is a competitor, and he's strong and smart. I feel good about the progress he's made. He, too, is just a sophomore. Calvin McCall, who we redshirted a year ago, also had a good spring. Calvin is a close No. 2. I feel quarterback is a healthy position. I'm excited about watching it develop."
On Latrez Harrison: "After his first four freshman practices I would say that he looks like everything we hoped he would be. We are going to give Latrez every opportunity to learn our offense, and we're going to take it day to day after that."
On running back LaMont Jordan: "He has the talent to be special, and displayed that several times a year ago. He can be as good as he wants to be."
