Terps Don Pads For First Time On Tuesday
8/21/2000 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 21, 2000
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland Terrapins put on their hitting shoes -- and pads -- on Tuesday, as Ron Vanderlinden's 2000 troops swing their fall camp into high gear this week.
Maryland, bolstered by the return of 15 starters and the lingering motivation of opportunities lost last November, hosts Big East foe Temple on Sept. 9 in its home and season opener at Byrd Stadium. Kickoff for the Terps vs. the Owls is 6 p.m.
Maryland meets Temple for the fourth straight season in 2000, hoping to kick off its campaign with a fourth straight win over the Owls. Last season's 6-0 victory in Philly was less than awe-inspiring, but the Terps hope to match their 30-point scoring average from a year ago early in the 2000 schedule.
The key to the Maryland offense should be a revived pass game which features a bevy of receivers and improved quarterback play from one of three preseason candidates for the signal-calling job -- incumbent starter Calvin McCall, JUCO transfer Shaun Hill or strong-armed sophomore Latrez Harrison. Buoyed by the No. 12 rushing attack in the country and the best in the ACC last season, the Terps offense has high hopes.
Also making its first appearance in pads this week is a Maryland defense guided by one of the country's most highly-regarded linebacking units and a seasoned secondary consisting of four previous starters at two safety positions. Marlon Moore and Aaron Thompson anchor a mostly-junior linebacking unit which includes the return of Kevin Bishop, injured at NC State last season. Other high-profile players in the defensive middle include rush ends Michael Whaley and Ryan Swift, and defensive tackles Kris Jenkins and Charles Hill. Other defensive standouts include secondary mates Shawn Forte, Rod Littles, Tony Jackson, Randall Jones and Tony Okanlawon.
The Terrapins' special teams units were among the country's finest in 1999, both from a return and kicking standpoint. High-octane return specialists Guilian Gary and Scooter Monroe were splendid last season when not catching passes. Kicker Brian Kopka is a preseason candidate for the Lou Groza Award which acknowledges the nation's top placekicker, and punter Brooks Barnard was a third-team Freshman All-America in 1999 after posting a 42.1 punting average.
Two-a-day practices continue through Friday. The Terps will take Sunday off before their final week of camp. Game week preparations for Temple begin on Sept. 4.
Maryland season and single-game tickets are available by contacting the Terrapins' ticket office at 301-314-7070. Subsequent home games include a Sept. 23 bout with Middle Tennessee State at 6 p.m., and a Thursday night, Sept. 28 showdown with defending national champion Florida State in the Terps' ACC opener. Kickoff for the FSU game is 8 p.m. Tickets for the Florida State battle can also be obtained through TicketMaster Online.
