Jordan Returns To Terrapin Gridiron
8/25/2000 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 25, 2000
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Upon fulfilling a summer's worth of academic requirements, Maryland senior tailback LaMont Jordan --- a unanimous preseason All-American in nine select college football magazines --- made a successful return to the playing field on Friday. Jordan and fourth-year coach Ron Vanderlinden each were available for comments to the media following his first day of action which was limited to shorts and shoulder pads while the rest of his Terrapin teammates conducted their fourth day of workouts in full pads.
Maryland, which draws an early bye in its 2000 schedule, does not open its season until Sept. 9 in a home-opener at Byrd Stadium against Temple.
Vanderlinden and Jordan quotes follow.
Head Coach Ron Vanderlinden
On Jordan's return in general: "It's good to have him back. He'll be ready to play. I think we've got good players and LaMont just makes them better. It's good to get this situation out of the way so we can start concentrating on football."
On the running back situation overall: "I really do feel like Mukala Sikyala and Bruce Perry have really had outstanding camps. They're both really good players. Marc Riley has had a really good camp, as well. So they add some really good depth to the position. I don't know what everyone's roles will be, we'll have to see how things unfold right now. LaMont just has to work back into it. He's got to work and work and work. LaMont has conditioned hard the last three weeks, so I don't think physically he's that far away, but you know, there's a football fitness too --- getting hit and cutting and all those things you've just got to go through. You can't simulate all those things. It's been awhile for him since he missed the spring, but he is a senior and he's played a lot of football. I think he'll get back into the swing pretty quickly."
Senior Tailback LaMont Jordan
On the first day: "I was happy to be out there. I just got my feet wet today. I've got three days to go in helmet and shoulder pads, but I'm looking forward to get back into the pads."
On feeling any pressure: "I'm not going to put any more pressure on myself. The only thing that I can do now is go out and concentrate on playing football."
On being close to 100 percent: "As far as percentages, I'll answer that the way as I have the last two weeks. I invite anyone to come check us out on Sept. 9 and see for yourself, then."
On balancing responsibilities the last couple of weeks: "Everything I did was just a matter of prioritizing all the things I needed to do. With the help of our academic support staff and all of the teammates and coaches, it made it easier on me. When camp started, I wanted to be out there with my teammates, so that was kind of hard. But I had business that I had to take care of."
On first couple of practices: "I just want to get my footwork together, go through all the running back drills, catch some passes, do 7-on-7 and things like that so that when I put my pads on my feet won't be in question. Being in running shape is one thing, but football shape is another. I just have to get my legs ready for that type of cutting. Coach [Dwight] Galt has been running the heck out of me. He's been making sure I was ready for practice, and I'm going to continue to run with him after practice."
On taking things in stride: "I've been myself. There's nothing to celebrate. I had something to do. I had a job to do and I got the job done. There's nothing to celebrate. As far as anything to do with the Heisman Trophy, my first priority is absolutely to go out and put the team in its best position to win football games. I am getting a little excited, but I'm trying to control my emotions right now because my focus has to be on getting ready to be in full gear. I've been counting the days. It's been 10 months and five days since I last put on the pads. That's what I'm really looking forward to, is getting into full gear and getting into contact. Once I get back into the swing of things."
On how coaches have reacted over the summer: "I don't know how it's been on any of the coaches. I know if I was a coach and my "so-called" star athlete was not out there to practice, it would worry me a little bit also. But with or without LaMont Jordan, Maryland football is going to go on. But with the guys we have behind me, Mookie [Mukala Sikyala] and Bruce [Perry}, they can go out there and get the job done."
On celebrating his return: "We have business to take care of. After the Virginia game last year, everyone was hurting. I sat down and watched the tape yesterday and thought, 'I can't wait to get out there and play football.' That's our main focus right now. Anything less than a winning season is not acceptable. We beat some teams last year that I don't think we've beaten in years. What we have to do is play football and win games. Only then will we celebrate. Our main focus is to go to a bowl game. This has just been another hurdle I had to get through in life. I won't tell you I wasn't happy when I found out I could play again. I was smiling and high-fiving. I won't lie to you, but my only focus right now is to play football and concentrate on winning that first game of our season."
