Terps Open Final Week Of Fall Football Camp
8/28/2000 8:00:00 AM | Football
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Aug. 28, 2000
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Two weeks from their 2000 season opener, the Maryland Terrapins begin the final days of fall camp this week. Coach Ron Vanderlinden conducts two-a-day practices on Monday and Tuesday before University of Maryland classes commence on Wednesday, Aug. 30.
The Terrapins, 5-6 in 1999 and just one game shy of bowl qualification, received good news last week when it was determined that senior tailback and Heisman Trophy candidate LaMont Jordan (Forestville, Md.) was eligible for the fall campaign. That good news was evidently good enough to convince voters in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll who, on Monday, cast votes for the Terrapins for the first time since a string of seven straight weeks last season.
With Jordan, Maryland returns 15 starters from a year ago, including senior backfield teammate Matt Kalapinski (Marshfield, Mass.) who has been ranked among the country's top fullbacks. First in the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing last season and 12th in the nation, the Maryland offense returns its top five runners along with three starters on its offensive line.
Jordan begins his assault on the Maryland and ACC record books on Sept. 9 when the Terps host Temple in the home and season opener from Byrd Stadium at 6 p.m. He enters the season as the NCAA's active career rushing leader.
Rankings
Maryland received six votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll on Monday, Aug. 28 to mark the first poll votes for the Terrapins since Nov. 7, 1999.
Two Terp opponents are ranked in this week's national college football polls: Florida State (#2 AP, #2 ESPN/USA Today) and Clemson (#17, #18). Georgia Tech and Virginia both received votes in both polls. Maryland received six votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Jordan Watch
LaMont Jordan, a unanimous preseason first team All-American in preview magazines nationwide, rushed for a school-record 1,632 yards as a junior and is just 91 yards shy of the Maryland career rushing mark.
-- After leading the country in rushing over last year's final six games, he is 1,376 yards from becoming the ACC's all-time rushing leader.
-- A season of just 100 yards better than last season will result in a top 10 finish among the NCAA's all-time rushing leaders.
Moore On The Butkus Watch
Junior linebacker Marlon Moore (Brandywine, Md.) has been named as one of 70 preliminary candidates for the Dick Butkus Award which annually honors the nation's top linebacker. Moore, a second-year starter and one of three returning starters to a linebacking corps ranked by Lindy's Preseason Annual as the eighth best unit in the country, led the Terps with 130 tackles last season. He averaged 11.8 stops per game, including a career-high 16 tackles against Clemson.
