Vanderlinden, Terps Prepare For Thursday Night's Showdown With No. 2 Florida State
9/26/2000 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 26, 2000
Coach Vanderlinden on the Florida State football program:
"There is not another program in the history of college football that has had the type of success that Florida State has had. For thirteen consecutive seasons, Florida State has finished the season ranked in the top four. No one has come close to doing that. When you look at their roster, although names change, they have ten to twelve first round draft choices playing every single game. They are a team that the vast majority of their starters go on to play in the NFL."
Coach Vanderlinden on the Florida State defense:
"They play a very challenging style of defense that only a team of great players could get away with because they play so much man coverage in the secondary and overload you inside. It is so tough to consistently move the ball against them."
Coach Vanderlinden on Florida State quarterback Chris Wenke:
"I think Chris Wenke is equal to the billing he gets. I think he is a terrific player that understands their offense well and he has plenty of poise. As a third year starter, he has seen every blitz and every defense imaginable, and their offensive line protects him so well."
Coach Vanderlinden on what Maryland needs to do Thursday night versus Florida State:
"We will need to be at the top of our game in every area if we are going to compete with Florida State."
Coach Vanderlinden on the mental state of the Terps heading into Thursday night's showdown with the Seminoles:
"I was encouraged by the way the team came out and practiced yesterday. We were in a cold, driving rain and I thought our players responded very well. I liked the enthusiasm and the excitement that I saw. I think our guys are getting geared up for a big challenge."
Coach Vanderlinden on the crowd at Byrd Stadium this season and for the Florida State game:
"I think its great that the Maryland fans and the Washington D.C. fans are getting excited for a big game in College Park. I thought the crowd for the Temple game was terrific and I felt we had a nice crowd last week also for the Middle Tennessee game."
Coach Vanderlinden on LaMont Jordan's recording setting performance versus Middle Tennessee State last week:
"LaMont Jordan had a big night with 157 all-purpose yards making him Maryland's all-time leader in all-purpose yards. We all know that LaMont is going to break loose and it is just a matter of when. He has had a great team attitude and he wants to do what he can do for us to win."
