Building On Their Success
10/17/2001 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 17, 2001
It hasn't taken long for Maryland to distinguish itself.
Just six games into their season, the undefeated Terrapins have accomplished things they haven't done in years. They hope to build on that momentum in a matchup with a winless Duke squad Saturday.
Maryland (6-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), which averaged just four wins in its previous 15 seasons, is already bowl eligible for the first time since 1995 and hopes to record its fifth conference win - a feat it has not reached since 1985.
The Terrapins are inching closer to their best start since 1978, when they won their first eight games.
Maryland only seems to be improving as the season goes on. The Terrapins' 20-17 overtime victory over then-No. 15 Georgia Tech on Friday was their first win over a ranked team since 1990.
Only about half way through his first season with Maryland, Ralph Friedgen has transformed Maryland into an unbeaten, first-place team.
While Friedgen is known as a strong coach of offense, it has been the Maryland defense that has made the biggest strides.
The Terrapins are holding opponents to 14.7 points per game after allowing 25.5 per contest last season. They have 14 interceptions - more than all of last season - and a plus-14 turnover ratio.
Maryland linebacker E.J. Henderson was named the conference's top defensive lineman this week. He matched a career-high with 18 tackles Friday. Henderson, who had four tackles for loss and a sack, returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown.
Duke (0-6, 0-4), coming off a 42-35 loss to Wake Forest on Saturday, has lost 18 straight games, 13 of which were in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
Duke's last win was a 48-35 decision in 1999 against Wake Forest.
Maryland leads the all-time series 26-18.
