Nov. 10, 2001

Recap| Box Score| Notes

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - No. 11 Maryland tromped to a 37-20 Atlantic Coast Conference victory over Clemson on Saturday to push its record to 9-1 and earn a share of the ACC title, after Florida State's loss to NC State earlier in the evening. Currently in sole possession of the ACC lead, the Terrapins can win the title outright, their first since 1985, with a win at NC State next weekend.

Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen

On the team's overall performance:
"I'm proud of the way our kids played, on both sides of the ball. We had some injuries and I thought our staff came up with a great game plan. We were able to change some things and Domonique Foxworth stepped up and answered the bell."

On being 9-1 as a first-year head coach:
"One radio station asked me the other day, 'In your wildest dreams, did you ever think that you could be 8-1?" And I said, 'Yes, in my wildest dreams.' I always dream wild. I just told Dr. [Deborah] Yow this has screwed up my five-year plan. Next year is another year, so you enjoy it while you can."

On this year's seniors:
"Just think about these seniors. You talk about perseverance. They never get down, they always hung in there and have done everything I have asked them to do. They paid the price and to have them play their last game in Byrd Stadium [in front of] a complete sellout -- and loud. It's got to be the beginning of something really good here."

On the fan support and the students tearing down the goalposts:
"What happens when you do things like that is great, but if someone gets hurt, then we have restrictions and we can't enjoy the game the way we really want to enjoy the game. It was a little scary out there. I just turned around to a couple and said 'Just calm down.' And they did, I was shocked."

Dominique Foxworth
"There was a lot of pressure on me this week but there is good pressure and there is bad pressure."

"This was my first start and it was the seniors' last home game. It was very important for the seniors and it was kind of ironic that a freshman's first start was during the seniors' last game. One of our goals was to win all the home games so there was a lot of pressure on me. We did that and I knew all the coaches and players had confidence in me."

Melvin Fowler
"It was a long time coming for me. To go out the way we did was like a story book. You could not ask for better the way we won in that type of situation. It was just amazing."

E. J. Henderson
"It feels good to be in a class with a guy like Randy White [in reference to breaking White's Maryland record for TFLs in a season.] He was a heck of a player and it feels good to even be mentioned with them. To break a record like his is a good feeling."

Guilian Gary
"We started thinking ACC Championship before we walked out on that field. When the seniors got called out on the field we saw the how many people were there to support us. When we first came out the student section was already packed. Normally when you first come out the student section is not packed. Nobody in the locker room knew how many people were out there so when back everybody started screaming and hollering. Everybody was there for a reason and that was to see us become ACC champions."

Clemson Coach Tommy Bowden

On the Maryland passing game:
"We tried to stop the run and make them throw it. We have struggled all year on the pass. We tried to play zone and get pressure on the quarterback. We put some pressure on some guys that weren't ready for it. Last year we got on a roll and things went our way and we went on an 8-0 run. It looks like this year, it is Maryland's opportunity."

On the Maryland defense:
"They kept us off balance when we got in the red zone."

On taking out Woodrow Dantzler:
"I just wanted to give another guy an opportunity. We did it one other time this season."

On Maryland's success:
"I don't think there is any doubt, this Maryland team is for real. I compare them to our team last year, the ball went our way and you get confident, it's a good feeling. Coach Friedgen and his staff have done a great job."

On Maryland Butkus Award candidate E.J. Henderson:
"I talked to some pro scouts who said he could be a high first round pick. From a Clemson standpoint, I hope he goes out."

On the Byrd Stadium crowd:
"I was happy for them. For the ACC, it brings a nice college environment to another campus in our conference. At Clemson, we do that on a week-to-week basis and it's pretty exciting. You can see what Maryland is trying to create here. Hopefully for them they keep it going."