Postcards From Miami - Day 6: Coaches Luncheon And The Final Practice
12/31/2001 7:00:00 AM | Football
Fast Fact of the Day: Many may think this is Maryland's first game on Jan. 2, but the Terps actually have played on Jan. 2 three previous times, going 2-1 with wins in the 1950 Gator Bowl, 1952 Sugar Bowl and a loss in the 1956 Orange Bowl.
By Jason Yellin
Maryland Media Relations
As the players awoke on New Year's Eve Day, the weather was dark and damp as the rain was falling and hard. That didn't dampen the Terps spirit as they team had a full day - including its final practice at Barry University.
Today was treated as a Thursday in the Terps' normal workweek in preparation for a typical Saturday game. Of course the Orange Bowl is on a Wednesday forcing a different schedule when it comes to the days of the week.
The team went through weight lifting sessions this morning beginning with the scout team, followed by the defensive players at 9 a.m. and the offense at 10 a.m. The players worked breakfast around their schedules.
At 11 a.m., head coach Ralph Friedgen the Terrapin Council headed off to the AT&T Wireless Services Orange Bowl Coaches Luncheon at the Renaissance Biscayne Bay in Miami. Among the players on the council are Shaun Hill, E.J. Henderson, Aaron Thompson, Marlon Moye-Moore, Todd Wike, Jeff Dugan, Dennard Wilson, Matt Crawford and Tony Jackson.
The luncheon which features the coaches Ralph Friedgen of Maryland Steve Spurrier of Florida was attended by a sellout crowd of about 1,200 fans, boosters and supporters. More than 250 Maryland supporters were in attendance.
The luncheon was emceed by Channel 6 personality Guy Rawlings, who said he was going to have a tough time deciding to who to root for in the game since he was a Maryland native, but graduated from Florida.
It was a great event at which the players and coaches mingled with the patrons, signing autographs and taking pictures. At the event, the Orange Bowl inducted three new members to its Hall of Fame: Irving Fryer, Ray Graves and Steve Walsh.
During the event, ABC's Brad Nessler and Bob Griese held interviews at the front of the room with both coaches which were broadcast throughout the room.
Another highlight was an interview held by Lynn Swann with Maryland's Shaun Hill. The quarterback was enlightening about his long trip to Maryland from Kansas, coaches Ralph Friedgen and Charlie Taaffe's effect on his game and his team's sudden rise to prominence. Hill had the room buzzing when his with talk with Swann was finished.
One of the most noticeable items at the luncheon were the commemorative Orange Bowl helmets featuring the white Terps side on the left and the orange Gators side on the right. Each table had a helmet and one lucky person at each table randomly won the helmet centerpiece.
Among the winners was Maryland supporter Jackie Heise and Maryland's ACC Player of the Year E.J. Henderson. Many of the winners asked the coaches of both teams for autographs on the helmets.
The luncheon wrapped up around 1 p.m. and the players along with Friedgen headed back to the hotel for a quick turnaround to practice at 2 p.m.
The rides were wet as the rain continued to pour down in Miami.
It continued to rain as the team reached Barry University for its final practice before the Orange Bowl on Wednesday.
Friedgen held the Terps inside for a short amount of time with the rain falling heavily. He said it was to the team's advantage to have a practice in rain with a wet field in case those were the conditions at the game.
With the rain falling, the practice in shoulder pads and shorts began after the scheduled time of 2:45 and finished up around 4 p.m., the team's shortest practice of the six at Barry.
Todd Wike was held out of practice again and Friedgen said, "he doubts he will play in the game." Wike wore a plastic bag over his medical boot to feet his right foot dry.
Tony Jackson (ankle sprain) was "much improved today" according to Friedgen, who said " I would think with another couple days of rest, he should be pretty close to full speed, if not full speed"
With Wike out, redshirt freshman Kyle Schmitt, will draw the start at left guard - his first career start.
Of Schmitt, Friedgen said, "He's not a bad player. He's played some. He's just a young kid. He's a redshirt freshman. I think he's going to be a real good player. Hopefully he hurries up."
Among the former players at practice was Tony Edwards, on offensive lineman, who played on the Terps 1983, '84 and '85 ACC title teams.
Practiced finished with Friedgen starting a new tradition where each senior was carried off the field by his fellow position-mates. Among the highest on his teammates shoulders was Marc Riley - hoisted high by the running backs, Vedad Siljkovic with the special teams crew, Shaun Hill by the quarterbacks, Randall Jones by the secondary, Melvin Fowler by the O-Line, Eric James by the tight ends and Aaron Thompson by the linebackers/
Friedgen said it was a very important new tradition to him. He said, ""I just put that last one in. I just told our seniors, that contributed so much to this football team, I would like to establish a tradition that they carried off [the field] on their last practice where ever it is. I think they thought it was a little foolish, but it's something a little special to just recognize their efforts and what they put into the program for four years. I think it's a nice gesture. All the seniors were carried off."
Here are his comment on the wet and rainy day at practice.
"That's why I practiced today. You've got to be able practice if it wet out. My Father use to say that rain is a great equalizer. You might see me out there watering it [Pro Player Stadium]."
"I think there a couple of things that are tougher. I think it's tougher on defensive backs and it depends on how the field is too. This field [Buccaneer Field at Barry University] was in great shape. I am assuming that at Pro Player Stadium it would be pretty good. If you are a defensive back and you don't know which way that guy's going to cut, then you're at a little of a disadvantage. On the other hand, you've got to catch the ball too. I'd like to make sure we can keep our option game in the game. That usually becomes a factor if it is real rainy. There are some things that probably affect both sides. "
The Terps had a dinner at the tent, where they have had lunch at Barry including chicken, steak and fish again.
The team was back at the hotel around 6 p.m.
While the team was at practice, many members of the football support staff and football families went out in the rain to the Orange Bowl parade. It was held on Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami.
Appropriately, the theme of this year's parade was "Underwater Wonderland." Representing the Terps at the parade were the team's cheerleaders, Testudo and the Mighty Sound of Maryland, which played the victory song. Maryland's floats consisted of a huge turtle and a Maryland Terps helmet.
Some of the pagenty included the Orange Bowl Mascot Obie and Shamoo from SeaWorld.
There were lots of Marching Bands and a tribute to America's Heroes finished the parade.
The night was set for New Year's Eve, which would feature several parties for Maryland supporters at the Terrapin Club and at the team hotel in the Hospitality Room at the Fontainebleau Hilton.
