Coach Friedgen's Comments On The Terps' January 2 Bowl Game
12/5/2001 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 5, 2001
On playing highly-ranked teams:
"We're up in pretty high standards right now and I think it presents us with great opportunity as a football program to measure where we are as a program."
"Both Tennessee and Florida have a tremendous amount of athletes. I know I have a lot of respect for both coaches. It's going to be a real challenge. I think it's an opportunity for us to go down there. I think we should play loose and then have fun and get ourselves ready to play one heck of a football game and see what happens. ... We need to take the approach that we have nothing to lose, we will probably be an underdog in this game. We're just the new guy on the block."
"I don't want us to go down there in awe of who we are going to play, I don't think that will happen. I think our team is a pretty confident team right now and I think they believe. I think we are going to go there and fire all of our bullets."
On the players' morale:
"I want to make sure our kids enjoy the bowl...but go there ready to win. That's my job, that's what I have to get done."
Thoughts since he has taken over the program:
"I derive so much pleasure from seeing these kids today, one year from when I took over. There was apathy and lack of confidence and they questioned whether they would or could win. Here we are, 10-1, playing some of the traditionally great schools in a venue like the Orange Bowl. It seems like something right out of Hollywood. I hope it has a happy ending, though."
"I think as this season started, our players wanted to go to a bowl. To have the opportunity to go and be in the Bowl Championship Series is obviously a dream come true."
"I told the kids if we play one game at a time, we'll probably be going to a bowl and be complaining about what bowl we're going to. We're not complaining about what bowl we're going to. We're really happy about where we are going."
On the morale of the University and the state of Maryland:
"I think it's great for Maryland. We've been down for so long. I think there's an excitement in this state right now that's probably unprecedented, even back in the 1980s when I was here. I don't recall the euphoria that's existing within the state and within the University. I think a sense of pride has been restored. To me, the University of Maryland stands for excellence, not only in academics but also in athletics. That's what I have always felt and I am proud to be an alumnus of Maryland."
"I would expect today that our phones will be buzzing off the hook and I hope they will get excited and buy season tickets for next year."
On looking ahead to next year:
"I think it is very important to use this year to build a foundation for years to come. We can use this season to build on. Hopefully we will get better recruits in here, hopefully build our season ticket sales, hopefully build up fundraising, and hopefully improve our facilities. I know this...we got a heck of a better start than if we were 1-10 as opposed to being 10-1."
