Jan. 2, 2002
Maryland Media Relations
Here are today's pregame notes and latest update on the Terps heading to the Orange Bowl on Wednesday.
Game Captains
Maryland will have three game captains for the Orange Bowl: Shaun Hill (Offense), Aaron Thompson (Defense) and Rod Littles (Special Teams).
Injury Update
The following is the latest on several Terrapins and their status as of earlier today (2:30 p.m.) in regards to injury:
Player, pos. (Injury) Status
Matt Crawford, OT (right ankle sprain) probable starter
Tony Jackson, SS (high left ankle sprain) probable/game time decision on starting status
Reggie Kemp, OG (left shoulder sprain/separation) probable
Lou Lombardo, OT (lower leg infection/cellulitis) probable
Bruce Perry, TB (lower abdomin strain)probable starter
Todd Wike, OG (right foot sprain) doubtful/game time decision
Terp Notes
Should left guard Todd Wike miss a start in tonight's game, it would break a string of 32 consecutive starts for the Maryland junior. Wike's injury was sustained over the last two weeks as he had his foot stepped on twice in different practice sessions. Should he not play, his replacement will be redshirt freshman Kyle Schmitt, who would be making his first career start.
If he starts, senior Tony Jackson would be somewhat of a surprise at the stong safety spot. Jackson injured his ankle in practice on December 12 in College Park. Although he is not expected to start, Jackson is expected to give it a go on the injured ankle at some point in tonight's game.
Barring a surprise start by Jackson, senior Rod Littles will start at the strong safety position. Notably, the hard-hitting Littles is the lone Florida native on the Terrapin roster and is a graduate of Gainesville High School.
In the House
As could be expected, a number of former Terps and Maryland-area celebrities will be on hand at Pro Player Stadium for tonight's Orange Bowl. Here is a brief list of some of those people:
Boomer Esiason (Former Terp/NFL QB)
Ben & Tony Scotti (Md alums, Baywatch producers)
Steve Bischiotti (Part Owner, Baltimore Ravens)
Bob Novak (CNN Political Analyst)
Renaldo Nehemiah (Former Terp, Hall of Fame Hurdler)
Sen. Paul Sarbanes (Maryland U.S. Senator)
Hon. Steny Hoyer (Maryland Congressman)
Gov. Parris Glendening (Maryland Governor)
The Turtle Lady
Marguerite Whilden, "the turtle lady," will be at Pro Player Stadium Wednesday night with a live diamondback terrapin. Whilden, a fishery manager with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, has toured parts of the Miami area this week with 13 live turtles as part of a campaign to heighten awareness about the turtles' dwindling habitat.
