Postcards From Atlanta - Day 4: Action On The Field, Comedy Off The Field
12/28/2002 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 28, 2002
Today's Terp Tidbit: The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl has been the most competitive bowl game in the nation over the last 15 years, as the average margin of victory has been 4.8 points with no team winning by more than 14 points.
By Jason Yellin
Maryland Media Relations
ATLANTA -- Saturday began with wake-up calls at 8:30 a.m. for the players followed by breakfast for the next hour.
Around 9:45 a.m., coach Ralph Friedgen, E.J. Henderson and Todd Wike headed off to the Georgia Dome for a press conference previewing the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
About 35 members of the media were on hand to ask questions to the coach and his two All-Americans. Friedgen spoke about his team's success for the second straight year winning 10 games and returning to a New Year's Day/New Year's Eve game.
He broke down Tennessee's team and talked about Maryland's chances.
Wike addressed his success in moving from left guard to center the offensive line's prowess. Henderson talked about the team's success and his personal awards, which he has received this season.
For the complete quote sheet check it on umterps.com at this link: Press Conference Quotes
The presser finished around 10:45 a.m., coach his players were whisked off to practice with a police escort allowing to arrive just in time for the start at 11 a.m.
Once again, the Terps conducted their session at Georgia Tech's practice field.
Friedgen said Maryland worked on fine-tuning its schemes and plays as the game plan has been installed with the game just four days away.
At practice today several players continued to wear alternate numbers from their normal ones. Scooter Monroe was in No. 7, Jafar Williams took No. 11 and Brooks Barnard donned No. 17. Steve Suter, who had wore No. 1 and No. 19 for the first two practices wore a jersey with no number.
Following practice, the players and coach Friedgen met with the media before boarding the buses back to the hotel.
The players were left to have breakfast on their own and several ate at the hotel restaurants while others went out into Atlanta to eat.
While the Terps were at practice, the coaches' wives were treated to a special day as they were treated to a luncheon and fashion show at the J.W. Marriott. The wives shopped at Lenox Square after eating and watching the show presented by Rich's department store.
Bring On The Money and Laughs
The afternoon featured a lot of time in the gameroom for many of the Terps as they played video games.
At 5:30 p.m. it was time for the second half of the players per diem to be doled out by business manager Jen Roche. Academic support staff members Natasha Criss and Heather Arianna were the most popular people for the next hour as they help Roche hand out the meal money.
The players returned to their rooms after collecting the money and playing some games to shower and get dressed for the evening festivities.
The Delta Comedy Kickoff Show began at 7 p.m. in the team hotel - the Marriott Marquis -- as the entire team and coaches were joined by Tennessee's squad and staff for this funny comedy show. The Whole World Theatre, a local comedy improvisational group performed bowl-related skits and brought out the laughs from the large crowd of nearly 1,000 people.
Some of the Terps dressed to the hilt for the event. Leading the way with the most dynamic outfit of the night was sophomore defensive lineman Henry Scott, who wore a shiny, long power blue suit with a dark blue shirt. Also looking slick were Latrez Harrison, Domonique Foxworth, Tyrone Stewart, Randy Earle and Scooter Monroe.
The event was kicked off by Moby, a local radio personality from Atlanta's Z93FM. He was followed by Delta Air Lines Senior Vice President Lee Macenczak, who welcomed the teams. The invocation was performed by Chick-fil-A senior vice president Steve Robinson.
The dinner was delicious as the players and staff was fed stuffed chicken with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Topping off the dinner was an elaborate chocolate and whipped cream sculpture.
The fun started with a non-so traditional Star-Spangled Banner sung by the Whole World Theatre as they were joined by Maryland's Lamar Bryant. The offensive lineman brought out the laughs as he tried to run off the stage when his part of the anthem came, after getting over his jitters, Bryant belted out two more verses and received a huge ovation from the Terps. He had coach Friedgen and his wife Gloria laughing.
Following the first few skits - which had the players in stitches -- by Whole World Theatre, universities officials exchanged "gag gifts."
Maryland's athletics director Debbie Yow was up first and she gave a "very appropriate gift" to Tennessee university president John Shumaker, a Tennessee Volunteers Barbie doll dressed as a cheerleader.
In exchange, Shumaker presented Yow with the ultimate "Rocky Top" package celebrating the Tennessee fight song, Shumaker gave Yow the sheet music to the song as well as a picture of the piece's composers and a tape of the song. Added to that, he gave her a bottle and then a case of Tennessee Hound dog Red Wine. The two exchanged funny lines and ad-libbed a skit which made the players and staffs laugh really hard.
Next up was the recognition of the team seniors which provided the biggest laughs of the night. As each senior was recognized, the player posed with his school head coach and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Queen, Erin Haney, which presented the funny situations. Each player tried to top the preceding one by posing closer to the Queen. The players were to the point that would completely put their arms around the Queen and not even coming close to their coach.
The final Maryland senior Todd Wike was upstaged by coach Friedgen as he jumped to the right of the center and got closer to the Queen.
Following the Tennessee senior recognition it was announced that the Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year Award would be presented at the Peach Bowl halftime in future games. This year's winner was Ohio State's Jim Tressel, who accepted the award back in Columbus, Ohio, before his team left for its national championship game in Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3. A video of the presentation was shown to the crowd.
The Whole World Theatre continued with a skit that involved a coach of the one of the teams. The luck candidate was Maryland wide receivers coach James Franklin. The skit had a young lady coming on to Franklin at a bar because of his nice glasses. Franklin did a great job and continued with the improvisation to the audience's delight.
The night wrapped up with a final skit by the actors and huge ovation.
The Terps headed off to their rooms around 10:30 p.m. with a midnight curfew.
