Football Ranked 20th In Preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll
8/1/2002 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 1, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland football team finds itself ranked 20th nationally in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll which was released Thursday evening.
A year ago, Maryland found itself being compared to the Terps of 1985 several times as last year's squad earned the school's first Atlantic Coast Conference championship since '85 while also becoming the first Maryland team to finish the season ranked in the Top 25 since that year. This year, the season has yet to begin, but the Terrapins are already harkening back to '85 as the ranking in the preseason poll marks the first time since that season that the Terrapins have started the season with a national ranking attached to their name.
The 1985 team (with current head coach Ralph Friedgen as its' offensive coordinator) started the year ranked seventh, went on to a 9-3 record and pummeled Syracuse, 35-18, in the Cherry Bowl before being dubbed the No. 18 (AP) team in the nation at season's end. Last year, the Terps finished ranked 10th in the final ESPN/USA Today poll (11th AP) while earning a spot in the Orange Bowl.
The Terps are the second of three ACC schools ranked in this year's poll as Florida State is ranked fourth while NC State chimes in at No. 25. Maryland's opponent in the 2002 season opener, Notre Dame, is unranked but did receive votes (18). The Terrapins and Irish square off in the 20th and final Kickoff Classic in East Rutherford, New Jersey's, Meadowlands on August 31st.
For a complete rundown of the preseason poll, click here.
