Aug. 3, 2002

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - When University of Maryland was voted 20th in the ESPN/USA Today Preseason Top 25 football poll released last week, it marked the first time in 17 years that a Terrapin football team enjoyed a preseason ranking by one of the two major polls.

Coaches from around the country form the voting bloc in the ESPN/USA Today listing, which ranked the Terps 10th in last year's final poll. The other major poll, the Associated Press Top 25, takes into account the votes of approximately 50-60 sportswriters and sportscasters from around the country. The AP preseason poll will be released later this month.

But a look at the various other preseason polls released to date - from Athlon to Street & Smith's - shows that Maryland is ranked in the preseason Top 25 more often than not. Including the ESPN/USA Today listing, Ralph Friedgen's 2002 Terps have been ranked in 10 of 16 preseason polls. The Terps' composite ranking from the 16 listings is 22nd. (For a given poll, a team receives 25 points for a first-place ranking, 24 points for second place and so on.)

The highest ranking, 16th, came courtesy of Pigskin Post. Maryland was also rated 17th (Street & Smith's and NationalChamps.net) and 18th (Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

Click here for the composite poll.

A breakdown of the Terps' preseason rankings:

Poll				Rank
Athlon Magazine		        22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution	18
Blue Ribbon Yearbook	        24
CBS Sportsline.com		NR
CNN/SI			        NR
College Football News	        NR
ESPN/USA Today		        20
Football.com			22
Football News			21
Fox Sports.com		        NR
Lindy's Annual		        NR
NationalChamps.net		17
Pigskin Post			16
The Sporting News		NR
Phil Steele			21
Street & Smith's		17
Composite Ranking  	        22