Aug. 14, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The following is the University of Maryland football team practice report from August 13th and 14th as the team continues to move toward the start of the 2003 season. Practice reports will run every Tuesday and Thursday during preseason camp, with news and notes on each day's session.
The Terrapins open their '03 campaign on Thursday, August 28th at Northern Illinois in a game that will be nationally televised by Fox Sports Net (locally on NewsChannel 8 in D.C. and CN8 in Baltimore) before heading to Tallahassee, Fla., for their Atlantic Coast Conference opener at Florida State.
Season Tickets Going Fast
The Terrapin Ticket Office announced that season ticket sales have now moved beyond 27,000, doubling some of the totals of the year's leading into Ralph Friedgen's tenure. In addition, sales for the West Virginia and Virginia home games are rapidly approaching sellout status.
Ticket sales have taken a huge turn in the last few years, going from 18,000 in Friedgen's first season, to 23,000 last year to the current level of 27,000-plus.
To secure some of the 3,000 or so season tickets that remain, call the Terrapin Ticket Office at (301) 314-7070.
Quick Hits
Wednesday, Aug. 13
The Terps battled through another hot, humid day of practice on Wednesday and took the good news with the bad. While news was reported on the injuries of starters Bruce Perry (high ankle sprain) and Steve Suter (hamstring), good news came in the continued improvement of nose tackle C.J. Feldheim. Feldheim did not work in team drills but ran and worked out, showing little effect from his surgery just a week before.
In the evening session, tailback Sammy Maldonado came through the line and blasted a safety and continued on for a 15-yard touchdown, drawing "oohs" and "ahs" from bystanders and teammates alike.
Coach Friedgen told the players after practice that it was "our best practice to date."
Thursday, Aug. 14
The good news continued for C.J. Feldheim as he returned to practice in full capacity, participating in team drills as well. Feldheim's recovery has been quick and seemingly complete.
In the two-minute drill, the first-team offense had 16 seconds to go 45 yards and nearly pulled it off. With :04 remaining, Scott McBrien connected with Drew Weatherly - who continues to impress at wideout - and Weatherly seemingly found the end zone only to have Coach Friedgen overrule and call him down at the three-yard line.
The team closed practice with a "situational team period," where they had officials calling every penalty committed. In that period, the team worked on substitutions and making sure the right personnel groups got in when they were supposed to.
Fan Day This Sunday, Aug. 17
The Terps will play host to the annual Terrapin Fan Day this Sunday. The event will take place at Byrd Stadium with gates opening at 1:00 p.m. For more information, click on the link to Fan Day on the football page of umterps.com.
