Football Game Notes -- Terps at Clemson

Oct. 18, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

Terps vs. Tigers Game Notes (PDF format)
Download Free Acrobat Reader

The University of Maryland football team hits the road this weekend in search of a return to the win column at Clemson University. Kickoff from Death Valley is 12:08 p.m. with the game being televised by JP Sports (locally on Comcast SportsNet) and broadcast on the Terrapin Radio Network (radio pregame starts at 11:30 a.m.).

The young Terrapins' (3-3, 1-2 ACC) offensive struggles continued last week as they lost on homecoming for the first time under Ralph Friedgen, falling to NC State, 13-3. The loss marked the first time since 1999 that the team lost consecutive games at home.

Clemson enters this weekend's game 2-4 overall (1-3 ACC) and is coming off of a 35-6 win over Utah State that snapped a four-game losing streak. The Tigers have fallen short of most predictions this season as the team started the year ranked as high as 15th in the national polls.

Neither team received votes in this week's polls. The Terrapins spent the first five weeks of 2004 in the rankings before dropping out prior to last week's game.

Saturday's game will begin a stretch of four tough Atlantic Coast Conference games for the Terps, three of which will take place on the road.

Series Notes -- Terps & Tigers

Saturday's game marks the 53rd meeting between the Terrapins and Tigers. Clemson leads the all-time series -- which began in 1952 -- 27-23-2, but the Terps hold a three-game win streak.

Though Maryland has turned it around recently, Clemson has more or less been in control of the series since 1982. The Tigers have won 15 of the 22 games between the two schools since `82 (Maryland has won six and the two teams tied in 1986). Prior to 1981, Maryland had a stronghold as the more dominant team, as the Terrapins held a 17-11-1 record from 1952-80.

In last season's contest, Maryland got three touchdown passes out of senior Scott McBrien and held the Tigers without a point in the second half to halt a three-game Clemson win streak coming in. McBrien hit current Terps Steve Suter, Rich Parson and Derrick Fenner with TD passes, with Fenner's being the most memorable of the night, a 69-yarder where Fenner was forced out of bounds but came back in to catch the bomb and take it in for a score.

In 2002, Maryland went to Clemson and came away with a 30-12 win. In the victory, Chris Downs ran for 101 yards while McBrien mixed three interceptions with three touchdowns passing and one rushing while also churning out 67 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, the Terp defense held the Tigers to just 211 total yards and no touchdowns (Aaron Hunt accounted for all of the Clemson scoring with four field goals).

With their win in `02, the Terps accomplished several notables in regards to the series. The win was Maryland's first in Death Valley since 1985 -- a 16-year drought -- and the Terps now carry a three-game win streak in the series for the first time since 1975-77.

In the 2001 meeting, the Terrapins snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Tigers and, in the process, gained a share of their first ACC title since 1985. In the 37-20 win, Maryland intercepted four passes -- a career-worst three thrown by Woodrow Dantzler -- and coasted after going up 34-6 with under 11 minutes left.

With 88 points combined in its last three games against Clemson, Maryland has scored 32 more points than it was able to muster against the Tigers in the eight previous meetings combined. The Terps scored just 56 points between 1993 and 2000, with the majority coming in a 42-30 home loss in 1999.

Quick Hits, Week Six

Saturday's game, played for stretches in cold, rainy weather at Byrd Stadium, was the lowest-scoring game in the Maryland-NC State rivalry (16 points) since a 10-6 Wolfpack season-opening victory at NC State on Sept. 2, 1989.

The Terps had won their last five homecoming encounters prior to last weekend, including a 24-21 victory over NC State on homecoming 2002. The Terps hadn't fallen during Homecoming weekend since a 25-22 loss to Duke on Oct. 30, 1999.

The NC State loss marked only the third loss at Byrd Stadium during Ralph Friedgen's four-year tenure as the head coach at his alma mater. Friedgen's home record stands at 21-3. The last time the Terrapins lost consecutive games at home was Oct. 30 and Nov. 20 of 1999, against Duke and Virginia, respectively.

The loss was also Chuck Amato's first win against the Terrapins, the only ACC school the NC State coach had not beaten in his four-plus years (Virginia Tech and Miami notwithstanding) as head coach of the Pack.

Junior defensive end Shawne Merriman put in an outstanding defensive effort, notching a career-high 16 tackles (nine solo). Merriman's previous career-high was 10 against Northern Illinois in this year's season opener on Sept. 4. Merriman also recorded one pass breakup and was in on 1.5 TFLs for seven yards. Merriman is currently fourth in the ACC in tackles for loss.

Senior kicker Nick Novak's 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter moved him into a tie for seventh on the NCAA career scoring list. He now has 371 points, tying him with Shayne Graham (Virginia Tech, 1996-99) and Jeff Hall (Tennessee, 1995-98).

Saturday's attendance of 52,179 marked the eighth-largest crowd in Byrd Stadium history. Through four home games, the Terps are averaging 52,009 fans per game this season.

Friedgen's ACCeptional Start

Ralph Friedgen has opened his career as a head coach by setting one coaching record after another and as his fourth season in College Park moves along, he has once again placed his name in several record books for coaching wins.

In his three-plus years at Maryland, Friedgen has -- season-by-season -- established himself as one of the top coaches in ACC history. His first season featured an ACC championship and 10 wins, his second had him at the top of the record books for second-year mentors with a 21-5 record, and his third year had him atop the record books of third-year ACC coaches with a 31-8 record. His 31 wins were five more than the list's number-two coaches, Lou Holtz (NC State, 1972-74) and Danny Ford (Clemson, 1979-81).

With 31 wins in those first three years, Friedgen ranks seventh on the NCAA's all-time list for third-year head coaches. Along with Miami's Larry Coker (2nd), he is one of two active coaches on the list that features legendary names like Walter Camp (1st), Barry Switzer (4th) and John Robinson (6th).

Now with 34 wins, Friedgen already ranks tied for second -- tying NC State's Chuck Amato (34-17 from 2000-03) and former co-worker Bobby Ross (34-14, 1982-85) -- on the ACC list of fourth-year head coaches. With a win against Clemson, he will move into a tie for first with CU's Ford who was 35-10-1 in his four years.

Notably, Friedgen now stands just 10 wins from tying Ford for the most wins by an ACC coach in his fifth year. Despite only being game seven of his fourth season, Friedgen already ranks seventh on that list.

A Wealth of Experience

The coaching experience on the Terrapin staff does not end with Coach Friedgen and his coordinators. The Maryland staff, overall, possesses a combined total of 197 years of full-time experience at either the collegiate or pro levels.

That total includes four coaches (excluding Friedgen, Taaffe and Blackney) who have been at it for 18 years or more, and the 197 years means an average of almost 20 years of experience per coach on the 2004 staff.

Coaching Connections

Ralph Friedgen is not the only member of the Terrapin coaching staff with previous ties to College Park, though this is his fourth stint at Maryland (player from 1965-68; graduate assistant from 1969-72; offensive coordinator/offensive line coach from 1982-86 and the present stint).

Defensive line coach Dave Sollazzo was a graduate assistant for the Terrapins in 1984 and defensive line coach in `86-87.

Sollazzo is also one of several coaches with a connection to another school -- The Citadel. Sollazzo played for (1974-76) and helped coach (1989-98) the Bulldogs, while Friedgen coached there from 1973-79. Charlie Taaffe was a head coach there from 1987-96 and outside linebackers coach Al Seamonson served there from 1987-99.

Friedgen was actually Sollazzo's position coach at The Citadel. In addition, the head coach at the college at the time was former Terp mentor and current Army coach Bobby Ross (Bulldog head coach from 1973-77; Terps from `82-86).

Raising the Bar

With its win over Duke, Maryland has 34 victories over its last four seasons -- all since Ralph Friedgen took over in 2001.

The Terps' total of 31 wins from 2001-03 is the highest three-year win total in school history.

Prior to 2003, Maryland's best three-year win total was 28 (accomplished three times). With three more wins this season, the team will match the best four-year total in school history, 37 wins (1975-78).

With the loss to NC State, the Terps lost any hope of winning 10 games this season, the first time in Friedgen's tenure that the team will have failed to do so. In the previous 110 years of football, Maryland had never put together three straight nine-win seasons, but Friedgen's teams strung together three-straight 10-win campaigns from 2001-03.

Since 1892, Maryland has had seven 10-win seasons, three of which have come in the previous three years.

Churning It Out

Historically, Maryland has had a reputation for producing some top-notch quarterbacks. Names like Esiason, Scarbath, O'Donnell and Reich have done nothing to discourage that. In recent years, however, the schools reputation of producing QBs is rivaled only by its production at tailback.

From 2001-2003, Maryland averaged no worse than 191.3 yards per game on the ground and had a three-year average of 202.5 yards per outing and a per-carry average of 4.6 yards.

In the 16 years between 1985 and 2000, the Terrapins averaged better than 191 yards per game on the ground just once (1999, 231.4), a season that saw the team's rushing prowess offset by a 143.6 per game passing average that ranked 99th nationally.

Through six games in `04, the Terps are averaging 156.7 yards per game on the ground.

Following the departure of LaMont Jordan in 2000, the big question was "who would carry the load?" The answer has come in waves -- Bruce Perry, Marc Riley, Chris Downs, and now Josh Allen and Sammy Maldonado.

Now in his third year, Allen has rushed for 1,719 yards and 20 TDs. An eight-game starter in 2003, his 257 yards against Virginia marked the 11th-best day in ACC history and the seventh-best in Division I-A last season. He currently ranks 12th on the Terp career yardage list.

In addition, Allen's five-yard touchdown run against Duke tied him for seventh all-time on the Maryland career list.

Allen has posted four career 100-yard games and one in 2004.

Maldonado rushed for 84 yards in the opener and then followed it up with his first career 100-yard game, a 106-yard, two-touchdown effort against Temple.

Maldonado is now ninth in the ACC in rushing with 69.7 yards per game and leads the Terps with five touchdowns.

Defense Pulls Rank

When he was hired to come to Maryland, the talk about the mark Ralph Friedgen would make in College Park was all about offense. And though the offense put together by Friedgen and coordinator Charlie Taaffe has consistently been among the nation's best, what has been unquestionably the team's most consistent force in four seasons has been its defense.

Defensive coordinator Gary Blackney's defense has been a unit charactarized by stopping the run and making teams score by moving the ball through the air. With a scoring average of 17.7 points allowed per game since 2001, that feat has obviously been a tall order for Terrapin foes.

Maryland's ranking in scoring defense the previous three years got progressively better with each season, as the Terps ranked 18th in 2001, seventh in 2002 and sixth a year ago.

In each of the previous three seasons' final defensive rankings, Maryland has had just one team -- Georgia -- finish higher in scoring defense.

This season, the Terrapins' defensive scoring average is skewed somewhat due to events beyond the defense's control. If one were to eliminate points scored off of turnovers, fumble or interceptions returned for touchdowns and kickoff returns for touchdowns, the Maryland defense is allowing 13.0 points per game compared to its current average of 19.2.

Since 2001, 31 of Maryland's 45 opponents (69%) have been held to 20 points or less.

Maryland has yet to see a year under Blackney's watch where opponents average more than 20 points per game.

Since 2002, Maryland has held its opposition scoreless in 64 quarters (nine thus far in 2004).

Despite losing three starting defensive backs a year ago, the Terps are currently ranked 22nd nationally in pass defense, allowing an average of 174.3 yards per game through the air.

Since 2001, Maryland has held its opposition below 100 yards rushing 11 times. In addition, the team has held six opponents to 100 yards or less passing in that time, including four teams in 2003.

Against Duke, the Terp defense held the opposition to 185 yards of total offense (83 rushing, 102 passing). Along the way, the defense held six of the Blue Devils' 12 drives to three plays or less.

Living Up To Their Name

After stumbling out of the blocks in their first year, Maryland's special teams have been nothing short of, well, special the last two years under coordinator Ray Rychleski.

In placekicker Nick Novak, punter Adam Podlesh and return man Steve Suter, the Terrapins have the ACC's first team all-conference kicker from 2002 and 2003, its second-team punter from 2003 (and the first Terp freshman in history to make All-ACC) and a specialist who has been first team all-league since 2002.

The Terps have drawn national attention for their unit in 2004 as they have been ranked in the preseason as one of the best units in the nation by Collegefootballnews.com (1st), Lindy's (1st), ESPN (3rd) and Phil Steele (3rd).

Young Guns

In three of the last four years, Maryland has been faced with opening its season with a quarterback in his first year playing in the offensive system. While this year is different in the sense that Joel Statham and the team's other quarterbacks have all come up in the Friedgen offense, this year's group has faced a new set of challenges as the least experienced the Terps have put on the field in recent years.

Maryland's group of five quarterbacks entered this season having thrown 25 career passes between them at the collegiate level (all 25 attempts were by Statham in 2003).

The Terrapins have no players at the position older than a sophomore. The group includes two sophomores (Statham, Hollenbach), two redshirt freshmen (Mitch, Moyseenko) and one true freshman (Steffy).

With his start in the opener, Statham was the least experienced to take the field in terms of passes thrown at either the college or junior college level since Latrez Harrison started as a freshman against Florida State in 1999.

Suter Sets ACC Mark

After two years as the ACC's first-team specialist and one of Maryland's top playmakers, Steve Suter is no longer flying under anybody's radar. He is more likely to be flying down the sideline.

Now in his final year of eligibility at Maryland, Suter does it all for the Terps. A starting wideout who returns punts and kicks, Suter has also been involved in the running game and is one of the team's few receivers who can play at any spot (X, Z or slot).

In the last three years, Suter has averaged 15.2 yards per touch whether it be rushing, receiving or in the returns game.

With his first return of the day against Georgia Tech, Suter became the ACC's all-time leader in punt return yardage, surpassing the mark of NC State's Ledel George (1,191, 1990-93). He enters game seven of his final season with 1,222 yards.

In 2002, Suter tied the NCAA record for punt returns for a touchdown in a season (4). He returned two punts last season for scores, leaving him just two shy of tying the current NCAA career record of eight (Wes Welker, Texas Tech, 2000-03; Antonio Perkins, Oklahoma, 2001-pres.).

Suter's six returns for a TD are a Maryland record.

The opposition has thus far been punting away from Suter this season, angling 21 of their 36 punts out of his reach. The result -- an opponent net punting average of 33.3 yards per attempt.

Action Jackson

The question surrounding the 2004 Terrapins heading into the season was virtually all about the quarterback position. It was only a year ago, however, that the same "buzz" was surrounding "who would replace E.J. Henderson" at middle linebacker. Thanks to the play of D'Qwell Jackson, those questions are as good as forgotten.

Last season -- his first as a starter -- Jackson led the team in tackles with 136, one shy of the record for tackles by a sophomore at Maryland. His 10.5 tackles per game ranked him seventh in the ACC and tops among sophomores.

Maybe the fiercest competitor on the Terp roster, Jackson has led the Terrapins in tackles in 10 of 19 games the last two years. He has also had 11 career games with double-digit tackles.

Six games into this year, Jackson is again leading the team in tackles (60) while ranking second in the ACC with his average of 10.0 per outing. He is also tied for fifth in the league in passes defensed with an average of one per game.

Jackson was one of the few bright spots against Georgia Tech, tying his career-high with 16 tackles (four solo) while adding a half TFL and a PBU.

After suffering a hyperextended elbow against Temple in week two, concern was that Jackson might have trouble playing against West Virginia. On the contrary, he finished with a career-high tying 16 tackles, a sack, one TFL and one PBU.

In the opener, Jackson racked up nine tackles and intercepted two passes against Northern Illinois, both of which led to Terrapin scores.

Lights On

After playing through injury most of last season, DE Shawne Merriman -- a.k.a. "Lights Out" -- seems as if the light has gone on this year.

A true junior, Merriman is in his first season as the full-time starter but is already making waves in the Terrapin record books. In 32 career games, Merriman has posted 24 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks.

With his next sack, he will move into second on the Terp all-time list (he is currently tied for fifth) and he now stands just six sacks from owning the school's career record (Mike Corvino, `79-82, currently holds the mark with 24).

With his next TFL, Merriman will crack the Maryland career top 10. He is currently 11th with 25.5.

Merriman leads the Terrapins and is fifth in the ACC in sacks (five total/0.8 avg.) and tied for second in TFLs (10 total/1.67 avg.). He also ranks second in the league in fumbles forced with two.

Youth is Served

With 22 seniors (12 of whom were starters), last year's Maryland squad was the most experienced in the last four years. One year later, the 2004 edition of the Terps has just three less seniors but it is easily the least experienced of Ralph Friedgen's tenure.

This year's team has the largest group of true freshmen in recent memory (30). All told, there were 49 Terrapins on this year's roster with four years or more of eligibility remaining at the beginning of the season.

In the Terrapins' first six games of 2004, a total of 35 sophomores and freshmen have seen action including seven true freshmen, one more than all of last year.

Turtles in Name Only

It has been documented that this year's team is the youngest of the Friedgen Era. Notably, it may also be the fastest.

The Terrapins had 17 players run in the 4.5-or-better range in the 40-yard dash in spring testing (note that all but four true freshmen did not participate).

Six of the nine wide receivers who tested in the spring ran 4.51 or better, two tailbacks ran under a 4.5 (Allen and Merrills) and three defensive backs ran a 4.4 or better (Custis, McPhearson, Wilson).

Two notable times -- CB Gerrick McPhearson ran a team-best 4.29; P Adam Podlesh ran the best time ever for a punter at Maryland with a 4.46.

Novak Scaling NCAA List

It seems like ages since placekicker Nick Novak hit a pair of memorable kicks at Georgia Tech that got the ball rolling for him and the Terrapins in 2001. Now a senior, Novak has gone from the focal point of a position of concern on the Terp roster to one of the premier players at his position in the country.

Starting with his game-tying kick at Georgia Tech in `01, Novak has made 70 of his last 85 field goal attempts (82%), with five of the 16 misses coming from 50 yards or further (and one being a block).

A semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award the last two years, Novak is 53 points from breaking the mark of current NCAA record-holder for scoring, Houston's Roman Anderson (423, 1988-91). Novak enters this weekend's game with 371 career points, a total which ties him for seventh on the NCAA list.

Novak needs 18 points to move into sixth and ahead of Nebraska's Kris Brown (388, 1995-98).

Novak's first field goal of this season, a 43-yarder against Northern Illinois, set a new ACC scoring record, breaking the mark of FSU's Scott Bentley (326).

With his game-winning 43-yard field goal in last year's NC State game, Novak became the all-time leading scorer in Maryland history, surpassing the 308 points of Jess Atkinson (1981-84).

The Charlottesville, Va., native has made 54 percent (7-of-13) of his attempts for his career from 50 yards or further. He owns the school record with a 54-yard kick against Duke in 2003.

Podlesh Leads NCAA in Net Avg.

Sophomore Adam Podlesh had a tall order a year ago in filling the shoes of Maryland's all-time leading punter, Brooks Barnard. Now in his second season, Podlesh is playing like Barnard's record-setting career will barely have a chance for the ink to dry in the team's media guide before being moved aside.

Podlesh averaged 42.3 yards per punt a season ago, third-best in the ACC, the fifth-best in school history and best ever by a freshman. It was his net punting and, more specifically, his ability to pin an opponent that had him finish the season as a Ray Guy Award semifinalist.

Thus far in 2004, Podlesh maintains a 45.6-yard average (fifth-best in the nation) and his net average (43.3) leads the NCAA.

On 82 career punts, Podlesh has dropped 37 percent (30) inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

Podlesh has placed eight of his 29 punts this year inside the 20.

A week after being named ACC Specialist of the Week for his play against Georgia Tech, Podlesh followed that performance up with an 11-punt day that featured a 45.2-yard average, two punts inside the 20, no touchbacks and a career-long 70-yard effort that was downed at NCSU's five-yard line.

In being named a second team All-ACC selection at punter last year, Podlesh became the first freshman in school history to be recognized by the league.

A Run on Bowdens

This week will mark the third of four weeks that Maryland has had a Bowden "in the house."

Terry Bowden was a commentator for ABC's games the last two weeks at Maryland while Tommy coaches the Tigers and father Bobby comes to College Park next week with his Seminoles (and brother Jeff (FSU's offensive coordinator in tow).

Local Ties

The Terps have one player from the state of South Carolina as first-year DE Mack Frost is from Columbia (Spring Valley HS).

Terrapin offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe, however, played quarterback at Clemson in 1969. Defensive line coach Dave Sollazzo coached high school ball in South Carolina (Stratford HS, North Charleston HS and Fort Johnson HS) after graduating from The Citadel, and he is one of four Maryland coaches who spent time as a coach at the Charleston military school (Sollazzo, Friedgen, Taaffe, and Seamonson).

Defensive back Stephen Ward (Crownsville/Frederick HS) is the lone Clemson player from Maryland.

Clemson QB coach Mike O'Cain was an offensive backfield coach at The Citadel for two years (1978 and `79) that Ralph Friedgen was an offensive coordinator at the school.

Terps Among Nation's Elite

Over the course of the past three-plus years, the Maryland football program has been among the best in the nation. The Terrapins are 34-11 in that span with a 21-3 record at home.

Maryland was one of just five BCS programs to win at least 10 games from 2001-2003. The four others are Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma, Texas and Washington State.

The Terrapins are joined by just four other schools since 2001 to finish each of those three seasons ranked in the nation's top 20 in both major polls while also earning a spot in the top 25 of both preseason polls for 2004 (Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma and Texas and Michigan are the others).

Scouting the Tigers

Through six games, Clemson has been the surprise team of the ACC, but for all the wrong reasons. The Tigers enter this weekend's contest with a 2-4 record (1-3 ACC) after being picked fourth in the ACC's preseason media poll and residing in the top 20 of both major preseason Division I-A polls.

The Tigers boast one of the league's top offenses, but it has struggled thus far this season. The Tigers rank 98th nationally in total offense (307.5 yards per game) and 94th in rushing offense (109.5 yards per game).

Charlie Whitehurst was making his way toward becoming one of the ACC's elite players last season, but his numbers have been down early this year. Whitehurst is 101-of-194 for 1,188 yards with six TDs, but he has thrown a league-high 13 interceptions.

Senior WR Airese Currie has been Whitehurst's favorite target, posting a league-high 35 receptions and 452 yards to go along with one TD.

Part of the Tigers' problem this year has been turnovers. The team is 116th (out of 117 D-IA teams) in turnover margin at -2.17.

On defense, Clemson has also had its troubles but not when it comes to rushing the passer. The Tigers easily lead the ACC in sacks with 27.

Senior LB Leroy Hill has had a strong season, registering 55 tackles (fifth-best in the ACC) and six sacks (second in the ACC) to go along with a league-leading 10.5 TFLs.

Clemson's Tommy Bowden

Now in his sixth year at Clemson, Tommy Bowden has posted a 40-26 record since taking over at the South Carolina school. He has a career record of 58-32.

Bowden came to Clemson after leading Tulane to a 17-4 record in two seasons, including an undefeated season in 1998.

At the start of 2000, the second season seemed to be the charm for Bowden. His second season at Tulane resulted in a 11-0 mark and a berth in the Independence Bowl and he started 8-0 last year. The Tigers stumbled down the stretch, however, losing three of their last four including a 41-20 defeat at the hands of Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl.

The son of Florida State legend Bobby Bowden, Tommy began his coaching career in 1978 as a defensive backs coach under his father. Since that time, he has had stints as an assistant at Auburn (`80, `92-96), Florida State again (`81-83), Duke (`84-86), Alabama (`87-89) and Kentucky (`90) before taking over at Tulane in 1997.

Bowden is a graduate of West Virginia, where he walked on while his father still coached there in 1973. The younger Bowden graduated from WVU in 1976 under head coach Frank Signetti.

Big Games Remembered

The 2004 season is one that stands decades from a pair of the more memorable games in the history of the Maryland program.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of one of the great games of all time, not just in Maryland lore, as November 10, 1984, was the date of the Terps' 42-40 come-from-behind win at Miami.

In that contest, the Terrapins trailed 31-0 at halftime, but the "King of Comebacks," Frank Reich, led his team to 42 second half points in a game that has been dubbed the greatest comeback in college football history.

Notably, Ralph Friedgen was the offensive coordinator on that 1984 team and DL coach Dave Sollazzo was a graduate assistant.

This season is also the 40th anniversary of one of the most memorable games in the history of Maryland/Navy, a rivalry from 1905-1965 that will be resumed next season.

On November 7, 1964, Maryland defeated the Midshipmen and their Heisman Trophy QB of the previous year, Roger Staubach. It did so behind a 101-yard kickoff return by Kenny Ambrusko with 2:58 remaining, leading to a 27-22 victory that was the Terrapins' first in 12 years (and four meetings) over Navy.

Protecting the House

Despite consecutive losses at home for the first time since `99, the Terrapins are 21-3 at Byrd Stadium under Ralph Friedgen.

With Maryland's win over Virginia on Nov. 13, the Terps finished the 2003 season with a perfect 6-0 record at home, marking the second time in Ralph Friedgen's three-year tenure that the team has finished its home slate unblemished.

In 111 seasons of football, Maryland has finished undefeated at home 18 times. Just seven of those occasions, however, have come since 1950 (when Byrd Stadium opened) and just twice has it happened since 1975 (`76 and 2001).

The Terrapins' 6-0 mark in 2003 was a tie for the second-best record at home in school history. The 1976 team was also 6-0, only to be trumped by the 2001 team which won all of its games on a seven-game home slate.

More on Byrd Stadium

Now in its 55th year of operation, Byrd Stadium continues to serve as the home of the Terps. Opened on Sept. 30, 1950, and constructed for a sum of $1 million, Byrd was named after Dr. H.C. "Curley" Byrd, a multi-sport star at Maryland who later became the school's head football coach and ultimately its president.

Heading into 2004, the Terrapins are 177-102-1 within the friendly confines of Byrd.

With temporary bleachers installed again this season, Byrd Stadium can hold up to 51,500.

A Class Act

The success of the Maryland football team has not stopped on the playing field in recent years, as the team has improved its academic standing under Ralph Friedgen's watch.

All 19 members of this year's senior class are on schedule to earn their degrees on time.

Since Friedgen joined the Terps in 2001, 58 of 66 football players who have exhausted their eligibilty have graduated, including 30 in fewer than five years.

Two players on this year's team -- DE Kevin Eli and WR Steve Suter -- have already earned their degrees. One other, CB Domonique Foxworth, needs just one class to complete his requirements in three-and-a-half years.

Suter was one of the team's top scholar-athletes, earning a 4.0 grade point average in 2003-04.

From the membership has its benefits file: when on the road, Friedgen lets players line up to eat by grade point average. The Terps must be hungry -- 11 players earned a 3.5 GPA or better for the entire 2003-04 academic year.

Ticket Information

Individual game tickets for Terp home games may be purchased locally at any Ticketmaster outlet or by visiting the Maryland ticket office at Comcast Center. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.

For additional info or to order by phone, call (800) 462-TERP.

Season Ticket Sales Climbing

In the last three years, season ticket sales for Maryland football games have have been moving higher and higher.

Nearly a week before the season opener, the athletics department announced that it had sold a school-record total of more than 30,000 season tickets.

As of September 13, the total sold was 31,011, an improvement of over 13,000 tickets from Ralph Friedgen's first season in College Park and over 16,000 more sold than in 1999.

Players Mentioned

Mack Frost

Footer