Oct. 26, 2004

Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen:

Thoughts on last week's game against Clemson:
"Our team was very disappointed after the loss to Clemson. I thought they played hard and good enough to win, but it didn't turn out that way. We are going through a stretch of bad luck - we've had opportunities to make plays and we're not making them. Sometimes we're not getting all the calls or the ball isn't bouncing our way. We are going to keep on working hard and striving to get better."

On the defensive performance:
"Defensively, I think we are playing very, very well. I was happy to hear that D'Qwell Jackson was the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week. I think that's a tremendous credit to him that his play his recognized, especially in a losing effort. I could say that about a lot of kids on our defense. Shawne Merriman is playing well."

On the team's goals for the rest of the season:
"One of the goals we've had since I've come here is to beat a top 10 team, and that opportunity is going to be available again this weekend. I'm playing every game to win, and I think if we could win one of these games here it would tremendous things to our confidence, and who knows what could happen after that? Right now I'm focusing on the Florida State game and giving that our best effort."

On competing against a team and a program like Florida State:
"As our program grows, those games are going to come about. How successful we are in those games are really going to determine the direction of our program. That's why, as a goal, we want to beat a top 10 team, and once you do that I think you reach a certain status. I know when I was here before when that happened we felt like there wasn't any team we couldn't play with. This is a young football team, so I don't know that they've seen a team like Florida State yet. We need to go out and have fun; we have nothing to lose and play to win."

On dealing with disappointment:
"We worked very hard last week, we prepared hard, and it didn't work out. But if we continue to prepare and work hard, sooner or later, it will work out. I don't know if it will be this week or the next week, but you can't just give in when things don't go your way. You have to keep fighting and working."

On if it's tougher to come back from a tough defeat:
"I think it's harder when you think you had a good opportunity to win the game and you don't come away with the win. We have to finish the deal to win football games. You can't play for 58 minutes; you have to play for the whole game. Maybe we learned that lesson."

On the controversial pass interference call against Clemson:
"I could make a big deal out of that and gnash my teeth, but it won't get the game back. That's not going to change. So why go there? We need to worry about Florida State and hopefully the call will go for us the last time."