Football Game Notes -- #23 Terps vs. Georgia Tech

Oct. 4, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

Terps vs. Jackets Game Notes (PDF format)
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The University of Maryland football team opens a stretch of tough Atlantic Coast Conference games this Saturday when it hosts the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech. Kickoff from a sold-out Byrd Stadium is 3:36 p.m. with the game being televised regionally by ABC and broadcast on the Terrapin Radio Network (radio pregame starts at 3:00 p.m.). The game will also be broadcast on XM Satellite Radio, channel 181.

The Terrapins are coming off of their first bye week of the season, a week after posting their first conference and road win of 2004 at Duke (Sept. 25). In the win at Durham, Maryland (3-1, 1-0) posted one of the most impressive offensive performances in school history as it rolled to 685 yards, posted 35 first downs and ran 100 plays in the win.

Georgia Tech (2-2, 1-2 ACC) enters this week on the heels of its second consecutive loss, a 27-3 defeat at home in its first ACC game against fourth-ranked Miami.

The Terps will enter this week ranked No. 23 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Maryland has been ranked in all seven polls this season as well as the preseason Top 25. The Yellow Jackets enter this weekend's contest unranked.

Series Notes -- Terps & Jackets

Next weekend's game will mark the 17th meeting between the Terrapins and Yellow Jackets. The series began in 1988 and Georgia Tech owns an 11-5 advantage all-time.

For the first time since 2000, this year's contest between the two schools will take place on a Saturday. From 2001-2003, the series was played on Thursday night in front of a nationally-televised audience. Each of those three games had memorable moments with last year's 7-3 Terp loss being the team's most inept offensive performance of the season, the 2002 win coming while fears of the D.C.-area sniper still resounded in the Metro area and the 2001 win being one of Ralph Friedgen's signature career wins -- his first against his old team and good friend, George O'Leary.

Few forget that last season's loss was the first significant action for current QB Joel Statham, but some may forget the circumstances that led to the then-freshman's insertion into the game. Starter Scott McBrien went down with a concussion late in the second quarter and Statham entered in his first significant game action, in his home state, on national television after spending the week getting the repetitions as the team's No. 3 quarterback. Then-backup Orlando Evans was a late scratch from the travel roster, thus putting Statham in the spot of leading the team despite not having prepared to do so.

Players on this year's roster who have made a big impact in the last few games against Georgia Tech include Statham (10-of-22, 110 yards, 1 int.), Domonique Foxworth (12-yard fumble return for a touchdown in 2002), and Nick Novak (game-tying and game-winning field goals in 2001). The 2001 game is generally viewed as the start to what has been an outstanding career for Novak.

The 2001 win at Bobby Dodd Stadium moved Maryland to 6-0 on the season and was a breakout game for Novak. Now a senior, Novak went into that game 4-for-10 with a career long of 33 yards. Since that time, he has gone 69-of-82 and has hit 7-of-13 kicks from 50 yards and beyond. He now stands one point outside the career top 10 for scoring in NCAA history.

Though the Terps have beaten Tech just five times in 16 meetings, they have a .500 record (4-4) when Friedgen is not a member of the Yellow Jacket coaching staff (1992-96 Friedgen was with the Chargers and the last three years he was with Maryland).

Though this week's meeting will be the third on the college gridiron for Ralph Friedgen and Chan Gailey, it will not mark just the third time they have been on opposite sides of the ball. The duo have been on opposing sidelines as assistant coaches in the NFL four times as Friedgen was an offensive coordinator with the Chargers and Gailey a receivers coach and offensive coordinator with the Steelers (each was on the winning team twice).

Quick Hits, Week Four

In Ralph Friedgen's three-plus seasons, Maryland is 30-0 when leading at halftime.

Maryland presently owns a 13-game win streak at Byrd Stadium, the sixth-longest streak in Division I-A (Boise State leads the nation with a 21-game streak at home).

The Terrapins had several notable offensive performances in their win over Duke. From a team standpoint, the Terps: tied the school record for first downs (35); had the most offensive plays (100) since a school-record 105 against NC State in 1992; posted the most passing yards since throwing for 425 against Wake Forest in the last game of 1993; and finished with the second-most yards (685) in a game under Friedgen (first was 697 against the Blue Devils in 2001).

The Terrapins churned out 277 yards rushing but did so with no back going over 100 yards (Sammy Maldonado finished with 99). Maryland is now 19th nationally with an average of 216.3 yards per game.

Though not as apparant early, Joel Statham's progress continued as he passed for career numbers. Currently the ACC's leader in total offense, the sophomore utilized nine receivers among his 22 completions on the day.

Despite leading only 27-21 at the half, the Terps dominated Duke from a statistical standpoint. Maryland had 330 yards in the first half (119 rush, 211 pass) while limiting the Blue Devils to 85 total yards (35 rush, 50 pass).

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 Georgia Tech, he will move into a tie for first with Clemson'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 five of his fourth season, Friedgen already ranks seventh on that list.

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 four more wins this season, the team will surpass the best four-year total in school history, 37 wins (1975-78).

Friedgen's tenure has thus far produced no season with less than 10 wins. In the previous 110 years of football, Maryland had never put together three straight nine-win seasons.

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

Balance = Success

Because of his success at Georgia Tech with players like Shawn Jones, Joe Hamilton and George Godsey, it was assumed that Friedgen's offensive success came through the air. What three years and four games at Maryland have shown is that the key to the offense run by he and coordinator Charlie Taaffe is based on one premise -- balance.

Now in his fourth year on the job, Taaffe's offense has posted almost identical numbers in the rushing and passing departments. Since 2001, Maryland has averaged 203.9 yards rushing and 214.9 yards passing.

Through four games of 2004, the passing attack is a little ahead of the ground game in terms of yardage but the overall balance is still very much apparent. Maryland is averaging 216.2 yards per game rushing and 238.2 passing.

In 2001 and 2002, the Terps averaged more yards on the ground than through the sky, but with an experienced quarterback in 2003 (Scott McBrien), Maryland posted its largest discrepancy in three years (191.3 yards per game rushing vs. 230.4 passing).

Right On Track?

Sophomore QB Joel Statham has had his ups and downs early in his first year as the Terrapins' starter. Though he has had some trouble with turnovers, his numbers overall have been impressive.

Statham is currently leading the ACC in total offense (248.8 ypg) and passing yards (226.8 ypg) while ranking second in pass efficiency (140.7 rating). He ranks 24th nationally in pass efficiency and 27th in total offense.

A closer look at the Chatsworth, Ga. native's predecessors may give an even better indicator of his progress at this point. Below are the numbers for him, Shaun Hill and Scott McBrien -- the other two quarterbacks who have led the Terp offense under Friedgen -- in their first four games as a starter in the current offensive system:

Yr.	Player (Cl.)	C-A-I	Yds	TD	W-L
`01	S. Hill (Sr.)	54-102-2	687	4	4-0
`02	S. McBrien (Jr.)	44-83-4	681	3	2-2
`04	J. Statham (So.)	61-104-7	907	7	3-1

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 four games in `04, the Terps are averaging 216.3 yards per game on the ground, 19th-best in the NCAA.

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 1,621 yards and 19 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 13th 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. After averaging 6.0 yards per carry a year ago before injuring his knee, "The Bull" is averaging 5.3 through four games of 2004.

On the heels of a 99-yard game against Duke, Maldonado is now fifth in the ACC in rushing with 89.5 yards per game and ninth in all-purpose yards (94.0 avg.).

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 17.8 points allowed per game since 2001, that feat has obviously been a tall order for Terrapin foes.

Maryland's ranking in scoring defense the last three years has gotten 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 11.3 points per game compared to its current average of 20.5.

Since 2001, 29 of Maryland's 43 opponents (67%) 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. This season, the Terps are allowing just over 20 points per contest (20.5).

Since 2002, Maryland has held its opposition scoreless in 61 quarters (six thus far in 2004).

Despite losing three starting defensive backs a year ago, the Terps are currently ranked 17th nationally in pass defense, allowing an average of 160.3 yards per game through the air.

Since 2001, Maryland has held its opposition below 100 yards rushing 10 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 starter will face 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 Four Yards From Record

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 15.3 yards per touch whether it be rushing, receiving or in the returns game.

With four more punt return yards, Suter will become the ACC's all-time leader in yardage, surpassing the mark of NC State's Ledel George (1,191, 1990-93). In the opener against NIU, he surpassed Georgia Tech's Kelley Rhino and moved into second place.

In last year's regular-season game against West Virginia, Suter became Maryland's all-time leader in punt return yardage with 922. He enters game five of the 2004 season with 1,188 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).

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

The opposition has thus far been punting away from Suter this season, angling 12 of their 22 punts out of bounds. The result -- an opponent net punting average of 32.5 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 nine of 17 games the last two years. He has also had 10 career games with double-digit tackles.

Four games into this year, Jackson is again leading the team in tackles (36) and fifth in the ACC. He is also tied for sixth in the league in passes defensed with an average of one per game.

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 pass breakup.

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 through four games 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 31 career games, Merriman has posted 21.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks, a total that is tied for ninth on the Maryland career charts.

With his next sack, he will move into a tie for fifth with Eric Ogbogu (1994-97) and he now stands just seven sacks from owning the school's career record (Mike Corvino, `79-82, currently holds the mark with 24).

Merriman leads the Terrapins and is tied for third in the ACC in sacks (four total/1.0 avg.) and tied for sixth in TFLs (six total/1.5 avg.).

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 four games of 2004, a total of 34 sophomores and freshmen have seen action including six true freshmen, one more than all of last year.

6 The Hard Way

If a team wants to attack Maryland through the air, its best option is not on CB Domonique Foxworth's side of the field. The most experienced member of the Terrapin defense, Foxworth has started every game since the end of 2001 and earned All-ACC recogntion each year he has been a full-time starter.

Foxworth is the anchor of a defensive backfield that lost three players (Curome Cox, Dennard Wilson and Madieu Williams) who earned some form of postseason recognition from the league last season. A first-teamer in 2002, he was second team last year after tying for fourth in the league with three interceptions.

For his career, Foxworth has posted 26 pass breakups and eight interceptions. He has three pass breakups thus far in his senior season, a year that has seen the majority of the oppositions throws go to the other side of the field.

Currently 20th on the Terp career charts, Foxworth can move into a tie for seventh with two more interceptions.

Foxworth was honored during the telecast of this year's Duke game with BB&T's Community Service Award.

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 Closing On NCAA Mark

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 69 of his last 82 field goal attempts (84%), with five of the 13 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 57 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 367 career points.

With two more points, Novak will crack the NCAA's career top 10, surpassing Florida's Jeff Chandler (1997-2001). At his current season pace, he will move into seventh following the Georgia Tech game.

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).

A first team All-ACC pick in 2002 and 2003, Novak is currently first among ACC kickers in scoring (10.8 ppg; 12th in NCAA), field goal percentage (81.8) and PAT percentage (100.0). He is fourth in the NCAA in field goals with an average of 2.25 per game.

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.

Off On The Right Foot

Sophomore Adam Podlesh had a tall order a year ago in filling the shoes of Maryland's all-time leading punter, Brooks Barnard. His performance, however, was more like that of a senior on his way to school records than it was of a first-year performer.

Podlesh averaged 42.3 yards per punt a season ago, third-best in the ACC. 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.

On 62 career punts, Podlesh has dropped 44 percent (27) inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

Podlesh has placed five of his nine punts this year inside the 20.

His 42.3-yard average in 2003 was the fifth-best in school history and best ever by a freshman.

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

Thus far in 2004, Podlesh maintains a 42.1-yard average, but his net average (42.6) is best in the ACC and third nationally.

Iron Terps

Maryland's strength numbers over the course of the last four years have been off the charts. This season, 43 players earned "Iron Terp" status, an honor that is based on a player's strength index (determined by a strength/weight formula).

Due to the team's youth, the strength numbers have fallen slightly compared to last year, but the averages are still staggering nonetheless. The team's average bench press is 341.9; its average squat 514.2; and its average power clean is 296.3 as determined in preseason testing.

Not only were new individual records set, but the team as a whole improved dramatically, as 72 percent of the players on this year's team elevated their personal bests in strength index -- which encompasses all of the tests into one number -- from the year previous.

The player who set the most records at his position this year was tight end Vernon Davis. The young H-back posted records for strength index (736), bench (425 pounds), power clean (330 pounds) and vertical jump (38 inches) He also posted a 4.5 time in the 40-yard dash.

For the second-straight season, FS Ray Custis led the team in overall strength index, posting a 809, the best ever by a Maryland defensive back.

Local Ties

The Terrapins have had their luck over the last few years plucking players out of the Peach State. At present, there are five Terps who call Georgia home: OG C.J. Brooks (Rex/Morrow HS); LB Tim Cesa (Kennesaw/Harrison HS); PK Obi Egekeze (Augusta/Westside HS); OT Stephon Heyer (Lawrenceville/Brookwood HS); and QB Joel Statham (Chatsworth/Murray Co. HS).

Ralph Friedgen isn't the only member of the Terp coaching staff with ties to Georgia Tech. Offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe was with the Jackets as a graduate assistant in 1974 and defensive line coach Dave Sollazzo served as defensive tackles coach there from 1999-2000. The latest transplant, Bill O'Brien, was at Tech from 1995 up until 2002 where he made his way from graduate assistant to assistant head coach/offensive coordinator.

No Georgia Tech players are from the state of Maryland, but Yellow Jacket defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta was a graduate assistant at Maryland in 1983.

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 34-9 in that span with a 21-1 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 Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech enters this weekend's game with the Terrapins 2-2 (1-2 ACC) after falling at home last weekend to No. 4 Miami, 27-3.

The Yellow Jackets took on the Hurricanes without the team's and ACC's second-leading rusher, P.J. Daniels (strained quadricep), and struggled in the passing game as well as QB Reggie Ball threw three interceptions for the second-straight game.

Tech opened the season 2-0 with wins over Samford and at Clemson, but suffered a surprising 34-13 loss to North Carolina before falling to the Canes.

The Clemson win was Chan Gailey's third over a ranked opponent and came in dramatic fashion. Reggie Ball connected with true freshman Calvin Johnson for his third TD reception of the game, this one coming with 11 seconds left, giving the Ramblin' Wreck a 28-24 win.

Through four games, the Yellow Jackets have looked somewhat similar to the Terps in several ways. They rank low in turnover margin (110th nationally, -1.8 avg.), high in rushing offense (29th, 192.8 avg.) and middle of the pack in scoring defense (53rd, 23.0 ppg).

RB P.J. Daniels ranks 19th nationally and first in the ACC with 108.0 rushing yards per game but did not play last week. His replacement, Chris Woods, rushed for 74 yards on 12 carries, but 56 came on the first play of the game.

On defense, junior LB Gerris Wilkinson leads the team and is third in the ACC in tackles with 40 (17 solo), has one interception and has posted a team-high 4.5 TFLs.

Tech Coach Chan Gailey

Chan Gailey is in his third year as the head coach at Georgia Tech. His 16-14 overall record is also his career record at the Division I-A level.

Gailey took over the reins at Georgia Tech after two successful years as the offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins. That stint followed his first head coaching job in the NFL as he was at the helm of the Dallas Cowboys in 1998 and 1999.

Gailey compiled an 18-14 mark with the Cowboys, a job he took after working as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1994-97. In his four years in Pittsburgh, the Steelers were divisional champs all four years, appeared in the AFC championship game three times, and earned a berth in the Super Bowl once.

In this, his fifth year as a collegiate head coach, Gailey is spending his first at the Division I-A level. His first head coaching job came in 1983-84 when he led Troy State to a 19-5 record in two years and, ultimately, a Division II national championship in 1984. His other job at the college level was at Samford in 1993 where he went 5-6 before leaving to take the job with the Steelers as a wide receivers coach (he was later promoted to offensive coordinator).

A native of Gainesville, Ga., Gailey first made a name for himself in Gainesville, Fla., where he played QB for the Gators from 1971-73 and earned a bachelor's in physical education in 1974.

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

The Terrapins are 21-1 at Byrd Stadium under Ralph Friedgen and have won their last 13 straight at home. This year's Oct. 30 opponent, Florida State, is the only team to have won in College Park in the last three years.

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 177-100-1 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.

Terp Alley

In an effort to restore some tradition on gameday in College Park, the football staff created Terp Alley in 2001, a tradition that has become a part of the gameday experience outside Byrd Stadium.

For every football home game, the entire football team makes its first appearance of the day at "Terp Alley." The team is dropped off at the circle at the top of Field House Drive (between the football press box and Ludwig Field) approximately two hours before kickoff and is led past fans gathered along the street to the football complex by the Maryland band and cheerleaders.

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

Obi Egekeze

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