Football 10/17/2005 8:00:00 AM Maryland Athletics

Game Notes -- Terps Await #3 Hokies in Thursday Night Clash

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Oct. 17, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland football team returns to College Park in search of its fourth-straight win and at least a share of the lead in the Atlantic Coast Conference's Atlantic Division as it hosts No. 3 Virginia Tech in its lone Thursday night affair of 2005. Kickoff from a sold-out Byrd Stadium is set for 7:45 p.m., with the game being televised nationally on ESPN and broadcast on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network (radio pregame starts at 6:15 p.m.).

Maryland (4-2, 2-1 ACC) overcame a slow start and poor conditions to earn its fourth win of the year and the 40th of Ralph Friedgen's career as it beat Temple, 38-7, in Philadelphia. After trailing by seven early, Maryland rattled off 38-straight points behind five rushing touchdowns (three by senior Mario Merrills) and a defense that held the Owls off of the scoreboard in the game's final three quarters. For more on the win over Temple, see "Quick Hits, Week Six."

Virginia Tech continued its strong play this season, moving to 6-0 (4-0 ACC) on a 41-14 victory at home over Marshall. Like the Terps, the Hokies started slower than they would have liked, leading just 14-7 at halftime, but stormed to 20 points in the third quarter en route to victory. In the win, starting back Cedric Humes was injured but Brendan Ore stepped in to gain 146 yards and a score, already making the Hokies bowl-eligible.

This week's game is the lone home game in a four-game stretch for the Terrapins. Maryland was on the road last game against Temple and has road contests awaiting against Florida State and North Carolina. Starting with Temple, the Terps will have finished the season playing four of its final six games away from home.

Maryland is not ranked but received votes in the most recent Associated Press (1) and USA Today Coaches' (9) poll. Virginia Tech enters this Thursday's game ranked 3rd in both polls.

Maryland's last win over a ranked opponent was a 45-33 win over Virginia on October 1st. A win this week would be its first over a Top 5 opponent since last year's Florida State game. It would also be a victory over its highest-ranked foe since defeating third-ranked UNC 22 years and one week ago (10/29/83), 28-26, en route to the first of first of three ACC championships for Bobby Ross and then-offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen.

Series Notes -- Terps vs. Hokies

Thursday's game will mark the 28th meeting between the Terrapins and Hokies. Last year's game, the first between the two schools as Atlantic Coast Conference opponents, was the first since 1993.

Maryland leads the all-time series -- which began in 1919 -- by a 15-12 margin. The two schools have only played three times since 1950. Up until that time, they had met every year from 1919-36 and then every year again from 1946-50.

Last year's game got off to a bad start for Maryland and never got better. Four first half turnovers by Maryland were converted into 24 points and Virginia Tech had three other first-half scoring drives en route to a 41-3 halftime lead and an ultimate 55-6 win at Lane Stadium. Maryland turned the ball over five times in the game (four interceptions, one fumble) and did so mostly in its own end. The Hokies' average starting spot in the first half was the Maryland 46-yard line and for the game, its own 48.

One of the lone notables about the game from a Terrapin perspective was the fact that last year's game could be considered the starting spot for Sam Hollenbach. After Joel Statham came out and Jordan Steffy was injured, Hollenbach came in and performed well enough to earn the starting nod in the following week's game, the season finale at home against Wake Forest.

Though this year and last are the first time the teams squared off as members of the ACC, it is not the first time they have played as members of the same conference. Both were members of the Southern Conference from 1921-51 (Maryland moved to the ACC in 1953 and Tech remained in the SoCon until 1965).

The last time the two teams squared off in College Park was in 1990, a season-opening 20-13 Maryland victory. It was the start to the only winning season in Joe Krivak's four years as a Terrapin head coach and the first-ever starts for QB Scott Zolak and H-back Frank Wycheck who set then-Maryland records for completions (28) and receptions (14), respectively.

There have been more games played (14) at neutral sites in the series' history than there have been at either school's home site. Four games have been played at Washington D.C.'s Griffith Stadium, one at D.C.'s Central High School, seven in Norfolk, Va., one in Baltimore and one in Roanoke, Va.

Though Maryland has won nine of the last 12 meetings, that fact is relatively insignificant considering the two schools have met just three times (1990, 1993 and 2004) since 1950.

For a recap of last year's game against Virginia Tech, see the Opponent/Series Info page of this release.

Quick Hits, Week Six

Maryland's win over Temple made it three games in a row for the first time since the team won five straight at the end of 2003.

The Terrapin defense held Temple to 226 total yards. That is a season low by the Terp defensive unit and the third time in six games it had held the opposition below 300.

Senior LB D'Qwell Jackson did not play (leg), breaking a streak of a team-high 29 consecutive starts. It is also the first time in Jackson's 43-game career (the Temple game would have been the 44th) that he did not play in a game.

Sophomore Wesley Jefferson started for the first time in his career in Jackson's place and posted a team-high tying nine tackles (all assisted) and recovered a fumble. William Kershaw also had nine tackles and it marked the first game this season that Jackson did not lead the team.

Mario Merrills finished the day with a team-high 66 yards on 12 carries (5.5 avg.) and three touchdowns. The effort marked the first three-TD rushing day by a Terp since Bruce Perry had three against Wake Forest in the final game of 2003.

Maryland rushed for five touchdowns as a team against the Owls, the most since posting five against The Citadel in 2003.

Career firsts against Temple: Josh Wilson (blocked punt); Danny Oquendo (reception); Isaiah Williams (reception); Milton Harris (sack); Dave Quaintance (game action).

Wilson's blocked punt was the second this season by the Terrapins (David Holloway vs. Clemson the first).

Junior Dan Ennis had his first missed field goal of the season, a 39-yarder in the third quarter. The miss broke a string of 11 consecutive field goals to start the season for Ennis. On the day, Ennis finished 1-of-3 on field goals and 5-of-5 on extra points. (He is now 12-of-14 on the season for FG).

Select Company

Ralph Friedgen's 36 wins in his first four years as a head coach ranks tied for 10th in NCAA Division I-A history for fourth-year coaches. His company on that list is noteworthy.

Nestled between Nebraska's Tom Osborne (9th) and Boston College's Frank Leahy (12th) stands Friedgen and a coach who Terp fans may recognize -- current defensive coordinator Gary Blackney. Blackney posted a 36-8-2 record at Bowling Green from 1991-94.

Four games into his fifth season at Maryland, Friedgen is already moving his way up the charts for fifth-year ACC coaches. With 39 wins, Friedgen has moved into a tie with current NCSU head coach Chuck Amato and former Terp Bobby Ross in the fourth spot. With a win this weekend, he will move into a tie with UNC's Dick Crum (1978-81) in third.

A Wealth of Experience

Atop the Maryland coaching staff are a head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator who combined, have as much experience as nearly any threesome in Division I-A football. Between Ralph Friedgen, Charlie Taaffe and Gary Blackney, there is a combined 97 years of full-time coaching experience at either the pro or collegiate levels.

Only two other programs can boast more experience at the top of their coaching staff than Maryland's near century of experience. Penn State leads the way with Joe Paterno (HC), Galen Hall (OC) and Tom Bradley (DC) accounting for 117 years of experience, while Florida State is second with Bobby Bowden (HC), Jeff Bowden (OC) and Mickey Andrews (DC) accounting for 101.

The coaching experience on the Terrapin staff does not end with Friedgen and his coordinators. The Maryland staff of position coaches, overall, possesses a combined total of 212 years of full-time experience at either the collegiate or pro levels.

That total includes five coaches (excluding Friedgen, Taaffe and Blackney) who have been at it for 15 years or more, and the 212 years means an average of over 21 years of experience per coach on the 2005 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.

As stated previous, 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).

It's Not How You Start...

Since 2001, Maryland has now started the season 1-2 a total of three times. With the inexperience of this year's team and the strength of the ACC, a rebound like those of year's passed is questionable, but it is still of note how those other team's finished considering the Terps have now won three-straight since a 1-2 start.

Maryland started 1-2 in both the 2002 and 2003 seasons. In `02, the Terps went on to win eight-straight and ultimately 11-of-12 down the stretch, finishing the season 11-3, Peach Bowl champions and ranked No. 13 in the country. This year, the Terps started 1-2 and are now 3-0 since.

In 2003, the Terrapins ran off wins in nine of their last 10 games after opening the season with a win and a pair of losses. That year, the team finished 10-3, beat West Virginia 41-7 in the Gator Bowl and was ranked 17th in the final Associated Press poll.

Raising the Bar

With its win on October 8th over Temple, Maryland has 40 victories over its last four-plus seasons.

The Terps' total of 36 wins from 2001-04 was the second-highest four-year win total in school history. Maryland's top effort was 37 wins under Jerry Claiborne from 1975-78.

The 2004 season marked the first time in Friedgen's tenure that the team failed to win 10 games. In the 108 years of football prior to Friedgen's arrival, Maryland had never put together three straight nine-win seasons much less 10 like the Terps' did from 2001-03.

Since 1892, Maryland has had seven 10-win seasons, three of which have come in Friedgen's four-plus years.

Sam Quarter-BACH

In the last two seasons, all eyes have been on the quarterback position at Maryland. Last year, there was little mention of Sam Hollenbach (pronounced HALL-un-bock) as a serious contender for the job, but a start against Wake Forest in the 2004 finale and an ensuing strong start to `05 makes it clear the Terrapin coaching staff to have found their man.

Hollenbach had found the bottom of the depth chart in his first two years, struggling both with the offense and with delivering the football. Perseverance, work and a change in his throwing motion, however, have steadily moved him to the starting job and early season success.

In his first six games this season, the Pennsylvania native is 113-of-173 (65 percent) for 1,513 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has also rushed for two TDs.

Against #19/18 Virginia, Hollenbach didn't start slow, but the way he finished made it seem like it. Two early interceptions dogged Hollenbach, but his final three quarters showed no fear as he completed 18 of his final 22 passes for 249 yards. On the day, he finished 25-of-33 for 320 yards with a pair of TDs and interceptions. His completion and yardage totals were both career highs.

Entering this week, Hollenbach is 5-2 in his career as a starter and has a pass efficiency rating of 144.0, second-best in the ACC.

Hollenbach currently leads the ACC in total offense with an average of 264.3 yards and is second in passing average at 252.2 yards per game.

How He Stacks Up

Below is a look at how Sam Hollenbach compares to the other three starting quarterbacks (Shawn Hill, Scott McBrien and Joel Statham) in their first seasons under Ralph Friedgen and Charlie Taaffe (through six games).

Player  	Att-Cmp-Int	TD	Yds.	Eff. Rtg.	YPG
S. Hill 	144-94-5	6	1,130	114.1   	188.3
S. McBrien 	120-65-4	6	971	131.9   	161.8
J. Statham 	129-73-7	7	961	126.2   	160.2
S. Hollenbach 	173-113-7	7	1,513	144.0   	252.2

Receivers Having Big Year

One of the noticeable differences in this year' steam besides the play at quarterback has been that of the team's receivers under first-year coach Bryan Bossard.

Through six games a year ago, Maryland's leading receiver was Derrick Fenner, who had caught 16 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. The top three receivers accounted for 40 receptions for 476 yards.

By comparison, this year's top three wide receivers -- Danny Melendez, Jo Jo Walker and Fenner -- have posted 63 receptions for 826 yards. The third-leading wide receiver (Fenner) has two more receptions than he did as the team's leader at this point last year.

The team's top producer in the passing game this year has actually been TE Vernon Davis who has 24 receptins for 490 yards and three TDs.

Melendez is seventh in the league in receiving with a 60.2-yard per game average.

Green Shells

Last year's Maryland team was a young bunch, but this season, the Terrapins are even more green than last.

Friedgen likes to throw out a note about the number of players on the roster with three or more years eligibility remaining, but his number (58) has been based on a look at student-athletes receiving financial aid.

A look at the entire roster is astounding. A total of 72 Maryland players are sophomore or younger with 47 of those Terps being freshmen (redshirt or true).

Through six games, Maryland has had seven true freshmen and 13 redshirt freshmen see action.

With DE Jeremy Navarre starting in game one and OT Jared Gaither in game four, the Terps have had a true freshman start the earliest in a season in Friedgen's tenure on either side of the ball.

Noting the Terp "D"

When he was hired to come to Maryland, the talk about the mark Ralph Friedgen would make in College Park was all about offense. In each of the four seasons heading into 2004, however, the most consistent Terp unit was the defense.

Since 2001, the Maryland defense has allowed an average of 18.1 points per game and has yet to finish a season with a scoring average above 20.0.

Since 2001, 38 of Maryland's 56 opponents (68%) have been held to 20 points or less.

Since 2002, Maryland has held its opposition scoreless in 83 quarters (10 in 2005).

Maryland has held eight opponents to 100 yards or less passing since 2001 and two (Navy and West Virginia) this season.

In Blackney's tenure, Maryland has held its opposition below 100 yards rushing 13 times.

In week five of this year, Virginia's Marques Hagans became the first quarterback since Chris Rix in 2003 to throw for more than 250 yards against Maryland. Hagans was 17-of-35 (.485) for 270 yards and no TDs against the Terps.

Just twice since game two of 2003 has a quarterback been able to pass for more than one touchdown against the Terrapins (Virginia Tech's Bryan Randall last year and Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst in week two of this season).

The Terps' effort in game four of this year was its first supreme effort of 2005. The Terrapins held Wake Forest to just 244 yards of offense, but more importantly, 111 on the ground, 159 below the Deacs' average coming into the game.

Blackney's "D" Pulling Rank

Since Gary Blackney arrived in 2001, Maryland's defense has consistently been among the national leaders in several categories. Below is a look at some of the defense's accomplishments in that time (bold denotes Top 30 national ranking):

           	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Total Def.:     	30	36	15	21	27
Scoring Def.:   	18	7	6	27	37
Pass. Def.:     	82	52	12	8	5
Pass. Eff. Def.:	34	36	17	16	36

In addition to the ranking in categories listed above, it is notable that in 2001 the Terps finished ninth in the NCAA in rushing defense, seventh in turnovers gained, and ranked second nationally (behind Miami) with 24 interceptions.

Jackson Leads Nation

D'Qwell Jackson was considered undersized as a prep. He began his career playing in the shadows of a legend (E.J. Henderson) early in his career. Now a senior, the leader of the Terrapin defense has been through just about everything and has emerged as the unquestionable leader of the Maryland defense, a major awards and All-America candidate, and one of the top defensive players at any position in the country.

Jackson has led the Terrapin defense in tackling in each of his two-plus years as a starter (136 in 2003; an ACC-best 123 in 2004; and now 72 in 2005).

Thus far this season, Jackson has averaged 14.4 tackles per game, best in the NCAA.

Against No. 19/18 Virginia, Jackson led the team in tackles with 14 while recording a sack and a half TFL.

Against West Virginia, Jackson moved into the Maryland career top 10 with his 359th tackle (he currently stands eighth with 382).

Jackson's performance in week one against Navy helped him earn ACC Player of the Week honors for his position. He has been named the league's player of the week four times in the last two years.

The fiercest competitor on the Terp roster, Jackson has led Maryland in tackles in 17 of 28 games the last three years and all five of the games he has played in this year. He has also had 17 career games with double-digit tackles (in 29 starts).

Jackson -- a first team All-ACC selection who finished second in balloting (by two votes) for Defensive Player of the Year honors -- averaged 11.2 tackles per game last year, making him the lone player in the league to average 10 or more tackles per game.

A preseason first or second team All-American on nearly every major publication's preseason list, Jackson is on the watch lists for the Bednarik, Lombardi and Butkus Awards this year.

Turnover Low in `06

In addition to the high number of young Terps taking the field this year, the more experienced Maryland players -- in terms of their academic eligibility -- are somewhat few and far between, leaving the team with likely much the same look next season.

Maryland has 16 seniors on its current roster, with two of those seniors -- OT Stephon Heyer and TB Josh Allen -- may return next season.

Heading into the sixth weekend, nine of 22 listed starters are seniors.

On defense, the Terps will lose a total of just four players from its entire two-deep to graduation following this year.

The Terrapin offensive line has just one senior listed on its 10-man two deep.

The Duke

One of the most physically-gifted players in the history of Maryland football, TE Vernon "Duke" Davis is in the midst of what could best be called a breakout season in 2005.

Davis led the team in receiving yards last year from his H-back position, posting 441 yards (on 27 receptions) in what could best be described as a down year for Maryland's pass offense. Through six games this season, it is clear he is going to easily surpass those marks.

Davis currently leads the Terps with 24 receptions for 490 yards and three touchdowns. His 81.7 yards per game receiving is second-best in the ACC and second-best nationally among tight ends.

Davis is averaging 20.4 yards per reception, an amazing number for a tight end.

In catching five passes for a career-high 158 yards against West Virginia, Davis became the first Maryland player to record back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since 1995 when Jermaine Lewis posted 205 yards on nine catches (9/23/95 vs. Duke) and 189 (9/28/95 at Georgia Tech) in consecutive contests.

Against Clemson, the Washington, D.C. native had his first big game of 2005. He finished with a career-high six receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown, often dragging tacklers with him if not running by them.

For his efforts against both Clemson and West Virginia this year, Davis was named John Mackey National Tight End of the Week.

Named to the Mackey Award watch list this season after being named the national tight end of the week for his play against Duke last year, Davis' strength numbers are unparalleled in Terp history by a tight end. His spring 2005 testing numbers included a 460-pound bench, 685-pound squat, 40-inch vertical jump and a time of 4.41 in the 40-yard dash.

Turtles in Name Only

Though this year's Maryland team is again a young one, it is also notable that team speed and athleticism have improved as the current coaching staff's recruits are fully integrated into the system (2005 will be the first year there will have been no holdovers from the previous staff's recruiting efforts).

The Terrapins had 14 players run in the 4.5-or-better range in the 40-yard dash in spring testing (note that all times are an average of six stopwatches on the same sprint).

Five of the 12 wide receivers who tested in the spring ran 4.54 or better, two tailbacks ran 4.5 or better (Lattimore and Merrills) and five defensive backs ran under a 4.5 (Barnes, McPhearson, Taylor, Wilson and Gardner).

Two receivers who did not test -- newcomers Darrius Heyward-Bey (10.54 100m) and Danny Oquendo (7.46 55mH) -- were among the top prep sprinters in the nation this past track season.

Two notable times -- CB Gerrick McPhearson broke Renaldo Nehemiah's school record with a 4.21; Vernon Davis, at 250 pounds, ran a 4.41.

Ennis Steps Right In

Junior Dan Ennis started his career at Maryland having never kicked in an organized football game. In addition, he was working behind the ACC's all-time leading scorer Nick Novak, a player who still had two-years eligibility remaining. Despite those obstacles, Ennis worked to get better each year and the results are now showing.

In his first season as the Terrapins' placekicker, Ennis has been about as good as the team could ever expect in its first six games. Thus far in 2005, Ennis has connected on all 11 of his 13 field goal attempts and all 16 PATs.

Ennis opened this season connecting on 11-straight field goals before missing his final two kicks at a rain-soaked Temple in week six.

This week, Ennis ranks tied for seventh nationally in field goals and third in the ACC with a 1.83 per game average.

Podlesh Moving Up the Charts

Junior Adam Podlesh settled into his career at Maryland before the ink had dried in the record books on his predecessor Brooks Barnard's strong career. Though Podlesh has not cracked all of Barnard's records yet, Maryland finds itself with arguably the most complete and versatile punter in the nation.

Last season, Podlesh maintained a 44.8-yard average (second-best in the ACC and 10th-best in the nation) while his net average (39.4) led the ACC and was also seventh in the NCAA.

On 136 career punts, Podlesh has dropped 37 percent (50) inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

With a 46.0-yard average heading into this week, Podlesh does not have enough punts per game to qualify in the conference or nationally. His average, however, would rank fifth nationally and would lead the ACC. The Terps are 10th nationally in net punting average (38.95).

Podlesh had one of his best games as a Terp at Wake Forest this year. Dueling the ACC's other top punter, Ryan Plackemeier, Podlesh posted a 49.7-yard average on six punts with three balls downed inside the 20-yard line. In addition, his net average for the day was an impressive 47.7 yards per kick.

In being named the second team All-ACC punter in 2003, Podlesh became the first freshman in school history to be recognized by the league. He earned the honor for the second-straight season in 2004.

Tough Losses

Two weeks into August, the 2005 season had not yet begun, and already the team suffered a number of significant losses due to injury.

Prior to spring ball, it was announced that TB Josh Allen would miss 2005 recovering from a knee injury suffered in the last game of 2004. Allen will enter 2006 sixth on the team's all-time rushing touchdown list (21) and 11th on the career yardage list (1,860).

Just a week into fall camp, the team lost its top offensive lineman, as left tackle Stephon Heyer tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Heyer entered 2005 with 24 straight starts under his belt, most on the offense.

A day after Heyer's injury, redshirt freshman LB Erin Henderson also tore his ACL. Henderson was a backup at two linebacker spots and was playing well in addition to working with a number of units on special teams.

Iron Terps

Maryland's strength numbers over the course of the last five years have been off the charts. This season, 30 players earned "Iron Terp" status, an honor that is based on a player's strength index (determined by a strength/weight formula). That total is the second-highest in team history.

Team averages in categories used to measure index this season include an average bench press of 337 pounds; an average squat of 516 pounds; an average clean of 295 pounds; and an average vertical jump of 33-1/2 inches.

Not only were new individual records set, but the team as a whole improved dramatically, as 89 percent of the players on this year's team elevated their personal bests in strength index. By comparison, 72 percent had bettered their numbers in 2004.

Vernon Davis' strength feats were mentioned earlier in the release, but other notable accomplishments include QB Sam Hollenbach setting team records in index (701), squat (600) and clean (320) and P Adam Podlesh posting a best-ever mark for a punter with a 315-pound clean a year after setting the record in the 40-yard dash (4.46).

By the ranking system used at Maryland, TB Mario Merrills is the team's strongest player pound-for-pound after setting a record strength index for a running back with an 814.

Local Ties

The Terrapins have five players who call the state of Virginia home. The list: S Jeff Allen (Woodbridge/DeMatha HS); DT Rob Armstrong (Arlington/Washington-Lee HS); WR Derrick Fenner (Hampton/Hampton HS); CB Isaiah Gardner (Virginia Beach/Salem HS); and CB Richard Taylor (Centreville, Va./Centreville HS).

Virginia Tech has four players from the "Free State," three of whom were in their 2005 recruiting class. Veteran OG Jason Murphy (Baltimore/Edmondson Westside HS)was joined this year by FB Kenneth Jefferon (Port Tobacco/DeMatha), OL Robert Norris (Cheltenham/DeMatha) and QB Ike Whitaker (Germantown/Northwest) as Hokies who call Maryland home.

The Hokies also have three players from Washington, D.C.

Several Virginia Tech coaches have ties to the Maryland area. Among them: head coach Frank Beamer (Maryland graduate assistant, 1972); associate head coach and RBs coach Billy Hite (Hyattsville native, DeMatha HS graduate); and strong safety and LBs coach Jim Cavanaugh (Maryland RBs, 1982-86; Maryland offensive coordinator/QBs, 1987).

ACC's New Look

For the first time, the Atlantic Coast Conference will be a 12-team league in 2005 and feature a conference championship game. The league is split in two divisions with divisional champions meeting in the inaugural ACC Championship game on December 3rd in Jacksonville, Florida's Alltel Stadium.

Maryland is in the ACC's Atlantic Division along with first-year member Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, NC State and Wake Forest. The Coastal Division features Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia and Virginia Tech, last year's league champion.

Scouting the Hokies

Virginia Tech has been one of the nation's outstanding teams in the first half of this season, starting the season with six consecutive wins and a resulting No. 3 ranking in both national polls. The Hokies are atop the ACC's Coastal Division with a 3-0 record in conference.

The Hokies have been one of the NCAA's most complete teams, ranking high both offensively and defensively. On offense, Tech is 11th nationally in scoring average with 39.3 points per game while its defense is ranked in the top five nationally in scoring (1st), total defense (2nd), pass defense (3rd) and pass efficiency defense (5th).

Through six games, Virginia Tech has also been one of the nation's best teams in turnover margin, ranking second with a +2.0 margin per game.

First-year starting QB Marcus Vick has been the team's leader on offense and ranks second nationally in pass efficiency with a 177.21 mark. Vick ranks ninth in the ACC in both passing average (173.8) and total offense (196.2) and has thrown just two interceptions in 107 attempts.

Tech will be without its leading rusher (Cedric Humes) this game as he broke his right arm against Marshall. Second-leading rusher Mike Imoh (ankle) is expected to return, however.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Hokies have no shortage of standout performers. LB Xavier Adibi (29 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, two interceptions, three PBUs), DE Darryl Tapp (4.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks) and DE Chris Ellis (6.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks) have been among the team leaders this year.

Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer

Frank Beamer is in his 18th year at the helm of the Virginia Tech program. Like Ralph Friedgen, he has taken his alma mater and returned it to national prominence.

After going 5-17 in his first two seasons with the program (1987-88), Beamer has led Tech to an impressive 141-77-2 record in his 17-plus seasons. The Hokies have gone to a bowl game every year since 1993 and have won no less than seven games a season during that time.

Beamer and Friedgen coached together at stops that included Maryland (1972, where both were graduate assistants), The Citadel (1973-78), and Murray State (1981). Murray State was Beamer's first head coaching job and Friedgen was his assistant head coach in that first year (`81) of seven that he ultimately spent with the Racers.

The coaching stops for Beamer prior to Virginia Tech have been as follows: Maryland (graduate asst., 1972), The Citadel (asst. coach, 1973-76; defensive coordinator, 1977-78) and Murray State (head coach, 1981-86).

A native of Hillsville, Va., Beamer earned his undergraduate degree in distributive education from Virginia Tech in 1969, lettering three years in football for the Hokies along the way. He earned a master's degree from Radford in guidance in 1972.

Protecting the House

Despite losing its first two home games of 2005, the Terrapins are now 24-6 at Byrd Stadium under Ralph Friedgen after beating Virginia on Homecoming.

The Terrapins finished with their first sub-.500 record under Friedgen in 2004, but for the most part maintained their strong play at home, finishing with a 4-2 mark at Byrd.

With Maryland's win over Virginia in 2003, the Terps finished the 2003 season with a perfect 6-0 record at home, marking the second time in three years that the team had finished its home slate unblemished.

In 112 previous seasons of football, Maryland has finished undefeated at home 19 times. Just eight of those occasions, however, have come since 1950 (when Byrd Stadium opened) and just three times has it happened since 1975 (`76, 2001 and `03).

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.

Players Mentioned

Richard Taylor: Sprints; Sophomore

#29 Jeff Allen: DB; 6' 1"; Junior

#5 Isaiah Gardner: DB; 5' 11"; Senior

#1 Erin Henderson: LB; 6' 3"; Junior

#8 Darrius Heyward-Bey: WR; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#40 Jeremy Navarre: DL; 6' 3"; Junior

#17 Danny Oquendo: WR; 6' 0"; Junior

#19 Jordan Steffy: QB; 6' 1"; Junior

#84 Isaiah Williams: WR; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Richard Taylor
: Sophomore
: Sprints

#29 Jeff Allen
: 6' 1"; Junior
: DB

#5 Isaiah Gardner
: 5' 11"; Senior
: DB

#1 Erin Henderson
: 6' 3"; Junior
: LB

#8 Darrius Heyward-Bey
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: WR

#40 Jeremy Navarre
: 6' 3"; Junior
: DL

#17 Danny Oquendo
: 6' 0"; Junior
: WR

#19 Jordan Steffy
: 6' 1"; Junior
: QB

#84 Isaiah Williams
: 6' 3"; Junior
: WR