Nov. 14, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Terps vs. Eagles Game Notes (PDF Format)
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The University of Maryland football team returns home for Senior Day and one step closer to bowl eligibility as it squares off with first year conference opponent and Atlantic Division foe Boston College. Kickoff from Byrd Stadium is set for 12:09 p.m., with the game being televised regionally on JP Sports and broadcast on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network (radio pregame starts at 10:30 a.m.).
Maryland (5-4, 3-3 ACC) got the first victory that would be required (for bowl eligibility) in two tries on Tobacco Road last weekend when it came away with an emotional 33-30 come-from-behind overtime victory at North Carolina. The Terrapins overcame two missed field goals, a missed PAT, an interception returned for a touchdown and a 10-point fourth quarter deficit en route to their first overtime win since 2001. For more on the win at Chapel Hill, see "Quick Hits, Week Nine."
The Terrapins now need a win in one of their final two games to become bowl-eligible. Seven ACC teams have already won six games or more and three more (Maryland, UNC and NC State) have a chance to qualify. If Maryland wins out, it would finish second in the Atlantic Division standings.
This Saturday's game is the final regular season game for Boston College. The Eagles (7-3, 4-3 ACC) closed out their home slate with a 30-10 win over NC State. The Eagles got 151 yards receiving from Will Blackmon and sacked NCSU quarterbacks eight times in the complete victory.
Maryland is closing the season having played five of its final eight games on the road. Through six of those games -- four of which have been on the road -- the Terps are 4-2.
Boston College is ranked 23rd in both the Associated Press and the USA Today Coaches' polls, respectively. The Terrapins did not receive votes in either poll this week.
Series Notes -- Terps vs. Eagles
Saturday's meeting marks just the third meeting ever between Maryland and Boston College and the first since 1986. The two schools split their only two previous meetings (1985 and `86). This year's game will be the first for the two teams as conference opponents.
The last meeting between Maryland and BC was the first-ever at Byrd Stadium and the Eagles came away with a 30-25 win, breaking a string of 16-straight homecoming victories for the Terps in the process. In the win, the Eagles threw for 401 yards while Maryland did not score a single point in the first half. The Terrapins had the ball with :45 left and a chance to win despite being outplayed all game, but Dan Henning threw his third interception of the day on the first play of the drive to seal the Terps' fate.
The first meeting between the two schools took place at Foxboro, Massacussetts' Sullivan Stadium on September 14, 1985. In the 31-13 Maryland win, the Terps increased their scoring with each quarter and took advantage of five Boston College turnovers (three fumbles, two interceptions) while holding a nine-minute possession advantage in the win.
The 1985 season was Maryland's last Atlantic Coast Conference championship before Ralph Friedgen and Co. won the title in 2001. The next season was the worst (5-5) for Friedgen and head coach Bobby Ross and the duo moved on to Georgia Tech the following year.
Friedgen was an offensive coordinator/offensive line coach for the Terps in their previous two meetings with Boston College.
For a recap of the last meeting between Boston College and Maryland, see the Opponent/Series Info page of this release.
Quick Hits, Week Nine
The Terrapins are 3-1 on the road this season and beat a UNC team which had not lost at home since its home opener against Wisconsin in September and beat ranked opponents in its last two games at Kenan Stadium (Virginia and Boston College).
The Terps 524 yards of offense were the most against the Tar Heels this season. The output was the second-highest total of the season for Maryland (570 vs. Virginia).
After yielding a field goal on Carolina's opening drive, Maryland marched 80 yards on 11 plays on the ensuing drive, led largely by sophomore Lance Ball. Ball rushed eight times on the drive for 47 yards, capping the drive with a one yard score on fourth down, his fourth rushing TD of the season.
Ball, who rushed 11 times in the first quarter for 61 yards and at the half, had already notched his third 100-yard rushing day in his last five outings as he had 111 on 20 carries at the break. On the day, Ball had 161 yards on 39 carries, a career-high in carries and two yards short of his career high in yards.
Mistakes plagued the Terrapins' scoring chances in the first half. Among them were a pair of missed field goals (one of which hit off the right upright) and an interception that came after the Terps had advanced from its own one to the 40-yard line.
Despite trailing at the half (13-10), the Terrapins dominated statistically at the half. Some of the numbers included total offense (254-153), first downs (15-6), rushing yards (116-28), passing yards (138-125), time of possession (17:06-12:54).
The Terps took their first lead of the second half on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Sam Hollenbach to Vernon Davis, the first TD passing for Hollenbach since the Virginia Tech game and first receiving for Davis since the Virginia game (Oct. 22).
Davis finished the day with seven receptions for 139 yards. The seven receptions were a career high (previous was six vs. Clemson this year) and the 139 yards marked his third 100-yard receiving game this season (fifth career).
Hollenbach's 80-yard touchdown pass to Danny Melendez to give the Terps a 30-27 lead in the fourth quarter was the longest play from scrimmage this season.
After two tough interceptions, Hollenbach ended up having a big day and posting some impressive numbers. His three touchdown passes and 374 yards passing were both career highs in a 19-of-31 performance.
Two weeks after being knocked out of the game at Florida State, senior Milton Harris posted a career-high 16 tackles (nine solo) with two tackles for a loss and a fourth quarter forced fumble (Jawarski Pollock) that helped the Terps secure victory.
In his first start of `05, Dre Moore notched his first tackle for a loss of the season, a five-yard stop of UNC TB Ronnie McGill.
Scouting the Eagles
Boston College is 7-3 (4-3 ACC) after last weekend's 30-10 win in its final home game of 2005. The Eagles are currently second in the ACC's Atlantic Division.
Though they can not play in the league's inaugural title game, the Eagles can tie for the Atlantic Division crown with Florida State if it wins this weekend.
Maryland and BC have shared six common opponents thus far this year (FSU, Clemson, Virginia, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and North Carolina). The Terps and Eagles are both 3-3 against those teams.
Boston College has been steady on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball this year. One of its more notable units has been its offensive line, the ACC's largest at an average of 6-6 and 314 pounds. It has given up just 11 sacks this year, second-best in the league.
Offensively, the Eagles have the league's third-rated passing offense at 242.7 yards per game and are led by a pair of quarterbacks. Quinton Porter has taken the majority of the snaps this season, but sophomore Matt Ryan played the entire game against NC State and is 86-of-135 on the season with 1,028 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Against NC State, the Eagles posted eight sacks, 3.5 of which came from honors candidate Mathias Kiwanuka. Kiwanuka is fourth in the league with seven sacks and third in TFLs with 13.0.
BC's Tom O'Brien
Tom O'Brien is in his ninth season as the head coach at Boston College. His stint has been one of the most successful in school history as he has compiled a 64-42 record in his tenure, his only one as a head coach.
Under O'Brien, the Eagles have won eight games or more in each of the last four seasons, a school record. In addition, the team has gone to a school-record six consecutive bowl games.
Prior to his stop in Chestnut Hill, O'Brien served for 15 years at Virginia. He was an assistant coach (guards/centers) from 1982-90 before working as the Cavaliers offensive coordinator from 1991-97.
O'Brien went to Virginia after his first full time coaching post, an assistants job as a tackles and tight ends coach at the Naval Academy, his alma mater.
At the Naval Academy, O'Brien was a three-year starter at defensive end (1968-70). Upon graduation from the academy, he was commissioned as a second leiutenant in the U.S. Marines. He ultimately served for four years with tours of duty in California and Japan and earning a rank of major as a Marine Corps reserve.
O'Brien is a native of Cincinnati where he attended St. Xavier High.
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.
Though he was the top second-, third- and fourth-year coach in ACC history by wins, the order to finish atop the list in his fifth will be tall. Maryland will have to win three games -- two regular season and one bowl game -- for Friedgen to tie the mark of 44 wins set by Clemson's Danny Ford from 1979-83. Now nine games into his fifth season, Friedgen has 41 wins which ties him for second with former Terrapin great Jerry Claiborne (1972-76) on that list.
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).
Road Warriors
In their first four years under Ralph Friedgen, the Terrapins made their mark by being nearly unstoppable within the confines of Byrd Stadium. Though this season has been an aberration from the 23-3 mark set from 2001-04, this year's young team has surprisingly played some of its best games on the road.
After last weekend's win at UNC, the Terps are 3-1 on the road with their lone loss being a narrow defeat at No. 10 Florida State.
Raising the Bar
With its win over North Carolina, Maryland has 41 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.
Seniors Bid Byrd Farewell
A total of 14 seniors are playing the final game of their careers as Terps this weekend against Boston College.
The following is a list of the seniors on this year's team (* = letters earned prior to 2005):
Name Letters Hometown
Russell Bonham, OG *** Winston-Salem, N.C.
Ricardo Dickerson, FB/LB *** Hyattsville
Derrick Fenner, WR *** Hampton, Va.
Milton Harris, S * Lanham
D'Qwell Jackson, LB *** Largo, Fla.
William Kershaw, LB *** Raeford, N.C.
Ryan McDonald, C * Hagerstown
Gerrick McPhearson, CB ** Columbia
Danny Melendez, WR *** Lancaster, Pa.
Mario Merrills, TB *** Columbia
Derek Miller, TE *** Carlisle, Pa.
Jo Jo Walker, WR *** Carrollton, Texas
Chris Williams, DB Olney, Md.
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 the ensuing strong overall play in `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 nine games this season, the Pennsylvania native is 147-of-235 (63 percent) for 2,074 yards with 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He has also rushed for two TDs.
In the win at UNC, he threw two interceptions that each led to Tar Heel scores, but he overcame the setbacks to post some career numbers. He finished 19-of-31 for 374 yards and three touchdowns. The yardage total and touchdowns were both new career highs and his two late TDs -- both over 60 yards -- paced the Terrapin comeback.
Against #19/18 Virginia, Hollenbach didn't start slow, but the way he finished made it seem like it. Two early interceptions dogged the Pennsylvania native, 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 6-3 in his career as a starter and has a pass efficiency rating of 142.8, third-best in the ACC.
Hollenbach is currently ranked in the top three of the ACC in efficiency, passing average (230.4/3rd) and total offense (236.1/2nd), a claim no other QB in the conference can stake.
Eliminate the five plays he played injured against FSU (he completed his lone pass for 29 yards before coming back out) and Hollenbach averages 255.6 yards passing per game, easily tops in the ACC.
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 nine* games).
Player Att-Cmp-Int TD Yds. Eff. Rtg. YPG
S. Hill 267-158-8 9 1,895 123.9 210.6
S. McBrien 171-98-5 9 1,623 148.6 180.3
J. Statham 217-118-12 8 1,520 114.3 168.9
S. Hollenbach 235-147-11 11 2,074 142.8 230.4
*Hollenbach only played five snaps in game 8 vs. FSU
Receivers Having Big Year
One of the noticeable differences in this year's team besides the play at quarterback has been that of the team's receivers under first-year coach Bryan Bossard.
Through nine games a year ago, Maryland's leading wide receiver was Derrick Fenner, who had caught 23 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns. The top three receivers accounted for 57 receptions, 704 yards and three touchdowns.
By comparison, this year's top three wide receivers -- Danny Melendez, Jo Jo Walker and Fenner -- have posted 88 receptions for 1,248 yards and seven TDs. The third-leading wide receiver (Walker) has three more receptions than the team's leader (Fenner) did at this point last year.
The team's top producer in the passing game this year has actually been TE Vernon Davis who has 39 receptions for 731 yards and four TDs.
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 nine 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 Defense
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 2005, however, the most consistent Terp unit was the defense.
Since 2001, the Maryland defense has allowed an average of 18.8 points per game. It appears that the 2005 campaign with be the team's first in that time finishing a season with a scoring average above 20.0 (they are allowing 24.9 with two-three games remaining).
Since 2001, 38 of Maryland's 59 opponents (64%) have been held to 20 points or less.
Since 2002, Maryland has held its opposition scoreless in 85 quarters (12 in 2005). When it held Virginia Tech scoreless in the first quarter of this year's game, it became the first team to hold the Hokies scoreless in any quarter through seven games of 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 true notable accomplishment 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.
Though it struggled holding Virginia Tech in check in the fourth quarter this year, the Maryland defense did have at least one notable accomplishment against the Hokies as it intercepted QB Marcus Vick three times (Vick had only been picked twice in his previous six games of the season).
Terps Nation's Leaders
Opposing offenses have struggled finding the end zone through the air against Maryland's defense this year. The Terrapins are tied for the national lead in fewest passing touchdowns allowed. The ledger:
Rk. Team Pass TDs Allowed
1. Maryland 4
Miami (Fla.) 4
2. Georgia 5
San Diego State 5
3. Alabama 6
Tennessee 6
Auburn 6
Jackson Second in NCAA
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.
This season, Jackson has made the cut on several of the nation's premier postseason awards. He has earned mention for the Butkus Award (semifinalist), Lott Trophy (semifinalist) and Bednarik Award (semifinalist). He follows the heels of his predecessor, E.J. Henderson, who won both the Butkus (nation's best linebacker) and Bednarik (nation's best defensive player) in 2002.
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 an team-leading 108 in 2005).
Thus far in `05, Jackson is second in the nation with an average of 13.5 tackles per game and has led the NCAA for much of this year.
In his final regular season trip to his home state of Florida, Jackson posted a game-high (both teams) 15 tackles and a tackle for loss against No. 10/9 FSU.
After missing the Temple game due to injury, Jackson returned to the lineup against No. 3 Virginia Tech and finished with a team-high 11 tackles and an interception -- his first of the year -- which he returned 21 yards to the Hokie 33-yard line.
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 sixth with 393).
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 20 of 32 games the last three years and all but one of the eight games he has played in this year. He has also had 20 career games with double-digit tackles (in 32 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, is a team captain and its community service leader in 2005.
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 -- scheduled to return next season.
Heading into the ninth game weekend of this year, just seven 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 has had 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 nine games this season, he has already shattered those marks and is approaching one of the top five receiving seasons in Maryland history.
Davis currently leads the Terps with 39 receptions for 731 yards and four touchdowns. His 81.2 yards per game receiving is second-best in the ACC, 36th nationally and second-best in the NCAA among tight ends.
Davis is averaging 18.7 yards per reception, an amazing number for a tight end. Should his average hold up in the final two-three games, that would make the single-season Top 10 at Maryland.
Through nine games, Davis owns three of the top five games in terms of receiving yards by a tight end this season. The other two are owned by Tulsa's Garrett Mills.
Against North Carolina, Davis set a career high with seven receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown. His 24-yard TD grab was one-handed, falling backwards and was one of the "Top Plays" on ESPN that evening.
In catching five passes for a career-high 158 yards against West Virginia (the NCAA's current 15th-ranked team against the pass), 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.
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 On 149 career punts, Podlesh has dropped 38 percent (56) inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
With a 44.8-yard average heading into this week, Podlesh ranks ninth nationally and second in the ACC in punting average.
Against North Carolina, Podlesh averaged 42.5 yards on his four punts, but more impressively landed three punts inside the 20-yard line.
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
Maryland has one player from the state of Massachussetts. Newcomer DE Jared Harrell is from Milton, Mass., and attended Tabor Academy in Marion.
On the Maryland coaching staff, special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Ray Rychleski was an inside linebackers coach at Northeastern in 1989-90.
The Eagles have three players from the state of Maryland. Freshman DB Andre Jones is a native of District Heights who attended Forestville High School before transferring for his senior year to a high school in Connecticut. The others: DE Brady Smith (Finkburg/Loyola Blakefield HS) and PK William Troost (Bethesda/Georgetown Prep).
Boston College head coach Tom O'Brien attended the Naval Academy in Annapolis and coached there from 1975-81. Defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani also worked as an assistant at Navy (1975-81).
Tight ends coach Jim Bridge coached tight ends under Terp defensive coordinator Gary Blackney at Bowling Green in 2000.
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.
Breakfast with the Turtles
Maryland football games are replayed on Comcast SportsNet every Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.
Fans can also see game highlights by tuning in to FridgeTV on the UMTerps.com website every week.
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 the Terps' home season finale against Boston College may be purchased locally at any Ticketmaster outlet or by visiting the Maryland ticket office at Comcast Center. Tickets may also be purchased online by clicking on the "Tickets" link at the top of UMTerps.com.
For additional info or to order by phone, call (800) IMA-TERP (462-8377).
