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Football Game Notes -- Terps at Wolfpack

Nov. 21, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

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The University of Maryland football team heads to Raleigh, N.C., for its final regular season game of 2005 and a contest where one team will end the day bowl-eligible. Kickoff against NC State from Carter-Finley Stadium is set for 12:03 p.m., with the game being televised nationally on ESPN and broadcast on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network (radio pregame starts at 10:30 a.m.).

  • Maryland (5-5, 3-4 ACC) had a game of mistakes and missed opportunities in its 31-16 loss to No. 23 Boston College. The Terrapins turned the ball over four times -- twice inside the Boston College 10-yard line -- and failed to capitalize on field position that had its average starting spot at the BC 49-yard line in the first half. For more on the Senior Day loss, see "Quick Hits, Week 10."
  • NC State won its third game in its last four outings as it handed Middle Tennessee a 24-3 loss, thus keeping its bowl hopes alive. The Wolfpack (5-5, 2-5 ACC) got 94 rushing yards and a touchdown from freshman tailback Andre Brown and were able to win by three touchdowns despite being outgained (278-238), posting 10 less first downs (18-8) and trailing for over 16 minutes in possession time (38:12-21:48).
  • The Terrapins and Wolfpack are playing not only for bowl eligibility, but also for their spot in the final Atlantic Division standings. There are seven bowl-eligible teams in the ACC and Maryland and NC State are two of three vying to be added to that list (North Carolina (5-5) plays at Virginia Tech). Should the Terps win this weekend, they would finish in a tie with Clemson for third in the division with Wake Forest fifth and the Wolfpack sixth. An NC State victory would create a three-way tie for fourth in the final standings.
  • Maryland is closing the season having played five of its final eight games on the road. Through seven of those games -- four of which have been on the road -- the Terps are 4-3.
  • Neither team is ranked heading into this weekend's contest.

    Series Notes -- Terps vs. Wolfpack

  • Saturday's game marks the 62nd meeting between the Terrapins and Wolfpack. The all-time series -- which began in 1909 -- is just about as close as it can get as the slate is currently 29-28-4 in NCSU's favor.
  • NC State has won nine of the last 14 games in the series, but Maryland has won four of the last five. The Terps had won four straight before last season's homecoming stumble.
  • In its history, the series has been one of peaks and valleys as NC State was in the midst of one of its best runs in the series, winning 11 of 14 games from 1986-1999 before Maryland started its four-game streak in 2000. That NCSU run came on the heels of Maryland's best stint, a 13-3-1 run from 1971-85. During that period, the Terps ran off a series-best six straight wins from 1980-85.
  • In last year's contest, Maryland struggled to 91 yards of offense in the second game of a three-game stretch that saw the Terps post a combined 17 points. In the 13-3 win, NCSU's Jay Davis passed for 208 yards while Reggie Davis scored the only touchdown of the day on a one-yard run.
  • Last year notwithstanding, the four games between Ralph Friedgen and Chuck Amato have all been close and marked some of the most exciting games in the history of the series. In 2004, Maryland trailed 24-10 in the fourth quarter but overcame the deficit behind a 10-yard TD pass from Scott McBrien to Jo Jo Walker and later a two-yard scamper by McBrien. Nick Novak missed the extra point, however, setting the stage for one of the most dramatic wins in Terp history. With 1:50 remaining, LB Leroy Ambush blindsided TB T.A. McLendon and the Terrapins recovered the fumble, ultimately setting up Novak's chance at redemption, an opportunity he capitalized on from 43 yards with :23 left, giving the Terrapins a 26-24 win.
  • The 2003 win gave Maryland the inside track to the Toyota Gator Bowl and left the Wolfpack's standout quarterback Philip Rivers without a win in four tries against Maryland, the only ACC school he and head coach Chuck Amato had not beaten in their time together.
  • In 2002, Maryland trailed 14-0 early as Rivers threw for a touchdown and ran for another, but a 64-yard Steve Suter scamper got the Terps on the board and back into the game. Bruce Perry and Scott McBrien each ran for touchdowns in the second half before Nick Novak hit a 26-yard game-winning field goal with :34 left in the game to seal a 24-21 Maryland victory.
  • In 2001, the Terps went to Raleigh with the hopes of clinching their first ACC title in 16 years but trailed 12-10 at the start of the fourth quarter and 19-14 with 3:59 left. After Rich Parson was stripped at the goal line after what looked like a long TD pass from Shaun Hill to take the lead, the Terps' hopes seemed slim. But after the defense held on the next series, Hill marched Maryland 61 yards and capped the drive with a game-winning eight-yard pass to Guilian Gary with 41 seconds left.

    NC State's Chuck Amato

  • Now in his sixth season in Raleigh, Chuck Amato is 45-28 (.616) in his first stint as a head coach and has led the Wolfpack to bowl berths in each of his first four seasons at the helm with last year being the first non-bowl campaign.
  • Amato arrived at NC State after spending 18 seasons at Florida State under Bobby Bowden. While at FSU, Amato directed the Seminole defensive line for 14 seasons before becoming the linebackers coach for four years.
  • Amato began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Easton High School in Easton, Pa. Since that time, Amato has spent time at three schools including a nine-year stint at NC State where he worked his way from being a graduate assistant from 1971-72 to eventually becoming the Pack's defensive coordinator from 1976-79. After State, Amato spent two seasons at Arizona before his 18-year tenure in Tallahassee.
  • A 1969 graduate of NC State, Amato was both a football player and wrestler in college. Amato played linebacker for the Wolfpack and won two ACC titles in two different weight classes as a grappler.
  • NC State has garnered the nickname the "Cardiac Pack" under Amato as his team has come from behind to get the win in 19 of his 44 wins.

    Scouting the Wolfpack

  • NC State enters its final game of the 2005 regular season with a 5-5 record (2-5 ACC). The Wolfpack have had their share of impressive wins and disappointing losses this season.
  • The enigmatic Pack opened 2005 with a narrow defeat at the hands of Virginia Tech, a loss indicating they would be a team to be reckoned with. After a win over Eastern Kentucky, however, it took a late game-saving interception against Georgia Tech to avert a four-game losing streak. They then went on to surprise FSU in Tallahassee in an impressive win, before mounting little resistance in a 30-10 loss at Boston College. Last weekend, NC State beat Middle Tennessee, 24-3.
  • Maryland and NC State have shared six common opponents thus far this year (FSU, Clemson, Boston College, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and North Carolina). NC State is 1-5 in those games, while the Terps are 2-4.
  • The majority of the Wolfpack's problems this year have come on the offensive end. Only three times this season has the team scored more than 21 points and only one of those games was against an ACC opponent (24 in a loss to UNC).
  • Since turning to Marcus Stone as the starting quarterback four games ago, NC State is 3-1. Stone enters this weekend's game 54-of-116 for 775 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions.
  • Freshman Andre Brown has been impressive as the team's feature back in `05. He ran for 248 yards against Southern Miss, then 179 at FSU before stumbling to 12 yards on 13 carries at Boston College. Last weekend, he had 96 yards and a TD against Middle Tennessee. He averages 5.5 yards per carry this season.
  • Defensively, junior Stephen Tulloch leads the team in tackles (114) and is second in TFLs (15.0). He and second-leading tackler Oliver Hoyte (72) are also two of 31 Floridians on the Wolfpack roster, 20 of whom have seen action this year.

    Quick Hits, Week 10

  • Maryland was unable to take advantage of good field position in the first half against Boston College. The Terps' average starting spot in the half was their own 49-yard line and they twice started drives in Boston College territory. The two most costly turnovers were a Sam Hollenbach fumble at the Boston College six-yard line (which was returned for a touchdown) and a Hollenbach interception that was picked off in the Eagles' end zone.
  • Josh Wilson blocked a punt in the first quarter which was recovered on the BC 23-yard line. The block was Wilson's second of the year (first was at Temple, 10-8-05) and of his career.
  • Maryland's first touchdown of the day was a six-yard touchdown run by Lance Ball -- his fifth of the year -- which was set up by a recovery of a muffed punt by freshman Danny Oquendo.
  • The Terps forced their second turnover of the first half early in the second quarter when LB D'Qwell Jackson picked off Matt Ryan. The interception was the second of the season for the All-America candidate and the sixth of his career.
  • With 16 tackles, Jackson moved into fourth on the Maryland career charts with 434 tackles. He surpassed the mark of Ratcliff Thomas (424, 1993-96) and will likely end his career in that spot in the rankings.
  • Sophomore TB Lance Ball rushed 28 times for 135 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles. It marked the third straight and fourth time in the last six games that Ball had cleared the century mark in rushing. His 65-yard dash in the fourth quarter helped the Terrapins cut the score to 21-16 and was the longest run of his career.
  • Danny Melendez and Jo Jo Walker each had six catches to lead Maryland receivers. It was Melendez's best game since he had nine catches against Virginia. Walker's six catches matched a season-high.
  • Attendance for the Boston College game was 51,585, the 18th-largest crowd in school history and the fifth game in 2005 with attendance exceeding 50,000. For the five-game home slate, the Terrapins averaged 52,426 fans per game, a new per-game school record.

    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, Friedgen will finish no better than second on the list of fifth-year ACC coaches. The mark of 44 wins set by Clemson's Danny Ford from 1979-83 is not atainable for Friedgen, who now has 41 wins. That mark ties him for second with former Terrapin great Jerry Claiborne (1972-76) on the 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 their win at UNC two weeks ago, 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 now almost five years.

    Seniors Bid Farewell

  • A total of 13 seniors are playing the final regular season game of their careers as Terps this weekend against NC State.
  • 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 10 games this season, the Pennsylvania native is 172-of-280 (61 percent) for 2,304 yards with 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He has also rushed for a pair of 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 6-4 in his career as a starter and has a pass efficiency rating of 135.41, fourth-best in the ACC.
  • Hollenbach is currently ranked in the top four of the ACC in efficiency, passing average (230.4/2nd) and total offense (232.5/2nd), 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 252.8 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 10* games).
    Player Att-Cmp-Int TD Yds. Eff. Rtg. YPG S. Hill 288-170-8 11 2,084 126.9 208.4 S. McBrien 189-109-5 9 1,753 145.5 175.3 J. Statham 234-126-15 8 1,590 109.4 159.0 S. Hollenbach 280-172-13 12 2,304 135.4 230.4 *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 10 games a year ago, Maryland's leading wide receiver was Derrick Fenner, who had caught 30 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns. The top three receivers accounted for 71 receptions, 840 yards and three touchdowns.
  • By comparison, this year's top three wide receivers -- Danny Melendez, Jo Jo Walker and Fenner -- have posted 104 receptions for 1,390 yards and seven TDs. The team has three wide receivers and one tight end with more receptions and yards than last year's leading receiver had with one game to go.
  • The team's top producer in the passing game this year has been TE Vernon Davis who has 43 receptions for 763 yards and five TDs.

    Green Shells

  • Last year's Maryland team was a young bunch, but this season, the Terrapins are even more green than last.
  • Early in the season, Friedgen liked 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 10 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 18.9 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 (it is allowing 25.6 with one-two games remaining).
  • Since 2001, 38 of Maryland's 60 opponents (63%) have been held to 20 points or less.
  • Since 2002, Maryland has held its opposition scoreless in 87 quarters (14 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. Auburn 6 4. Three teams 7

    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 57 Scoring Def.: 18 7 6 27 64 Pass. Def.: 82 52 12 8 29 Pass. Eff. Def.: 34 36 17 16 60

  • 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 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 playing his final regular season game at Maryland, team's emotional leader has been through just about everything and has emerged as the unquestionable star 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 (finalist) 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 124 in 2005).
  • Thus far in `05, Jackson is second in the nation with an average of 13.8 tackles per game and has led the NCAA for much of this year.
  • Jackson has posted 15 or more tackles in a game five times 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).
  • The fiercest competitor on the Terp roster, Jackson has led Maryland in tackles in 21 of 33 games the last three years and all but one of the nine games he has played in this year.
  • Jackson has had 21 career games with double-digit tackles (in 33 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 15 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 final regular season game 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 10 games this season, he has shattered those marks and is approaching one of the top five receiving seasons in Maryland history.
  • Davis currently leads the Terps with 43 receptions for 763 yards and five touchdowns. His 76.3 yards per game receiving is second-best in the ACC (and best among tight ends), 50th nationally and second-best in the NCAA among tight ends.
  • Davis is averaging 17.7 yards per reception, an amazing number for a tight end. Should his average hold up in the final game(s), that would make the single-season Top 10 at Maryland, ranking sixth.
  • Through 10 games, Davis owns three of the top five games in terms of receiving yards by a tight end this season in the NCAA. 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, West Virginia and North Carolina this year, Davis was named John Mackey National Tight End of the Week. He and UCLA's Marcedes Lewis are the only two players to receive the award three times.
  • 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 the ACC and was also seventh in the NCAA.
  • On 155 career punts, Podlesh has dropped 37 percent (58) inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
  • With a 43.8-yard average heading into this week, Podlesh ranks 11th 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, Gains in `06

  • 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. He announced on November 8th he will return for his senior season.
  • 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 six players who call the state of North Carolina home: OG Russell Bonham (Winston-Salem/Carver HS); LB Chase Bullock (Durham/Northern HS); FB Matt Deese (Greensboro/NE Guilford HS); LB William Kershaw (Raeford/Hoke County HS); DT Dennis Marsh (Browns Summit/NE Guilford HS); and DT Dre Moore (Charlotte/Independence HS).
  • On the Maryland coaching staff, offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe was a graduate assistant at NC State in 1975 and defensive line coach Dave Sollazzo was an assistant coach at Guilford College in 1988.
  • The Wolfpack do not have any players who call the state of Maryland home.
  • NC State running backs coach Dick Portee was an assistant coach at Maryland from 1982-89. Cornerbacks coach Greg Williams was at Maryland from 1982-86 as a secondary coach and from `87-91 as defensive coordinator. Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Steve Dunlap was an assistant at Navy in 1982-83.

    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.

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    Players Mentioned

    Lance Ball

    #44 Lance Ball

    RB
    5' 9"
    Senior
    Chase Bullock

    #42 Chase Bullock

    LB
    6' 2"
    Junior
    Erin Henderson

    #1 Erin Henderson

    LB
    6' 3"
    Junior
    Darrius Heyward-Bey

    #8 Darrius Heyward-Bey

    WR
    6' 2"
    Sophomore
    Dre Moore

    #92 Dre Moore

    DL
    6' 4"
    Senior
    Jeremy Navarre

    #40 Jeremy Navarre

    DL
    6' 3"
    Junior
    Danny Oquendo

    #17 Danny Oquendo

    WR
    6' 0"
    Junior

    Players Mentioned

    Lance Ball

    #44 Lance Ball

    5' 9"
    Senior
    RB
    Chase Bullock

    #42 Chase Bullock

    6' 2"
    Junior
    LB
    Erin Henderson

    #1 Erin Henderson

    6' 3"
    Junior
    LB
    Darrius Heyward-Bey

    #8 Darrius Heyward-Bey

    6' 2"
    Sophomore
    WR
    Dre Moore

    #92 Dre Moore

    6' 4"
    Senior
    DL
    Jeremy Navarre

    #40 Jeremy Navarre

    6' 3"
    Junior
    DL
    Danny Oquendo

    #17 Danny Oquendo

    6' 0"
    Junior
    WR