Game Notes -- Terps at North Carolina

Nov. 7, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

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The University of Maryland football team returns to action after its first full bye week of 2005 as it heads to Chapel Hill, N.C., to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. Kickoff from Kenan Memorial Stadium is set for 12:09 p.m. with the game being televised regionally on JP Sports (WDCA Ch. 20 in D.C.; WJZ Ch. 13 in Baltimore) and broadcast on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network (radio pregame starts at 10:30 a.m.).

Maryland (4-4, 2-3 ACC) has lost a pair of tough games in its last two outings, both coming at the hands of Top 10 opponents. In its last game, the Terps carried a six-point lead to the nine-minute mark of the fourth quarter at then No. 10/9 Florida State before falling 35-27 on homecoming in Tallahassee. For more on the loss to Florida State, see "Quick Hits, Week Eight."

The Terrapins will need two wins in their last three games to become bowl-eligible.

North Carolina got back in the bowl picture last weekend with a 16-14 home win over 19th-ranked Boston College. The Tar Heels made the most of their only touchdown -- a 90-yard return on the opening kick by Wallace Wright -- and three field goals by Connor Barth, handing BC its second consecutive loss.

This week's game is the last of three road contests in a four-game stretch for the Terrapins. In addition, beginning with the Temple game, the Terps will have finished the season playing four of its final six games away from home.

Neither team is ranked or receiving votes in either of the latest major polls.

Series Notes -- Terps vs. Heels

Saturday's game will mark the 66th meeting between the Terrapins and Tar Heels with UNC leading the all-time series 35-29-1.

The Maryland/North Carolina series is one that can best be defined by spurts by one team or the other. The series began with Maryland winning four of seven, but from there it went UNC 9-0-1 from 1927-50; Maryland 8-3 from 1951-62; UNC 6-2 from `63-72; Maryland 9-3 from `73-85; UNC 11-4 from 1986-2000; Maryland three straight from 2001-present.

The Terrapins are seeking a four-game win streak in the series for the first time since the mid `80s, when they ran off four in a row from 1982-85.

The last meeting between the two teams was in College Park in 2003 and the game was pointed to as a turning point in the season by Friedgen. The Terps trailed 14-6 early, but stormed back to score 39 points in the second quarter, an Atlantic Coast Conference record. Maryland rolled to 612 yards of offense and went on to win their next four games, including a season-ending 41-7 victory over West Virginia in the Toyota Gator Bowl.

In their last trip to UNC, the Terrapins got their first win in Chapel Hill since 1988, breaking a string of seven losses to the Tar Heels on their home turf. They did so in dominating fashion. After UNC took an early 7-0 lead on a one-yard sneak by QB C.J. Stephens, Maryland rattled off 59 consecutive points to post the largest margin of victory by either team in the series that began in 1920.

In the 2002 win, Maryland had three plays go for 60 yards or more, the most notable being Steve Suter's 77-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter, his NCAA record-tying fourth of the season. Then-freshman Josh Allen also rushed for 91 yards on just six carries with a pair of touchdowns.

Ralph Friedgen's first win as a coach at Maryland came against North Carolina on September 1, 2001, a 23-7 victory at Byrd Stadium. In that game, the Terps allowed a 77-yard touchdown to current Pittsburgh Steeler Willie Parker on the game's opening play but did not allow another Carolina score in what would be the first of seven straight wins to open the season. Bruce Perry showed glimpses of what was to come in a season that would garner him ACC Offensive Player of the Year as he rushed 21 times for 116 yards.

The teams have split the last four meetings, but the Terrapins have won four of the last five in the series and fell just shy of a win in 2000 (13-10). In that 2000 game, both offenses struggled with the Terps holding UNC to four first downs through more than three quarters, but Maryland could not hold the 10-7 advantage it had staked itself with 14:14 remaining in the game. Ronald Curry scored the game-winner on a 25-yard run with 7:24 left.

Scouting the Tar Heels

North Carolina is 4-4 this season (3-2 ACC) after last weekend's 16-14 victory over then 19th-ranked Boston College. Like Maryland, the Tar Heels have three games left to win two and become bowl-eligible.

UNC has had a tough road this year to 4-4. Its schedule is ranked as the third-toughest in the nation by USA Today's Jeff Sagarin and the team has squared off against five ranked opponents in its eight games to date. The Tar Heels' last four games have been against Top 25 competition and the team is 2-2 in that stretch.

Surprisingly, North Carolina has been significantly outscored by its opposition this year. UNC is averaging just 17.6 points per game (106th nationally) while its opposition averages 25.5 points per contest.

Where the Tar Heels have excelled this year is in winning close games. Three of the team's four wins have been by seven points or less and their last two have been two-point victories.

The team's top offensive player this year has been WR Jesse Holley. Holley is fourth in the ACC in receptions (4.38 avg.) and fifth in receving average (60.0 avg.) after having a huge game against Boston College last week (eighth receptions, 125 yards; both career highs).

A pair of Tommy's have arguably been the Tar Heel's top defensive players this year. LB Tommy Richardson leads the team in tackles with 65 to go along with 5.5 TFLs and a sack. DE Tommy Davis leads the team in TFLs (6.5) and is seventh in the ACC with 5.0 sacks.

UNC's John Bunting

John Bunting is in his fifth year as a head coach at his alma mater. He carries a 23-34 record at Carolina and a 61-48-2 overall record as a college head coach.

Bunting, a 1972 grad of Chapel Hill and standout linebacker, came back to UNC after serving as a linebackers coach for the NFL's New Orleans Saints. That job came on the heels of posts with the St. Louis Rams (1997-99) and Kansas City Chiefs (1993-96).

Prior to being hired in Chapel Hill, Bunting had previously worked as a head coach, but not at the Division I-A level. His first head coaching job came at Rowan University from 1988-92 after working as the team's defensive line coach in 1987. That head job came after just three years as a full-time coach as he started with his former pro team, the USFL's Baltimore Stars, in 1985 before working a year (1986) at Brown and then moving on to Rowan.

Bunting is the first Carolina alum and first football letterwinner to become the school's football coach since Jim Tatum in 1956.

As a player, Bunting was an All-ACC performer at linebacker before spending 13 years at the professional level (11 with the Philadelphia Eagles; two with the USFL's Baltimore Stars).

Bunting is a 1968 graduate of nearby Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, Md.

Quick Hits, Week Eight

Willie Reid's 61-yard punt return at the start of the second quarter was the first for a touchdown against Maryland since Tremain Hall of NC State returned on 83 yards against the Terps, Nov. 22, 2003.

Sophomore Lance Ball ran for 120 yards against the Seminoles, the second 100+-yard rushing game of his career. His hitting the century mark also was the third time ever for a Terp against Florida State (LaMont Jordan in 1999 and 2000).

Sam Hollenbach was in the game a total of five snaps before exiting with an injured left shoulder. He completed his lone pass (the first completion of the game), a 29-yarder to Vernon Davis.

Maryland's first score of the day was a one-yard plunge by QB Joel Statham. The rushing TD was the second of Statham's career (first was against Florida State last year).

The Terps first passing touchdown of the game was an amazing throw-and-catch from Statham to Derrick Fenner, a 29-yard effort. The TD was the first of the season for Statham (first since the Florida State game last year) and the second touchdown of the season for Fenner.

Maryland tied the score following the Fenner touchdown with a two-point conversion by pass, once again from Statham to Fenner.

The Terrapins took a 21-14 lead on a 20-yard strike from Statham to Jo Jo Walker, the second receiving touchdown of the season for the senior captain.

Maryland's 21-14 halftime lead was its first-ever at the break in Tallahassee and the third in series history (2005, 2004, 1994). Its 21-point second quarter marked the most points ever scored by the Terps against FSU and was as many points as the team had scored in a game in 14 of the previous 15 meetings.

The Terrapins opened the second half by intercepting FSU QB Drew Weatherford. The pick was by William Kershaw -- the senior's first of the year and second of his career. His first career interception came against Florida State last year. The turnover led to a 40-yard field goal by Dan Ennis and a 24-14 Maryland lead.

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 four games -- three 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 eight games into his fifth season, Friedgen has 40 wins which ties him with UNC's Dick Crum (1978-81) in the third spot. With a victory over North Carolina, he will move into a tie for second with former Terrapin mentor Jerry Claiborne (1972-76).

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).

This year, the Terps started 1-2 and are now 3-1 since.

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 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 first eight games this season, the Pennsylvania native is 128-of-204 (63 percent) for 1,700 yards with eight touchdowns and nine 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 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 5-3 in his career as a starter and has a pass efficiency rating of 136.9, second-best in the ACC.

Hollenbach's spot in the ACC rankings for yardage were hurt by this year's Florida State game as he was only in for five plays before leaving the game due to injury. He connected on his only pass in that game (29 yards to Vernon Davis) but it still dropped him to fifth in total offense (220.6 avg.) and third in passing average (212.5).

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 eight* games).

Player  	Att-Cmp-Int	TD	Yds.	Eff. Rtg.	YPG
S. Hill 	245-143-8	7	1,667	118.4	208.4
S. McBrien 	160-92-5	8	1,433	142.9	179.1
J. Statham 	200-108-10	8	1,405	116.2	175.6
S. Hollenbach	204-128-9	8	1,700	136.9	212.5


*Hollenbach only played five snaps in game 8 vs. FSU

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 eight games a year ago, Maryland's leading wide receiver was Derrick Fenner, who had caught 20 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. The top three receivers accounted for 53 receptions, 675 yards and three touchdowns.

By comparison, this year's top three wide receivers -- Danny Melendez, Jo Jo Walker and Fenner -- have posted 79 receptions for 1,041 yards and five TDs. The third-leading wide receiver (Fenner) has four 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 32 receptions for 592 yards and three 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 eight 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 18.6 points per game and has yet to finish a season with a scoring average above 20.0.

Since 2001, 38 of Maryland's 58 opponents (66%) have been held to 20 points or less.

Since 2002, Maryland has held its opposition scoreless in 84 quarters (11 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	3
	Miami (Fla.)	3
2.	Auburn  	4
	Mississippi	4
3.	Alabama 	5
	Georgia 	5

Jackson Leads 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.

In the last three weeks, Jackson has made the next round in each the Butkus Award (semifinalist), Lott Trophy (quarterfinalist) 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 98 in 2005).

Thus far in `05, Jackson leads the nation with an average of 14.0 tackles per game.

In his final regular season trip to his home state, 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 31 games the last three years and all seven of the games he has played in this year. He has also had 19 career games with double-digit tackles (in 31 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 eight games this season, it is clear he is going to easily surpass those marks.

Davis currently leads the Terps with 32 receptions for 592 yards and three touchdowns. His 74.0 yards per game receiving is second-best in the ACC and third-best nationally among tight ends (53rd overall).

Davis is averaging 18.5 yards per reception, an amazing number for a tight end. Should his average hold up in the final three-four games, that would make the single-season Top 10 at Maryland.

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 eight games. Thus far in 2005, Ennis has connected on 14 of his 18 field goal attempts.

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 is 12th nationally in field goals and fourth in the ACC with a 1.75 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 145 career punts, Podlesh has dropped 37 percent (53) inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

With a 45.1-yard average heading into this week, Podlesh ranks eighth nationally and second in the ACC in punting average.

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 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.

North Carolina head coach John Bunting was a 1968 prep graduate of Springbrook High School in Silver Spring. He was also a linebackers coach for the Baltimore Stars of the USFL in 1984-85.

UNC offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Gary Tranquill was Navy's head coach from 1982-86 and an assistant at the academy from 1973-75. Wide receivers coach Dave Brock graduated from Salisbury State (1994) and coached there from 1988-90 and `94-95.

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.

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).

Players Mentioned

Lance Ball

Chase Bullock

Erin Henderson

Darrius Heyward-Bey

Dre Moore

Jeremy Navarre

Danny Oquendo

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