Dec. 27, 2006

ORLANDO, Fla. - A total of 13 Maryland Terrapins were carried off the practice field today during final preparations for Friday's Champs Sports Bowl matchup with Purdue.

But it wasn't injuries which caused the transportation of so many large and athletic bodies off Thunder Field on the grounds of the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, just the signal of the final official practice of another season.

In a yearly tradition under the regime of Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen, each senior designates players who carry him off the field at the conclusion of the season's final practice.

"It's a thing they do at the last practice," Friedgen said. "The seniors get to request who they want to carry them off the field. It's kind of an appreciation of what they've done and the years they competed here. We've had it as a tradition since I've been here."

Those 13 seniors played their final home game vs. Wake Forest on Nov. 25 and now they are just two days away from their final collegiate contest, matching up with Purdue (8-5, 5-3 Big Ten) for the first time ever.

The seniors whose eligibility ends Friday include Josh Allen, Conrad Bolston, T.D. Callahan, Dan Ennis, Stephon Heyer, Sam Hollenbach, David Holloway, J.P. Humber, Adam Podlesh, Greg Powell, Drew Weatherly, Josh Wilson and Marcus Wimbush. The senior class is currently 28-18 over the last four years and 39-21 over the last five seasons.

While the final practice is emotional, Friedgen knows the team must continue to focus on the task at hand.

"It was OK," Friedgen said of the final official workout. "We've been practicing better than this, probably because people were out here (at practice). I think this last practice kind of got to them a little bit. They're probably tired of practicing. They want to play. This has been our 14th day of practicing for Purdue."

The Terps (8-4, 5-3 ACC) will be in search of a school-record third-straight bowl victory vs. the Boilermakers.

Kickoff from Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium is set for 8:00 p.m. (EST). The game will be televised live nationally on ESPN and broadcast on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network (105.7 FM and 1300 AM Baltimore; 630 AM Washington, D.C.).

Tickets for the Champs Sports Bowl are available through the Terrapins Ticket Office at 1-800-IM-A-TERP or by visiting the Champs Sports Bowl page.

Terp Notes: Approximately half the team headed to Universal Studios for a tour following this afternoon's practice session ... the Terps will hold a walk-through Thursday afternoon at the stadium.