Maryland Football Practices for Final Time This Season
12/26/2007 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 26, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO - The University of Maryland football team wrapped up its final practice of the year Wednesday, working out for about 90 minutes at Laney College in Oakland in preparation for Friday's Emerald Bowl.
The Terps (6-6) put their final touches on the playbook for Oregon State (8-4) and worked on special teams and two-minute situations.
Coach Ralph Friedgen said afterwards at the team hotel that he felt his team had its best practice of the week.
"I think our defense has probably practiced better than our offense [this week]," he said. "Today was good except for the two-minute drill at the end. I thought we were fairly sharp on offense today, till the very end when I thought our defense had a little more intensity than our offense."
The two-minute drill went awry for the first team offense shortly after they took the field. Senior safety J.J. Justice intercepted a Chris Turner pass near the sideline on the third play of the drive.
The second team offense did not fare much better, as quarterback Jordan Steffy was also picked early in the drive.
The Terrapin offense has benefited from the return of starting left guard Jaimie Thomas, who has not played since breaking his leg against Virginia on October 20. Friedgen said he expects the junior to play, giving the Terps their full complement of linemen for the first time since Andrew Crummey left the Georgia Tech game on October 6 with a fractured fibula.
"I think he'll play; it's just a matter of how long," Friedgen said of Thomas. "He gets tired and sore. He's a little rusty, but he's much further along than I thought he would be."
Crummey returned for the season finale against NC State (Nov. 24) and helped the Maryland to a 37-0 victory. The Terps are hopeful Thomas's return can provide a similar boost to the offense which will be facing the 12th-ranked defense in the nation. The Beavers are also second in the country in rushing defense.
After an afternoon break, the Terps met the Oregon State Beavers for dinner at Jillian's Restaurant where the players did battle in a video game challenge.
The Terps have a busy Thursday on tap.
Both teams will participate in a pep rally at 11:30 a.m. PT Thursday at Union Square in San Francisco. Friedgen and some select players will represent the Terps. Maryland fans attending the game are encouraged to attend to cheer on the Terps.
Following the pep rally, both teams and the travel party will attend the Emerald Bowl kickoff luncheon at the Westin St. Francis Hotel.
The Terps are then scheduled to have a walk-through session at AT&T Park Thursday afternoon.
Friday's game is slated to kickoff at 8:30 p.m. ET and be televised nationally on ESPN. The game will also be broadcast on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network.
For those fans who are unable to follow the team to San Francisco, check out some of the team activities on Fridge TV. Click on special programming to view the daily postings.
