Maryland Football Gears Up For Saturday's Homecoming Game

Oct. 23, 2008

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Saturday's matchup with North Carolina State marks the annual Homecoming game for the Maryland football team, but the Terps have felt at home all season playing at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.

Riding a five-game home winning streak dating back nearly a year, Maryland (5-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) plays host to NC State at 3:30 p.m. in a game with a multitude of implications. A win over the visiting Wolfpack (2-5, 0-3) would make the Terps bowl eligible for the sixth time in eight seasons, while also ensuring the team would remain atop the standings in the ACC's Atlantic Division.

"Over the years this has been a very tough game for us," head coach Ralph Friedgen said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. "Last year we were fortunate to get a big win down there. I'm sure coach (Tom) O'Brien and his staff will be ready to play this week. We need to be at our best. This is a very important game for us. If we want to keep pace in the ACC, we have to win this game. "

The Terps are coming off an impressive 26-0 win over then-No. 21 Wake Forest last Saturday and now hold the distinction as the only team in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision to have beaten three ranked opponents this season.

That victory, however, came at a cost for Maryland, as defensive back Kevin Barnes suffered a season-ending shoulder injury while playing against the Demon Deacons. The senior cornerback, who has six career interceptions, will now be forced to provide leadership from the sideline as juniors Nolan Carroll, Anthony Wiseman and Jamari McCollough will be called upon to step up in Barnes' absence.

"Since our leader is out, Nolan and I have to carry the senior role," Wiseman said following Tuesday's practice. "Nolan and I looked at each other in practice; we have to say something to get that noise back."

NC State arrives in College Park without a conference win this season, but the Wolfpack has been extremely competitive in recent games against Florida State and Boston College. NC State also beat then-No.15 East Carolina in overtime earlier this season.

The Wolfpack has talent all over the field but has been particularly effective with its special teams unit, ranking first in the conference in kickoff returns and second in net punting. Speedy wide receiver T.J. Graham has emerged as a dual threat as a kickoff and punt returner.

"Their special teams is very, very solid," Friedgen said. "The guy we need to pay very close attention is T.J. Graham. He's second in the conference in all-purpose yards, so he's very dangerous."

Maryland held its final practice in preparation for Saturday's game Thursday afternoon. During the two-minute drill portion of practice, the Terps defense bested its offensive counterparts on consecutive drives. Senior Drew Robinson recorded an interception and fellow defensive back Michael Carter added a pass breakup during the ensuing series.

Following Thursday's practice, Friedgen announced the captains for Saturday's game. Offensive lineman Jaimie Thomas, linebacker Dave Philistin and offensive lineman Edwin Williams will represent the Terps offensive, defense and special teams' units, respectively.

Friedgen also named tight end Devonte Campbell and defensive lineman Masengo Kabongo his scout team players of the week for their performance in practice leading up to the matchup with the Wolfpack.

Offensive lineman Bruce Campbell will carry the American flag onto the field Saturday, and Wiseman, a native of Silver Hill, Md., will bring the Maryland flag. The Terps started the practice of carrying the flags onto the field prior to games at the beginning of the season.

The game can be heard over the Terrapin Sports Radio Network. It will not be televised, but will be streamed live over the internet on ESPN 360. Comcast SportsNet Atlantic will show a two-hour replay of the game at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Terp Notes:

Tickets: Tickets for Saturday's game are available through the Maryland Athletics Ticket Office. Fans my call 1-800-IM-A-TERP or click here. Click here for Gameday Quick Facts about tickets, will call, parking and shuttles.

Friedgen Supports `Coach to Cure MD Program': Friedgen is pledging his support in the fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy by wearing an arm band Saturday vs. NC State as part of the Coach to Cure MD program. Friedgen will join close to 100 college football coaches across the country, including NC State's Tom O'Brien and many in the ACC, in wearing a customized arm band to advocate Coach to the Cure MD, a nationwide charitable project sponsored by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). During Saturday's slate of college football games, fans will be encouraged to donate to muscular dystrophy research either online at CoachToCureMD.org or by texting the word `cure' to 90999 to automatically donate $5 from their mobile phones. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during childhood. Because the Duchenne (pronounced DEW-shen) gene is found on the X-chromosome, it primarily affects boys and occurs across all races and cultures. The AFCA is joining with the Parent Project for Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) to make Coach to Cure MD a reality and generate support for research using the one-day, gameday event.