Boise Blog Day One: Tales from Testudo
12/26/2008 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 26, 2008
This is the first in a series of blog entries from Testudo, the Maryland mascot, detailing the football team's experience in Boise, Idaho, as the Terps prepare for Tuesday's Roady's Humanitarian Bowl.
Greetings from Boise, Terrapin fans!
With just four days separating the University of Maryland football team from its showdown with Nevada in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl, the Terps touched down at Boise International Airport Friday shortly before 1 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. There, we were promptly greeted by members of the bowl committee staff and by a backdrop of snow-covered mountains amidst a sun-drenched sky.
After checking in at our team hotel, we ventured to Westy's Garden Lanes to greet the Wolf Pack and engage in a friendly bowling match. Dubbed the `Certified Angus Beef Bowl for Beef', the event pitted the offensive and defensive units from both schools against their respective counterparts, with each starting player bowling one frame toward the overall team score.
Quarterback Chris Turner, offensive lineman Jaimie Thomas and interim linebackers assistant Henry Baker each recorded strikes for the Terps, who scored 196 total pins during the two rounds. For their efforts, Food Services of America agreed to donate 392 pounds of beef to the Terps' charity of choice - the Prince George's County Department of Social Services Emergency Food Assistance Program.
Following our trip to the local bowling alley, we headed to Boise's State's Bronco Stadium, where most of us saw the famed blue turf in person for the first time. The stadium's Stueckle Sky Club provided panoramic views of Boise's skyline and the surrounding mountains as we enjoyed a delicious `Western Welcome Dinner' consisting of pulled pork, baked beans and cheesy potatoes.
During the dinner event, bowl executive director Kevin McDonald addressed the Maryland bowl contingency, thanking them for their participation in the Humanitarian Bowl.
"Our theme is `you have to be tough to play here' because there aren't a lot of bowls for which there are six inches of snow on the ground," McDonald said. "But we feel confident you will have a unique and enjoyable experience here in Boise."
The Terps hit the practice field for the first time in Boise tomorrow morning, and I will be sure to tell you all about it. Happy holidays and go Terps!
Testudo
