Boise Blog Day One - Tales from Testudo
This is the second 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.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...
That seems to be the message put forth by at least several members of the University of Maryland football team after we awoke Saturday morning to several inches of fresh snowfall for our first full day in Boise.
"I appreciate how they've embraced the snow," said head coach Ralph Friedgen of his team. "I had guys doing snow angels today, and they were throwing snowballs. I told them, `the guy who hits me is going to be rolling for about 100 yards in this stuff until you turn into a snowman.'"
The snowy, blustery weather continued throughout most of Saturday, forcing us to bundle up in order to explore the sights and sounds of Boise. One such attraction - the Idaho state capitol building - stands down the street from the team hotel with its snow-covered rotunda visible throughout downtown Boise.
With the weather at times resembling blizzard-like conditions, Friedgen and his coaching staff opted to move Saturday's practice into Boise State's indoor practice facility. The Terps practiced for more than two hours Saturday morning as they adjusted to their new environment.
During the latter portion of practice, quarterback Chris Turner threw consecutive touchdown strikes, finding wide receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey and Torrey Smith in the end zone. On the other side of the ball, defensive back Terrell Skinner provided a big hit which led to a tackle for loss.
"I practiced a little longer today than I normally would," Friedgen said. "This is like a Wednesday for us in a game week. Normally I'd go about 20 periods, and I think I went 22 or 23 today. I was concerned about being able to get enough work in for them, and overall I was pleased with today."
Saturday evening saw the team and I partake in the Humanitarian Awards Dinner, which consisted of a steak dinner, season highlight video and presentation on `greatness' by former NFL player Jeff Kemp.
Quarterback Jordan Steffy received the 2008 Humanitarian Award in recognition of his tireless community service efforts. Steffy's Children Deserve a Chance Foundation aids underprivileged and disabled youth, having raised more than $50,000 this year to aid young people in need.
Following the awards ceremony, light snow continued to fall in downtown Boise, though the forecast for Tuesday's game appears a bit more favorable for football.
"I love the snow - the only thing I don't like is that it's covering the blue field, so we're going to have to do something about that," offensive lineman Edwin Williams said. "Hopefully the game, itself, will be a little warmer so that we can see the blue field. But I'm having a good time no matter what the weather is like because I'm around people I love and playing a game I love."
Sunday promises to be an exciting day for us, as we travel to nearby Bogus Basin to take part in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl's Winter Sports Day, in addition to holding another practice. Talk to you then.
Testudo
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl News Conference Quotes - Dec. 27
On his team's preparation for the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl:
"This has been the shortest amount of time for work we've had leading up to any bowl game we've been to, and it was sporadic - it wasn't even continuous. Because of that I practiced a little longer today than I normally would. This is like a Wednesday for us in a game week. Normally I'd go about 20 periods, and I think I went 22 or 23 today. I was concerned about being able to get enough work in for them, and overall I was pleased with today."
On how his team has handled bowl practice:
"The first five days [of bowl practice] were really to shore up what we do and what we can do better - more of a fundamental teaching thing. After the exams, we got into Nevada as far as studying what we have to do to be prepared for them. It hasn't just been all Nevada. Part of it was seeing where we are and bringing some of the younger kids along."
On the Nevada offense:
"I was talking to (Nevada) coach (Chris) Ault, and I told him, `I've been watching your offense and really like what I see.' Of course, I don't like defending it. I watched them three or four years ago, and I was kind of enamored with what they were doing. They were running the inside zone and the outside zone from the pistol formation. I asked him how he got to running the zone option out of it, and he said he just thought of that this year. That adds a whole new dimension, especially with the kids they've got."
On the Wolf Pack's zone option:
"Do we see the zone option? Yeah, we do. Florida State runs it, West Virginia runs it and Boston College runs it. But they don't run it like Nevada runs it. They have an offset back, and you pretty much know by the depth of that back whether it's going to be inside zone option or outside zone option. But when you get right behind the quarterback, you don't know if it's going right or left. You don't know if it's inside or outside. The other thing I think about it is when the back is offset, you really have to work to be able to get that guy to cut back, but when you're right behind the quarterback, he has that opportunity to cut back right now, and it's harder to get him from the outside. Then off of that comes the play-action and the boot-legs and all of that other stuff, and you have to get eight or nine guys in there to stop that, and it makes you very susceptible to the pass. It's a very well-conceived offense."
On Nevada head coach Chris Ault:
"One of the things I like about bowl games is that you get to meet a lot of different people. I had never met him before. I'd heard a lot about him, and it was really a pleasure to have a chance to sit down and talk to him, and especially talk football."
On having his team experience a place like Boise:
"For our players, how many of them would be going to Boise, Idaho, ever in their lives? To me, this is an educational experience. They get to meet different people and see a different part of the country. I appreciate how they've embraced the snow. I had guys doing snow angels today, and they were throwing snowballs. I told them, `the guy who hits me is going to be rolling for about 100 yards in this stuff until you turn into a snowman.'"
On the health of his team heading into Tuesday's game:
"(Jared) Harrell practiced today. I'd say he's probably about 75 percent. Overall, we're in pretty good shape. Darrius (Heyward-Bey) is at, I think, full speed. We have a couple of nicks and bruises, but nothing that we can't work through."
On the players who provide the most leadership for Maryland:
"On our defense I'd say it's probably Jeremy Navarre, and on our offense it's probably Edwin Williams. They've been our two most consistent leaders both on and off the field all year. When you get a chance to meet them, you'll see what I'm talking about. They're exceptional kids. I'm very proud of all my players, and I think you'll see the type of people that we have and the type of character they have."
On the preparation of Maryland's defense under interim defensive coordinator Al Seamonson:
"We're short a [coach] on defense, so I've been over there quite a bit myself. It's not the easiest thing to get ready for this team, but I thought our defense practiced well today, and we'll just see how it goes."
On the keys to Tuesday's game:
"Offensively, I think it's very important we keep the run in the game. They've been very good against the run. In the games where we don't run the ball, we don't play very well, so I think it's important that we are able to run the football. Defensively, I think we need to stop the run. We need to be successful on normal downs - first-and-10 and second-and-medium yards. We need to try to get their offense off-schedule. If they're on-schedule, that's not good because they'll be controlling the ball the whole game. I think we need to do a good job in the kicking game. I think that's going to be a very important part of this game. And we can't have turnovers - the team that turns the ball over is going to lose."
On playing on the blue turf at Bronco Stadium:
"It's what this school is known for. They have a really good football team and that blue turf. I can now go home and the rest of my life be able to say I played on that blue field, so it's going to be pretty neat."
On the importance of finishing the season on a positive note:
"We did not end the [regular] season the way we wanted it to end, and this game gives us a chance to do that. An 8-5 year is a good year, so we have to end this thing right. We're just happy we have a chance to actually do that."
On having extra time to prepare for an opponent:
"It gives you more time to evaluate things and watch more film. When you have this much time off, you know somebody is going to come up with something different, so you have to expect it as a defense. Our coaches train us on what to expect and be ready for."
On his thoughts regarding the snow in Boise:
"It's great. I wish we had practiced outside today. It's going to be fun tomorrow morning with all this snow. I actually like this weather."
On what his last game as a Terrapin means to him:
"This game means a lot to me. It's the last game of the season and the last game of my career here. I just reflected back about how I only have three more days of college football, so I definitely want to make the best out of it. Regardless of what happens, this game is going to be emotional and sort of a culmination of everything. It's going to be a great experience, and, of course, I'm looking forward to playing on a blue field."
On the camaraderie build within the team during bowl trips:
"I think the most fun I've had in college is probably going on these bowl trips. I'm in close quarters with the guys and get to be around the guys all the time. During the season we're around each other a lot, but in this situation you're doing everything together and experiencing the same things together. It's very interesting and it's very fun at the same time."
On his thoughts regarding Saturday's practice:
"We got a chance to be a little bit warmer and practice in an indoor facility. That was good, and I think as an offense we did pretty well today as far as being physical and from an effort standpoint. We've certainly never had a problem with effort. I think tomorrow we just need to come in and polish things up, and get ready to hopefully play our best game of the season."
On what he thinks of the snow in Boise:
"I love the snow. The only thing I don't like is that it's covering the blue field, so we're going to have to do something about that. Hopefully the game, itself, will be a little warmer so that we can see the blue field. But I'm having a good time no matter what the weather is like because I'm around people I love and playing a game I love.
