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Maryland Football Provides Memorable Experience for Young Visitors

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Maryland Football Provides Memorable Experience for Young Visitors

July 18, 2008

  • Camp Good Counsel Photo Gallery

    COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland center Edwin Williams assumed his usual stance and prepared to snap the ball as he has done countless times before - only this time something was different. It is not every day, after all, the senior lineman peers behind him at a 6-year-old girl standing under center.

    But such sights were the norm Thursday during Camp Good Counsel's visit to Gossett Football Team House. Members of the Terrapins football team found time between workouts to serve as hosts to 30 children aged 4 to 8 from the Montgomery County School District. The players engaged the campers in a number of fun activities, including tours of the team house, games of hangman and charades, viewings of the team's highlight video, football drills and an autograph session.

    Williams, freshman offensive lineman Tyler Bowen, junior wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, junior defensive end Deege Galt, junior tight end Tommy Galt, senior defensive tackle Dean Muhtadi, sophomore running back Da'Rel Scott and freshman wide receiver Torrey Smith were among the players who participated in the community service project.

    "When I was younger I didn't have a chance to go to a camp like this, but it's something I would've loved to do," Smith said. "This is definitely a good time for us. A number of us have younger siblings that we don't get to see very often, so this kind of fills that void."

    The highlight of the campers' experience occurred after lunch, when the players demonstrated their expertise on the practice field and led the campers in various football drills. While Williams snapped the ball to 4-foot quarterbacks, Scott had campers swerve through cones and Smith threw passes to eager targets. The session culminated with Deege Galt overseeing a defensive drill for which campers attacked a tackling dummy, which proved to be a favorite activity among the youth.

    For Camp Good Counsel, which also brought upwards of 30 counselors on the trip, the experience was a first of its kind. Kendra Greene, the football team's academic program coordinator, organized the day's activities for the developmental summer camp, which strives to aid its campers' academic and personal growth.

    The camp was particularly rewarding for the Galt brothers, who graduated from Good Counsel High School in Silver Spring - the same school some of the camp's counselors currently attend. Both Deege and Tommy Galt have been around the Terrapins football program their entire lives thanks to their father, Dwight Galt, who is now in his 20th season as Maryland's director of strength and conditioning.

    "I know what it's like to be a kid and look up to players and be a fan of Maryland, so I know how special this is for these kids," Tommy Galt said. "They come in here and see all the guys and the facilities, and they become big fans of the program just like I did when I was a young kid."

    The day camp's visit occurred amidst a week in which the football team is undergoing summer strength and conditioning tests. The Terps have one more week of summer workouts. They will break for a week and then open preseason camp on Aug. 4.

    Upcoming key dates:
    July 20-22 - ACC Kickoff at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Ga.
    Aug. 2 - Freshmen report to campus
    Aug. 3 - Varsity reports to campus
    Aug. 4 - Football preseason camp opens/Media Day
    Aug. 30 - Season opener vs. Delaware

    Terp Notes:

    MGN Season Kickoff: The Maryland Gridiron Network (MGN) will hold its annual kickoff on Wednesday, July 30 at the Gossett Team House. Head coach Ralph Friedgen and the staff will give members a chalk talk and film session to preview the upcoming season. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and is open to active MGN members. Snacks and a cash bar will be available. To RSVP, please e-mail mdgridiron@gmail.com.

    Season Tickets on Sale:Season tickets for this fall's seven-game home slate start as low as $189 and are on sale through the Maryland Athletics Ticket Office. Call 1-800-IM-A-TERP or click here for information.

    Stadium Construction Update: Construction continues on the suites at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. Click here to view the construction cam and a timeline.

    ACC Football Kickoff: The Atlantic Coast Conference is holding its annual football kickoff on Sunday and Monday in Greensboro, Ga. Senior defensive end Jeremy Navarre and senior offensive lineman Edwin Williams will represent the Terps, along with head coach Ralph Friedgen. Player interviews will be conducted Sunday, followed Monday by coaches interviews. Check back with umterps.com for updates from Georgia.

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    Players Mentioned

    Deege Galt

    #56 Deege Galt

    DL
    6' 4"
    Sophomore
    Tommy Galt

    #45 Tommy Galt

    TE
    6' 5"
    Sophomore
    Darrius Heyward-Bey

    #8 Darrius Heyward-Bey

    WR
    6' 2"
    Sophomore
    Dean Muhtadi

    #97 Dean Muhtadi

    DL
    6' 3"
    Junior
    Jeremy Navarre

    #40 Jeremy Navarre

    DL
    6' 3"
    Junior
    Da

    #23 Da'Rel Scott

    RB
    5' 11"
    Freshman
    Edwin Williams

    #60 Edwin Williams

    OL
    6' 2"
    Junior
    Torrey Smith

    #82 Torrey Smith

    WR
    6' 2"
    Freshman

    Players Mentioned

    Deege Galt

    #56 Deege Galt

    6' 4"
    Sophomore
    DL
    Tommy Galt

    #45 Tommy Galt

    6' 5"
    Sophomore
    TE
    Darrius Heyward-Bey

    #8 Darrius Heyward-Bey

    6' 2"
    Sophomore
    WR
    Dean Muhtadi

    #97 Dean Muhtadi

    6' 3"
    Junior
    DL
    Jeremy Navarre

    #40 Jeremy Navarre

    6' 3"
    Junior
    DL
    Da

    #23 Da'Rel Scott

    5' 11"
    Freshman
    RB
    Edwin Williams

    #60 Edwin Williams

    6' 2"
    Junior
    OL
    Torrey Smith

    #82 Torrey Smith

    6' 2"
    Freshman
    WR