Maryland Opens Football Season Saturday vs. Delaware
8/25/2008 8:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, Aug. 30
Maryland (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
vs.
Delaware (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
Kickoff: 3:45 p.m. ET
Location: College Park, Md.
Stadium: Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium (51,500)
Tickets: Tickets 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.
TV: ESPNU (also simulcast on ESPN) - Doug Bell (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (color) have the call. ESPN announced Friday that the game will be simulcast on ESPN.
Radio: Terrapin Sports Radio Network - Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Jonathan Claiborne (color) and Tim Strachan (sidelines) have the call. XM Satellite Radio Channel 190. Pregame with Gary Stein, Scott McBrien and Steve Melewski begins at 2:15 p.m. Click here to Listen Live on-line. The Terrapin Sports Radio Network (14 affiliates): 105.7 FM (WHFS) - Baltimore (Flagship); ESPN Radio 1300 AM (WJFK) - Baltimore (Flagship); WJFK 106.7 FM - Washington D.C.; WCEM AM 1240 - Cambridge; WBEY 97.9 FM - Crisfield; WGOP AM 540 - Crisfield; WTBO AM 1450 - Cumberland; WFMD AM 930 - Frederick; WARK AM 1490 - Hagerstown; WPTX 1690 AM - Lexington Park, Md.; WVMD 99.5 FM - Midland; WMSG AM 1050 - Oakland; WQMR FM 101.1 - Ocean City; WTGM AM 960 - Salisbury.
First-And-10...
• The University of Maryland opens its 116th football season Saturday by playing host to the University of Delaware, an opponent the Terrapins have not faced since 1948. The Terps and the Fightin' Blue Hens are set to square off for the 10th time at 3:45 p.m. ET inside Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. The game will be telecast nationally on ESPNU and broadcast on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network. Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will replay the game at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
• The Maryland offense, which returns nine starters and has a new coordinator in James Franklin, is hoping to rebound from a season in which only three players (WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, C Edwin Williams and RT Dane Randolph) started all 13 games due to an excessive number of injuries. Senior Jordan Steffy, who started the first five games last season before being sidelined with an injury, will be under center for his second straight season opener. Steffy was named the team's starting quarterback heading into the final week of preseason practice. He'll look to a veteran offensive line which returns six (Randolph, Williams, Scott Burley, Phil Costa, Jack Griffin and Jaimie Thomas) of its top seven performers from a year ago, and a receiving corps which has its top three pass catchers (Heyward-Bey, Danny Oquendo and Isaiah Williams) back. Maryland will have to replace running backs Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore, who combined to average nearly 130 rushing yards per game last season. Sophomore Da'Rel Scott, who averaged 9.6 yards per rush in limited action last season, solidified the No. 1 tailback role in preseason. Junior fullback Cory Jackson is back to open holes for the third-straight season, while senior Dan Gronkowski, a member of the preseason watch list for the Mackey Award, returns as the starting tight end.
• The Terps return five starters off a defense which ranked 24th nationally in scoring defense (21.5 ppg) and 40th in total defense (358.0 ypg). After an impressive preseason camp, senior defensive lineman Jeremy Navarre, a three-year starter, seems poised for a breakout year. Maryland is expected to have one of the top linebacking corps in the ACC this season. Senior linebacker Dave Philistin, on a number preseason lists, including the Butkus Award watch list, tallied 124 tackles last season. He'll be joined in the rotation by senior Moise Fokou, sophomores Alex Wujciak and Adrian Moten, and senior Chase Bullock. Senior cornerback Kevin Barnes headlines the secondary. He is the lone returning starter in the backfield, but a number of players have seen action. Juniors Anthony Wiseman and Nolan Carroll will man the other corner spot, while junior Terrell Skinner and senior Jeff Allen are expected to man the free safety and strong safety spots. Though they didn't earn a start last season, Carroll, Wiseman, Skinner and Allen each saw snaps on defense.
• The Terps return all components of its special teams unit from last season, including what may turn out to be one of the top kicking tandems in the ACC. Sophomore punter Travis Baltz and senior place-kicker Obi Egekeze are both in their second seasons as starters. Baltz, a freshman All-ACC choice, averaged 40.9 yards per punt last season, including 43.1 in league games, which ranked second. Egekeze hit 17 of 23 field-goal attempts, including a near-perfect mark in league games (13 of 14/93 percent). Sophomore Da'Rel Scott was among the top kick returners in the league last season, averaging 21.8 yards per attempt, but he also enters the year as the No. 1 tailback. Senior Danny Oquendo is expected to man the punt-returning duties for the third straight season. He missed the final four games of last season, but is a sure-handed returner. The Terps were also among the top coverage teams in the nation last season, ranking first in kickoff return yardage defense (16.6 ypr).
Quick Hitters...
• Maryland is 70-43-2 (.617) all-time in season openers. The team is 5-2 in season openers under Friedgen, including wins in its last four. The Terrapins are 55-26-1 (.677) in home openers, winning their last six. Delaware owns a 5-3-1 all-time record vs. Maryland, but the teams have not faced each other since 1948. The Terps have won the last three meetings (1917, 1947, 1948) and are 2-0-1 vs. the Blue Hens in College Park. The teams first met in 1899.
• The Terps, who received votes in the USA Today preseason poll, are scheduled to face eight teams this year which reached the postseason in 2007, including Delaware which reached the Football Championship Subdivision title game. ACC foes Clemson, Virginia, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Florida State and Boston College all played in bowl games. In addition, California, which reached as high as No. 2 in the 2007 national polls, also played in a bowl and visits College Park for the first time.
• Nearly half the 45 returning letterwinners have started at least one game in their career. In all, 20 Terps have started at least one contest. DL Jeremy Navarre has started a team-high 35 games. C Edwin Williams has the most starts among offensive players with 26.
• The Terps have three new coaches on staff. James Franklin (asst. head coach/offensive coordinator/QBs), Lee Hull (wide receivers) and Danny Pearman (tight ends/H-backs/special teams) were hired in the off-season. Head coach Ralph Friedgen served as offensive coordinator the last two seasons.
• Junior Darrius Heyward-Bey needs four receptions to reach 100 in his career and move into Maryland's career top 10.
• Senior linebacker Dave Philistin is top returning tackler in the ACC. He totaled 124 stops last season and his average of 9.5 per game ranked fourth in the league.
• The Terps top six offensive linemen - Edwin Williams (26), Dane Randolph (17), Scott Burley (12), Jaimie Thomas (11), Phil Costa (6) and Jack Griffin (4) - have combined to start 76 games.
• There are currently 34 former Terps in NFL camps, including eight players from last season's squad.
• The Terps have an all-time record of 592-516-43 (.533), including a 321-178-17 (.639) mark at home. Under Ralph Friedgen, Maryland is 33-11 (.750) at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.
Veteran Squad...
The Terps are scheduled to have a veteran team this season with 30 seniors on the current roster. Last season, Maryland had just 15 seniors on its roster. The 30 seniors are the most in the Ralph Friedgen era, trailing the 2003 team which had 21 seniors on its roster.
Delaware Ties...
Maryland offensive line coach Tom Brattan is a native of Newark, Del., who earned his bachelor's degree in history from Delaware in 1972 and later received a master's degree in education from the same school. The eighth-year Terrapins coach played center for the Delaware football team, earning a varsity letter in 1971.
Delaware at-A-Glance...
• Led by All-America quarterback Joe Flacco, who set 20 school records and claimed Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year honors in 2007, the Blue Hens finished 11-4 last season, advancing to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) game.
• Delaware enters the 2008 season ranked among the top 10 nationally. The Blue Hens are No. 8 in the preseason coaches poll and No. 9 in the Sport Network's rankings.
• The Fightin' Blue Hens have won two of their last three games against Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) opponents, having beaten Navy twice during that span. Saturday's game marks Delaware's first against an ACC opponent, as Maryland was not yet a member of its current conference when the teams last met in 1948.
• Delaware returns 14 starters from a year ago - eight on defense and six on offense. In addition to Flacco, who was selected 18th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Blue Hens must replace running back Omar Cuff, who rushed for a school-record 1,945 yards and led the NCAA in scoring with 39 touchdowns in 2007.
• Junior Rob Schoenhoft, a transfer from Ohio State, and redshirt freshman Lou Ritacco are vying to replace Flacco at quarterback for the Blue Hens. Whoever takes snaps under center will have two proven targets to throw to in wideouts Aaron Love and Mark Duncan, who combined for 143 receptions for 1,925 yards last season.
• Delaware finished last season with the sixth-ranked offense in the nation, tallying 460.6 yards per game. The Blue Hens were also adept at holding onto the ball as they turned the ball over just 12 times on the season, the sixth-lowest total in the country. Defensively, Delaware was 50th nationally in total defense (356.7 ypg).
• Like Maryland's Ralph Friedgen, Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler has experienced tremendous success coaching his alma mater. Keeler's coaching record of 52-26 through six seasons with the Blue Hens is nearly identical to Friedgen's mark of 50-24 during his first six years coaching the Terps.
Offensive Notes...
• Maryland's offense returns nine starters - its most since 1999 - and 23 letterwinners from a unit that ranked fifth in the ACC in 2007 in total offense (340.8 ypg). Only right guard and running back feature players who did not have starting roles last season.
• Despite returning the vast majority of its starting offense, the Terps will be searching for playmakers with the ability to find the end zone in 2008, as the team lost players accounting for 28 of its 37 offensive touchdowns from a year ago.
• During the off-season Ralph Friedgen handed control of the offense over to new offensive coordinator/assistant head coach James Franklin, enabling one of the football's best young offensive minds to have an opportunity to call plays for the Terps. Formerly offensive coordinator at Kansas State, Franklin brings 13 years of offensive expertise to College Park.
• Following a hard-fought battle in preseason camp, senior Jordan Steffy emerged as the Terps' No.1 quarterback heading into the season. Steffy, who started the first five games last season before suffering a concussion, completed 70 of 104 passes for 686 yards and two touchdowns in 2007. He is followed on the depth chart by juniors Chris Turner and Josh Portis, both of whom have seen game action. Turner started the final eight games last season and Portis took snaps at the University of Florida in 2005 prior to transferring to Maryland.
• The Terps quarterbacks will operate behind a veteran-laden offensive line featuring five seniors who have seen significant playing time. C Edwin Williams, a preseason All-ACC nominee, anchors a line that boasts a collective 76 career starts. He is joined by fellow seniors LT Scott Burley, LG Jaimie Thomas, RG Jack Griffin and RT Dane Randolph, with junior Phil Costa also in the mix to start at right guard. Reserve linemen Bruce Campbell, Lamar Young, Danny Edwards and Paul Pinegar round out the two-deep for a unit that was decimated by injuries last season but should represent a strength for the offense in 2008.
• Junior All-America honoree Darrius Heyward-Bey headlines a deep receiving corps that returns its top three players from a year ago. Heyward-Bey, who ranks ninth all-time for the Terps in career receiving yardage, is joined atop the depth chart at WR by seniors Danny Oquendo and Isaiah Williams. Sophomore LaQuan Williams, a reigning freshman All-ACC nominee, also made significant contributions in 2007. Beneath that veteran layer, a plethora of talented but less-proven WRs await opportunities to contribute. Sophomore Adrian Cannon and redshirt freshmen Ronnie Tyler and Torrey Smith each had impressive preseason camps and bolster the unit's depth.
• Having lost its dynamic rushing duo of Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball to graduation, the Terps will rely on a group of less experienced but promising tailbacks to run the ball in 2008. Sophomore Da'Rel Scott showed glimpses of explosiveness toward the end of last season and earned the No. 1 spot at RB during preseason camp. Reserves Davin Meggett, a true freshman who has been impressive in camp, and Rashad Henry should also see time, as should sophomore Morgan Green, who battled injury during the preseason. Senior FB Cory Jackson will open holes for the RBs, with sophomore FB Haroon Brown occupying a reserve role.
• A nominee for postseason honors, senior Dan Gronkowski starts at TE for the Terps after sharing starting duties a year ago. Gronkowski caught seven passes for 66 yards last season, despite being used primarily as a blocking TE. Junior Tommy Galt sits beneath Gronkowski on the depth chart, and Lansford Watson, a redshirt freshman, is slated to start at H-back.
Defensive Notes...
• Maryland returns five starters and 20 letterwinners from a defensive unit that ranked fifth in the ACC last season in both run and pass defense. The unit boasts five players who have made at least 13 starts for the Terps, including 35 and 34 career starts, respectively, for DL Jeremy Navarre and LEO Trey Covington.
• For the first time since 2005, Maryland's entire defensive coaching staff from the previous year remains intact. Chris Cosh, who has served as a defensive coordinator in three of the six BCS conferences, is in his third season running the defense, as well as the inside linebackers.
• Navarre, a senior defensive tackle who leads active Terps with nine career sacks, is expected to anchor a defensive line that must replace starters Dre Moore and Carlos Feliciano from a year ago. He will be joined in the starting lineup by DE Mack Frost and NT Olugbemi Otulaja, though Travis Ivey, Deege Galt, Dion Armstrong and Dean Muhtadi also should see significant action. After three seasons at defensive end, Navarre bumped inside to tackle in the spring and has flourished.
• Depth prevails at linebacker, where the Terrapins return three starters in Covington, Will LB Dave Philistin and Sam LB Moise Fokou. Covington has started 34 of the last 37 games at LEO, a hybrid defensive end/linebacker position. Philistin ranked fourth in the ACC in 2007 with 124 tackles, and will split time this season with fellow senior Chase Bullock, as well as playing some in the middle. Fokou added 83 tackles and two sacks a year ago. He is expected to split time with sophomore Adrian Moten, who earned freshman All-America honors in 2007. Sophomore Alex Wujciak is healthy after missing the 2007 campaign with a knee injury and will occupy the Mike LB role. Wujciak was expected to be a significant contributor last season, but was shelved in the preseason with a knee injury. Redshirt freshman Ben Pooler rounds out the two-deep at Mike.
• Senior CB Kevin Barnes is the lone returning starter in the secondary and will be called upon to provide leadership after registering a team-high four interceptions last season. Juniors Nolan Carroll and Anthony Wiseman are expected to share starting duties at the other CB spot. Senior Jeff Allen and junior Terrell Skinner sit atop the depth chart at safety, having served in reserve roles in 2007. USC transfer Antwine Perez and true freshman Kenny Tate provide depth at safety, and senior Richard Taylor should see time as a reserve CB after being sidelined last season with a knee injury.
• The Terps have had at least one defensive player drafted into the NFL in each of the last 12 seasons, and 18 defensive players overall in that span, including DE Dre Moore last year. Of the Maryland defenders selected, 11 have gone in the first three rounds, including first-round picks Chad Scott (1997) and Shawne Merriman (2005).
• The Terrapins will begin a season without a Henderson on their roster for just the second time this decade. Following in the footsteps of his older brother A.J., who earned All-America and ACC Player of the Year honors during his stellar Terp career, Erin Henderson was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2007 after leading the conference with 133 tackles. Both brothers now play for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings.
Special Teams Notes...
• After starting the 2007 campaign with an untested punter and place-kicker, Maryland has the luxury of having proven players occupying those positions this season. Senior place-kicker Obi Egekeze and sophomore punter Travis Baltz both provided strong performances during their first season at their respective positions in 2007. Egekeze connected on 17 of 23 field goal attempts and was perfect on all 36 PATs last year, ranking sixth in the ACC in both kick scoring and overall scoring. Baltz earned freshman All-America honors in 2007 after averaging 43.1 yards per punt during conference play.
• Maryland is fortunate to have wideout Danny Oquendo returning for his third season as the team's primary punt returner. The sure-handed senior ranks 10th all-time in school history with 341 career punt return yards. Defensive backs Anthony Wiseman, a junior, and Kenny Tate, a true freshman, also could see time returning punts this season.
• Running back Da'Rel Scott set a Maryland freshman record with 566 kickoff return yards in 2007, including a 60-yard return against Florida State. Scott enters the 2008 season atop the depth chart at both running back and kickoff returner, though Wiseman, Tate and fellow defensive back Trenton Hughes also could be called upon to handle kickoff return duties.
• Reliable long-snapper Andrew Schmitt, a three-year starter, returns for his final season with the Terps, and senior David May's strong right leg earned helped earn him kickoff duties entering the 2008 season.
Franklin Returns to Lead Offense...
• James Franklin, one of the top young offensive minds in football, returned to Maryland during the off-season to serve as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. He also is in charge of tutoring the team's quarterbacks.
• Franklin previously worked for the Terps from 2000-04, when he was in charge of the team's wide receivers and also served as the recruiting coordinator.
• In between his stints at Maryland, Franklin occupied the role of offensive coordinator at Kansas State, overseeing an offense that ranked 20th nationally in passing offense (285.4 yards per game) and 21st nationally in scoring offense (35.2 points per game) in 2007. He also completed NFL internships with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.
• A native of Langhorne, Pa., Franklin boasts more than 13 years of collegiate and professional football experience.
• Ralph Friedgen on Franklin: "James Franklin is definitely the person who fits what I have been looking for. His knowledge of our program, his experience as a coordinator and his ability to recruit definitely strengthen us as a coaching staff and football program."
Pearman, Hull Join Terps Staff...
• Ralph Friedgen rounded out his coaching staff by hiring Danny Pearman to serve as special teams coordinator/tight ends & h-backs coach and Lee Hull to serve as wide receivers coach.
• A veteran of the ACC both as a coach and a player, Pearman has coached in 15 bowl games and two national championship games during his 20-year career. The Charlotte, N.C., native most recently served in a special teams capacity at Duke, North Carolina and Virginia Tech prior to his arrival in College Park.
• Lee Hull comes to Maryland following five seasons as an assistant coach at Oregon State, where he worked primarily with wide receivers. Prior to commencing a coaching career, Hull played professionally with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts.
Steffy Opens Season as Starter...
• Quarterback Jordan Steffy enters the 2008 season No. 1 on the depth chart following an impressive effort during preseason camp and spring practice. The senior demonstrated poise and leadership capabilities, as well as completing 14 of 22 passes for 139 yards during a pair of preseason scrimmages.
• Steffy has had to fight his way through more than just competition to climb the depth chart. A highly touted prospect out of Leola, Pa., Steffy played in six games as a freshman in 2004 and showed potential before injuries derailed his career. He suffered a concussion against Virginia Tech, and a torn meniscus the next month. In April 2005 he survived a near-fatal car accident, and in July of that year he had surgery on his biceps as a result of overthrowing. After a redshirt season and a year as the back-up quarterback, Steffy finally claimed the starting job to open the 2007 season, though he has had to miss the Georgia Tech and Virginia games after suffering a concussion vs. Rutgers (Sept. 29). He was cleared to play just two days before the Clemson game (Oct. 27), but saw action in just one game (FSU, Nov. 17) the rest of the way. When he went on the shelf in week five he was ranked second in the ACC in completion percentage (68.0) and sixth in passing efficiency (123.2).
Freshmen Stand Out During Camp...
Several true freshmen made strong first impressions during preseason camp and have earned their way into the Maryland depth chart's two-deep:
• RB Davin Meggett rushed for 230 yards and four touchdowns during a pair of preseason scrimmages and currently sits No. 2 at tailback entering the season.
• Putting the team before himself, DB Kenny Tate accepted a move from wide receiver to the secondary and impressed the coaching staff enough to earn a backup role at strong safety. Tate was one of the more highly recruited wide receivers in the nation last season.
• DL A.J. Francis served notice that he can contribute at nose tackle, and Ralph Friedgen also singled out DB Cameron Chism and HB Matt Furstenberg for praise during camp. Some or all of these players could see action in 2008.
• Last season four true freshmen - P Travis Baltz, OL Bruce Campbell, DB Dominique Herald and FB Haroon Brown - played for the Terps.
Terps Off The Field...
In between workout sessions, members of the Maryland football team stayed busy during the off-season by participating in a variety of internships, jobs, academic programs and community service projects. Here are some of the highlights from the Terps' off-season.
• Quarterback Jordan Steffy continued to grow his Children Deserve a Chance foundation, which aids underprivileged and disabled youth. The foundation currently is in the process of constructing a developmental youth center near his hometown of Leola, Pa., designed to provide kids a structured environment in which to learn and play. Steffy said the foundation hopes to raise $50,000 during 2008 to benefit children in need.
• Defensive lineman Mack Frost participated in the Conference Of Minority Transportation Officials' (COMTO) Careers in Transportation for Youth internship program. The experience involved working for the Federal Transit Administration's Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation as part of a team striving to provide environmentally-friendly approaches to solving transportation problems. Frost received credit toward his pursuit of a master of environmental health sciences degree.
• Nine current Terps completed their undergraduate degrees during the off-season. In addition to Steffy and Frost, that list includes place-kicker Obi Egekeze (finance), defensive lineman Dean Muhtadi (finance), offensive linemen Jack Griffin (communications), Dane Randolph (criminology & criminal justice) and Edwin Williams (communications). Each is a pursuing a graduate degree or second undergraduate major during the 2008-09 school year. Tight end Dan Gronkowski and defensive back Richard Taylor - continued pursuit of master's degrees during the off-season. Gronkowski is working on a master of business administration, and Taylor is pursuing a master of real estate development degree. Gronkowski actually completed his undergraduate degree in 3 1/2 years.
• Offensive lineman Tyler Bowen, wide receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey and Torrey Smith, defensive lineman Deege Galt, tight end Tommy Galt and running back Da'Rel Scott joined Williams and Muhtadi in serving as hosts to 30 children from Camp Good Counsel during the camp's visit to Gossett Team House in July.
William Named to Rimington Trophy Watch List...
As well as earning consensus preseason first team All-ACC honors, senior Edwin Williams was named to the watch list for the 2008 Rimington Trophy, which is bestowed upon the best center in college football. Williams was among 42 players placed on the list, including one of two (also Ryan McMahon, Florida State) in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Finalists for the Rimington Trophy will be chosen in November, with the winner announced at December's Home Depot College Football Awards show in Orlando, Fla.
Philistin Getting Preseason Recognition...
Following in the footsteps of former teammate Erin Henderson, senior linebacker Dave Philistin finds his name among the top defenders in the nation as we enter the 2008 campaign. Over the summer Philistin was a consensus preseason first team All-ACC selection, in addition to being placed on the watch list for the Nagurski Trophy, which honors the top defender in the nation. And just recently Philistin, who ranked fourth in the ACC in tackles (9.5 per game) last season, was placed on the watch list for the Butkus Award, honoring the top linebacker in the country. Henderson was on the watch list for Nagurski Award last season and ended up being voted a semifinalist for the Butkus Award.
Gronkowski Selected to the Mackey Award Watch List...
Senior tight end Dan Gronkowski was named to the preseason watch list for the 2008 John Mackey Award in an announcement in July by the Nassau County Sports Commission. The Mackey Award is bestowed upon the best tight end in college football and is named after the NFL Hall of Famer who is considered to be the best to have played the position. Gronkowski is one of 30 student-athletes on the watch list, including three from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Ryan Purvis of Boston College and Sam Wheeler of Virginia Tech, as well as Gronkowski's brother, Rob, who plays for the University of Arizona, join the Terrapin senior on the list. An Academic All-America nominee the last two seasons, Gronkowski should vie for conference honors this season. He caught seven passes for 66 yards in 2007, despite being used primarily as a blocking tight end. Gronkowski is the third Terrapin tight end to garner inclusion on the Mackey Award watch list over the last four years, joining Vernon Davis (2005) and Joey Haynos (2007).
Select Company...
• Ralph Friedgen's 56 wins as the Terps' head coach ranks tied for third in Atlantic Coast Conference history among coaches in their first seven years on the job. Maryland's legendary Jerry Claiborne won 58 games from 1972-79, Danny Ford of Clemson posted 57 from 1979-85 and Dick Crum of North Carolina (1978-83) also tallied 56.
• Though he was the top second-, third- and fourth-year coach in ACC history by wins, Friedgen's five-year win total (41) fell short of the mark of 44 victories set by Clemson's Danny Ford from 1979-83. That mark tied him for second on the list with Claiborne (1972-76).
Protecting the House...
• The Terrapins are 33-11 at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium under Ralph Friedgen.
• The Terps finished the 2003 season with a perfect 6-0 record at home, marking the second time in three years that the team had finished its home slate unblemished.
• In 115 seasons of football, Maryland has finished undefeated at home 19 times. Just eight of those occasions, however, have come since 1950 (when Byrd Stadium opened) and just three times has it happened since 1975 (`76, 2001 and `03).
• The Terrapins' 6-0 mark in 2003 tied for the second-best record at home in school history. The 1976 team was also 6-0, only to be trumped by the 2001 team which won all of its games on a seven-game home slate.
More on Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium...
• Now in its 59th year of operation, Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium continues to serve as the home of the Terps. Opened on Sept. 30, 1950, and constructed for a sum of $1 million, Byrd was named after Dr. H.C. "Curley" Byrd, a multi-sport star at Maryland who later became the school's head football coach and ultimately its president.
• The Terrapins are 189-110-1 within the friendly confines of Byrd. With the temporary bleachers, Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium can hold up to 51,500. The 2007 regular season finale vs. Boston College (Nov. 10 of last year) was the 300th game in Byrd.
• Three of the top eight crowds in Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium history occurred last season. Maryland welcomed 52,782 fans to Byrd for the 2007 Homecoming game vs. Virginia (Oct. 20). The crowd was the eighth-largest ever at Byrd Stadium. The game was the second sellout for the Terps last season (also West Virginia on Sept. 13). The Nov. 10, 2007, game vs. Boston College was also sold out, marking the third sellout of the season and fourth in the last seven home games. The announced crowd of 52,827 for the game against the Eagles marked the seventh-highest in stadium history.
• Maryland's six-game 2007 home attendance totaled 307,580. Maryland averaged 51,263 fans per game last season, the third-highest amount in school history. The Terps have now averaged over 50,000 fans at home in four of the past five seasons.
Terps Own Nation's Longest Streak...
• During the last seven seasons, Maryland has had three punters (Brooks Barnard, Adam Podlesh, and Travis Baltz), two long snappers (Jon Condo and Andrew Schmitt) and zero blocked punts. In fact, since the Wake Forest game in 1999 (Oct. 9), only three players (Barnard, Podlesh, Baltz) have started at punter.
• The Terrapins' streak without a blocked punt goes back 98 games, the longest streak in college football. The team hopes to keep that streak intact under new special teams coordinator Danny Pearman.
• The Terps have not had a punt blocked since Nov. 13, 1999 (Florida State). That amount of time became the longest in NCAA football when Georgia had a punt blocked by Ole Miss in 2006, snapping a streak which began earlier in the 1999 season.
Terp Alley...
• In an effort to restore some tradition on gameday in College Park, head coach Ralph Friedgen created Terp Alley in 2001, a tradition that has become a part of the gameday experience outside Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.
• For every football home game, the entire football team makes its first appearance of the day at "Terp Alley." The team is dropped off at the circle at the top of Field House Drive (between the football press box and Ludwig Field) approximately two hours before kickoff and is led past fans gathered along the street to the football complex by the Maryland band and cheerleaders.
Terps Tough Road Last Season...
• The Terrapins road to a bowl game last season was a challenging one, as their schedule was among the toughest in the nation. The Terrapins played four teams ranked in the AP Top-25 at the time of the game (West Virginia, Rutgers, Virginia and Boston College), three of which (Mountaineers, Scarlet Knights and Eagles) were ranked in the Top-10. The Terps were 2-1 vs. top 10 teams last season.
• Eight bowl teams were among the 12 teams on Maryland's schedule last season.
...And it Doesn't Been Any Easier...
• In 2008, the Terps face seven teams that played in bowl games a year ago (California, Clemson, Virginia, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Florida State and Boston College). Three of those foes (Clemson, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest) are ranked in the AP preseason top 25.
• Maryland's league road schedule may be the toughest in the ACC. The Terps' four road games (Boston College, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Virginia) come against the top two finishers from each division last year.
• The Terps' three-game stretch from Sept. 27 through Oct. 18 may be one of the toughest in the country. In consecutive weeks, the Terps play at Clemson (No. 9 in both preseason polls), travel to Virginia (finished second in Coastal division in 2007) and play host to Wake Forest (No. 23 in both polls). Each of those opponents went 9-4 last season.
Suite Times at Byrd...
Construction is ongoing for a $50.8 million expansion of Tyser Tower. The new facility will include suites, new areas for working media and new booths for radio and television. Construction began in phases following the end of the 2007 season with the goal of opening prior to the 2009 season. Phase One includes the expansion of Tyser Tower which includes the addition of 64 suites, mezzanine seating for 500, new work area for television, radio and print media, new work area for coaches and game-day staff, a new merchandise outlet, enhanced seating for disabled customers and a new $1.2 million state-of-the-art video scoreboard, which was installed in time for the 2008 season. Phase Two will include installation of railings in the north and south lower bowl, chair-back seating in the 200 level on the north side and additional restrooms and concessions on the south side. The playing field will be lowered to improve site lines in the first 10 rows and converting those 3,000 seats into some of the best in the stadium.
`Terrapins Rising' Take Two...
The second season of `Terrapins Rising,' a reality television show chronicling Maryland's spring football practice, aired this past summer. The series, presented by Under Armour, featured 10 episodes on Comcast Sportsnet. `Terrapins Rising' provides a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of a major college football program. The series, a first of its kind at the collegiate level, debuted last summer. Footage for the show was shot beginning in January and continued through the end of spring practice. A film crew, led by former University of Maryland and Washington Redskins place-kicker Jess Atkinson, followed the team both on and off the field. The crew also sat in on team and positional meetings. `Terrapins Rising' is the result of a partnership between Maryland Athletics, Under Armour and Atkinson & Co. Epiosdes from the last two seasons are available on FridgeTV.com
