Oct. 20, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Head coach Ralph Friedgen and a number of Terps visited with the media Tuesday at the Gossett Team House.
The Maryland Department of Athletics and Under Armour also announced a partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project, a not-for-profit organization that provides programs and services for injured service members and their families.
The Terrapins will wear specially designed head-to-toe uniforms for their matchup versus Virginia Tech Hokies on Nov. 14. They will take the field in black and desert camouflage uniforms featuring the Wounded Warrior Project logo. The uniforms will also have a unique twist; a core value embellishment - Duty, Honor, Courage, Commitment, Integrity, Country, and Service - will replace the players' last name on the back of each jersey.
Wounded Warrior and Under Armour will create special make-up products for fans to wear on game day to show their support. The gear will be sold in college book stores, local military base exchanges, and online at www.umterps.com and the proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Quotes on the Wounded Warrior Project
On being involved with the Wounded Warriors project:
"It's really an honor for us to be involved with this project. I think our kids are very excited about it and think it's a very worthwhile project. We have a tremendous relationship with Under Armor and a tremendous partnership. We look forward to it and are hoping this is a really successful venture."
Ryan Kules, Alumni Director - Wounded Warrior Project
"The support Under Armour and Maryland has given really shows how the country is behind the wounded warriors and honoring men and women in service. It's really great as a wounded warrior to know that are folks out there that acknowledge what we've done and continue to do that."
Walker Jones, Under Armour
"It's one of the charities that is near and dear to Under Armour's heart, considering our strong affiliation with the military. We have a great platform with our universities to tell a great story and we want it to be more about telling a story with a group that matters to us and that is the Wounded Warrior Project. We got to talking about it and we thought it'd be a great idea to use the platform with our college deals with Maryland and South Carolina to tell this great story. A lot of the time people just go out and make uniforms to make uniforms. We wanted this to be about something bigger and better.
"The biggest thing is to bring attention to the Wounded Warrior Project. These men and women have given the ultimate sacrifice and all of us envy the bravery, the commitment, and the loyalty that these men and women have in our country. That is the biggest thing, to put them front and center and to draw a lot attention to the story of the Wounded Warrior Project and how normal people like myself can help. What better platform than high-caliber athletes playing on the national stage on national television? The one thing people see - the uniforms. And the uniforms tell the story. Once you can tell that story, the
New Conference Quotes
On looking ahead to Duke and the team's attitude right now:
"Going down to Duke, we have to play on the road. Another ACC game on the road - it's never easy. We had a very good practice last night. I'm amazed at how resilient they are and the effort and attitude they have after a very disappointing loss to Virginia. It just amazes me how our kids hang in there and keep working. Right now, we're just focusing on getting better and taking one game at a time. We'll see what we can accomplish."
On whether back-up quarterbacks Jamarr Robinson or Danny O'Brien will see time later this year:
"We're going to do what we have to do to win games right now. I'm focusing on Duke. We're not disenchanted with Chris. If we don't start doing better, then we've got to look toward next year, but right now, I'm not doing that. I'm focusing on beating Duke. Chris is a very big and important part of that, but so is Jamarr. Right now, I don't think we are planning on playing Danny, unless we really wanted to see where we were at with Jamarr, so that's kind of where we stand."
On the progress of punter Travis Baltz:
"He kicked last night and he did okay. He's not 100 percent but I think he's probable for Saturday."
On how the team's mentality is right now:
"I've kind of been looking for it, and I think this is a tough time for all of us. Coaches are struggling where we're at. I've talked to our players and they're just focusing on getting better. Quite honestly, I was really pleasantly surprised at the enthusiasm we had last night in practice and I had to back practice down. It got pretty aggressive for a Monday night. I'm sure we've got some kids that are feeling that way, but I couldn't tell you who they were. They don't stand out to me. I'm looking for it and I haven't seen it and I'm very appreciative of that. It just kind of restores the faith I have in who we have as players and what type of character the players have."
On if he's found that the team still enjoys practice:
"They enjoy practice - that's the thing I like. We ran a two minute drill yesterday and Adrian Moten comes in the offensive huddle. He starts telling them, `I'm coming, I'm going to be over here.' Then they talk back to him. With some teams that are more successful and after a loss it's been doom and gloom. It's not that way with this bunch. They like playing football. I think they genuinely like each other and they have a good time. That's why I want them to do well. They work so hard and they're fun to be around. You always hear how coaches affect players. I think this time it may be the players affecting the coaches. They come and pick us up."
On what the team needs to do to win:
"I thanked those kids last night for their effort. Our guys played hard this weekend. They laid it on the line and played hard enough to win the football game. What we can't do are the things we're doing that prevent us from winning football games and that's turning the ball over and not making a play when we need to make it. If we'll start doing that, we'll start winning football games because we're playing hard enough to do that. Maybe we just need to go out and relax and just play and have a good time and let it go. Maybe that's the way to approach this whole thing. We can't do any worse than what we've been doing, so to me, let's get out and go after people and have a good time and enjoy the day. That's the approach I'm taking right now."
On how different Duke is from the last time he played them in 2004:
"I don't know how the scheduling goes, but I knew by the time I ever played Duke they'd be nationally-ranked. Now they're really a good football team. It's the first time we've played them since the expansion. David Cutcliffe is a very good friend of mine. I think he's a heck of a football coach. They've got a veteran team. I've been admiring Thaddeus Lewis since he was a true freshman playing. I thought he was exceptional at that time. Now he's a senior, he's very polished. He has a nice release, he sees the field and he's very elusive. I think they're doing a lot of good things with their football program right now."
Senior Offensive Lineman Phil Costa
On the team's character:
"We have a lot of guys who just like playing football and like being out there, enjoy practicing and that's what makes the biggest difference."
"I think it's great that some leaders on the team have done a great job getting guys up every week, being the voice in the locker room a lot of times and before the game. I think it's just the character of the team overall, just how everybody comes out to practice."
On the difficulty of playing on the road:
"We have been struggling a bit on the road. We have to set the tempo early out there. We have to be the first to score, the first to make a big play, and kind of change the tempo of the game and get the momentum our way."
Senior Defensive Lineman Deege Galt
On wanting to win more games:
"As long as we get a chance to play every day together, I can't really ask for anything more. Granted, we'd all like to win more games, but it is what it is. We're out playing hard every day; we're working hard every day, so that's all we can ask for. As long we're having fun and having a good time, there isn't anything else we can do."
On playing Duke:
"It should be interesting, actually. It's actually funny because we were just talking about that last night. I don't think I've ever played Duke, maybe my freshman year, when we were young. But it should be interesting. I think the perception of their football team has changed a lot. They're pretty good. They are tough up front. They come off the ball hard. They've got some got athletes on the edges, and they know how to make plays."
On the team having fun:
"I think at first people were thinking about a lot of things, like `if we win this game, we could be in first place,' and just thinking about games ahead of the schedule instead of taking it one game at a time. But now, basically our mindset is just to focus on Duke and just have fun. We have nothing to lose and we don't have anything to worry about. So basically we just want to go back to doing our old thing which is basically having fun instead of focusing on `well if we get this win or we do this and the other team loses, then we'll be in first place,' and stuff like that."
On Duke's offense/team:
"They have a real good quarterback. Thaddeus Lewis has a good arm, accurate, strong arm. We're expecting them to have a good crowd. It probably won't be like the old days when it wasn't a lot of people. A lot of fans are hyped up about this year. They're winning some games this year so it's definitely a different team, a different atmosphere."
On the team's record:
"We are in a tough spot right now. Right now we are 2-5, but that isn't the biggest thing right now. The biggest things are finishing this season out and taking it one game at a time. We've got Duke this weekend, but I'm just trying to keep my leadership going on and keep the guys fighting."
On the leadership of the team:
"It's up to the leaders and the council and the seniors because we don't want some of these guys to feel like they aren't good enough to play here. We keep them going and show them that we've still got life and stuff like that. I think this young team will grow and keep growing as it is going."
On the team's record:
"We're basically not throwing the towel in. We've got an understanding that we've got to get better. The biggest thing is that things are still kind of leaning in our direction. Also, in our division, basically everyone has two losses now. Things are still open so we are definitely not throwing the towel in, but the biggest thing we can do is to keep our heads up, stay focused and try and get better and better. And that's what we are going to do."
On Duke's team:
"Duke is a good team. Their offense is real good. Their quarterback is one of the better quarterback's in the country and definitely in the conference. On defense, they have a pretty solid front (line). One of their (Vince Oghobaase) is one of the top in the country and (Leon Wright) is athletic; he makes up for his lack of height with his heart. He's tough out there. They are definitely going to give us a lot of competition out there for Saturday."
