Maryland Welcomes BC for Senior Day
11/23/2009 7:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, Nov. 28
Maryland (2-9, 1-6 ACC)
vs.
Boston College (7-4, 4-3 ACC)
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: College Park, Md.
Stadium: Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium (54,000). Click here for parking information.
TV: ESPNU - Todd Harris (play-by-play) and Tom Luginbill (color) will call the action in the national telecast. Comcast SportsNet will air a replay in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore market at 11:30 p.m. Sunday.
Radio: Terrapin Sports Radio Network - Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Jonathan Claiborne (color) and Tim Strachan (sidelines) have the call. Pregame with Gary Stein and Scott McBrien begins at 2 p.m. ET The game can also be heard on XM Satellite Radio Channel 191 and Sirius Channel 212. Click here to Listen Live on-line through Terps TV. The Terrapin Sports Radio Network (13 affiliates): WJZ-FM 105.7 - Baltimore (Flagship); WJFK-FM 106.7 - Washington D.C.; WCEM-AM 1240 - Cambridge; WBEY-FM 97.9 - Crisfield; WGOP-AM 540 - Crisfield; WFMD-AM 930 - Frederick; WARK-AM 1490 - Hagerstown; WPTX-AM 1690 - Lexington Park; WVMD-FM 99.5 - Midland; WMSG-AM 1050 - Oakland; WQMR-FM 101.1 - Ocean City; WTGM-AM 960 - Salisbury. Click here to view a PDF of the Terrapin Sports Radio Network coverage map.
Tickets: Tickets for Saturday's game, including a Thanksgiving Family Pack ($65 for 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 sodas), are available through the Maryland Athletics Ticket Office. Fans my call 1-800-IM-A-TERP or click here.
First-and-10...
• The University of Maryland will attempt to close out the 2009 season on a winning note Saturday when the Boston College Eagles travel to College Park. The Terrapins will look to end the season on a high note, by sending 14 seniors out with a victory. The Terrapins are coming off maybe their most difficult loss of the season, dropping a last-second 29-26 decision to Florida State on Saturday.
• Maryland is coming off one of its best offensive performances of the season, rolling up 410 total yards vs. Florida State behind the play of backup QB Jamarr Robinson and an improved running game. Robinson, making his second career start, completed 20 of 27 passes for 214 yards with one TD and no picks. Robinson replaced Chris Turner, who injured his knee vs. NC State (11/17). Turner could possibly return vs. BC. Both quarterbacks have utilized the talents of sophomore Torrey Smith who is averaging 69.0 receiving yards per game (third in the ACC) and 5.0 receptions pg (first in the ACC). Smith is also averaging 186.6 all-purpose ypg (fourth in the country). No. 1 running back Da'Rel Scott, a first-team All-ACC pick last season, was injured (broken wrist) vs. Clemson (10/3), but returned vs. FSU and had 83 rushing yards on 19 carries. Davin Meggett added 59 yards on 13 carries as the Terps posted a season-best 196 yards on the ground. The offensive line, led by senior center Phil Costa, who has started 28 career games, and LT Bruce Campbell allowed just one sack vs. the Seminoles. Besides Campbell and Costa, the rest of the linemen have a total of 36 career starts.
• The Terps have had more success defensively during the conference season. They are ninth in total defense (393.6 ypg) in league games. They are also allowing an average 125.1 rushing yards per game, which is seventh in ACC action. Over the last four games, the Terps defense has forced 10 turnovers (also one on special teams), including a pair of interceptions by LB Alex Wujciak who ranks second in the ACC in tackles (10.8 per game). Wujciak was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2008. LB Adrian Moten has 61 tackles (third on the team), including team highs in tackles-for-loss (8.5) and sacks (6.0). LB Demetrius Hartsfield was the third-leading tackler until he broke his hand and missed two games. He has played the last two weeks, though sparingly. First-year defensive coordinator Don Brown has a veteran secondary, though there have been injuries at that position. Senior Nolan Carroll, the team's No. 1 cornerback, was lost for the season vs. JMU with a broken tibia. Senior SS Jamari McCollough missed two games with a foot injury and played sparingly the following two weeks. Top safety reserve Kenny Tate sprained an ankle vs. Virginia Tech (11/14) and will miss the BC game. CB Anthony Wiseman has a team-high eight PBUs and CB Cameron Chism has a team-best four interceptions and 63 tackles (second on the team). Seniors Travis Ivey, Jared Harrell and Deege Galt are veterans on the defensive line. The Terps are fourth in the ACC in sacks (2.3 per game).
• The Terps possess a top returner and two solid kickers, though one has been in and out of the lineup. Torrey Smith set the ACC single-season record for kickoff return yards (1,089) last season and eclipsed it three weeks ago. He returned his third career kickoff for a TD vs. NC State (11/7) and set the Maryland career kickoff return yards mark vs. Rutgers (9/26). Junior punter Travis Baltz was a 2008 first-team All-ACC and was one of just nine punters on the preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award. However, he suffered an ankle injury vs. Rutgers and missed the following three games. He also broke a finger vs. Virginia Tech and is likely out the rest of the year. True freshman Nick Ferrara has been a bright spot, hitting 17 of 24 field goals and handling the kickoff chores. He's also served as the punter during Baltz's absence earlier in the season and will do the same the rest of the way. Tony Logan was expected to be the No. 1 punt returner, taking over for three-year starter Danny Oquendo, but he missed the first two games with an injury. Logan resumed his duties as the No. 1 punt returner the last six weeks.
Quick Hitters...
• Saturday will serve as the final home game for 14 Maryland seniors: DB Nolan Carroll, OL Phil Costa, DL Deege Galt, TE Tommy Galt, DL Jared Harrell, DL Travis Ivey, RB Cory Jackson, PK David May, DB Jamari McCollough, DB Terrell Skinner, LB Hakeem Sule, DB Richard Taylor, QB Chris Turner and DB Anthony Wiseman. The group has combined to play 191 games with 11 of the seniors having started during their careers.
• In six of the Terps nine losses this season they were within a touchdown in the fourth quarter, including Saturday's defeat at Florida State. Maryland took the lead twice in the final quarter vs the Seminoles, only to lose on a touchdown with 32 seconds left.
• Jamarr Robinson's went 20-for-27 for 214 yards vs. FSU. It was the third-most efficient performance (152.87 rating) for a Maryland quarterback this season.
• Robinson's first career start came against Virginia Tech (11/14) where he subbed for an injured Chris Turner who had started 29 of the previous 30 games, including 21 straight. Robinson had 129 rushing yards vs. Virginia Tech, the third-highest single-game total by a quarterback in school history. Dennis O'Hara had 139 yards vs. Wake Forest (10/4/69) and Jack Scarbath posted 132 vs. Georgetown (11/14/50).
• Maryland's defense scored in each of the two games prior to the Florida State contest (11/21) and nearly came up with another TD vs. the Seminoles. LB Alex Wujciak picked off an E.J. Manuel pass in the second quarter and returned it 82 yards before being tackled at the 7-yard line. One week earlier vs. Virginia Tech, Jared Harrell recovered a fumble in the end zone after Jamari McCollough sacked Tyrod Taylor. Wujciak also returned an interception 70 yards for a score vs. NC State (11/14).
• Wujciak has totaled 152 return yards on his two interceptions which set a single-season school record. Joe Horning had 147 return yards in 1951. Wujciak's return yardage ranks fifth nationally this season and the most by any linebacker.
• Nick Ferrara set the Maryland single-season freshman field-goal mark after splitting the uprights twice vs. Florida State. Ferrara (17) eclipsed Nick Novak's record (16 in 2001).
• Ferrara is first in the ACC among freshmen in field-goal percentage (70.8/17 of 24). Ferrara ranks third in the nation among first-year players in field goals per contest (1.55) and ninth in scoring (6.8 pg).
• Torrey Smith has posted over 260 all-purpose yards three times this season, including a career-high 287 vs. Middle Tennessee State (9/19), 268 (64 receiving/204 kickoff) vs. NC State (11/7) and 267 vs. Wake Forest (10/17). He is one of only two players in the country (also Damaris Johnson, Tulsa) to post more than 260 all-purpose yards three times in 2009.
• Only three active players in the NCAA FBS have more kickoff returns for touchdowns than Smith - C.J. Spiller of Clemson (6), Brandon Banks of Kansas State (5) and Perrish Cox of Oklahoma (4).
• Wujciak entered the year ranked fifth nationally among returning tacklers. He has kept up the same pace this season, averaging 10.8 stops per game (10th nationally). In fact, Wujciak ranks first in the country (10.5) on the active career tackles-per-game list. Travis Lewis of Oklahoma is second (9.7) on that list.
• Wujciak has gone over 100 tackles (119) for the second-straight season. He is on pace to become the first Maryland defender to post more than 125 tackles (133 in 2008) in back-to-back years since E.J. Henderson (150 in 2001; 175 in 2002).
• Maryland has struggled in the turnover department this year, but has improved in recent weeks. The Terps forced three turnovers vs. Florida State (scoring 13 points) and gave up the ball just once. The Terps are tied for 98th in the nation in turnover margin (-0.55 per game), but are +7.0 over the last four games. The defense has forced 10 turnovers in the last four games (also one on special teams vs. NC State) after forcing seven in the first seven contests.
• LB Demetrius Hartsfield ranks third among freshmen in the ACC in tackles (5.9 per game). He is also the top sack producer (0.4 pg) among first-year players in the league.
• Sophomore Cameron Chism ranks sixth in the ACC among DBs in tackles (5.7 per game).
• Chris Turner is the Terps' first three-year starting quarterback since Brian Cummings (1995-97).
• Turner ranks among the top QBs in school history. The senior ranks fourth on Maryland's career completion percentage list (59.5), second in career passing yards (6,442), second in total offense (6,287), second in completions (536), second in career pass attempts (901) and fourth in TD passes (30).
• The Terps' 10 returning starters (six on offense/four on defense) are the second-fewest in the Ralph Friedgen era. Heading 2004, Maryland had nine starters (five offense/four defense) back from the previous campaign.
• Maryland has played 24 freshmen (10 true/14 redshirts) this season which is the most during Ralph Friedgen's nine seasons. The Terps played 20 freshmen in both the 2001 and 2004 seasons.
• Maryland is 201-172-4 (.538) all-time in ACC games, including a 38-33 (.535) mark under Friedgen.
• The Terps lost a close friend on Oct. 5 when Jack Heise (dubbed `Mr. Maryland' for his support of the Terps) passed away suddenly. The Terps honored his memory vs. Wake Forest (10/10) by donning an emblem with the initials JH on each player's helmet. That will remain on the helmets throughout the year.
What to Look for Vs. BC...
• Torrey Smith has a chance to set the ACC single-season all-purpose yards record. Smith ranks fourth in the nation in all-purpose yards per game (186.4). The ACC record is 186.9 ypg by Frank Quayle (Virginia) in 1968. However, C.J. Spiller of Clemson is averaging 187.8 ypg (third in the nation), though he has three games left to play. Smith needs two yards to pass Virginia's Thomas Jones (2,054 in 1999) on the conference's single-season all-purpose yards chart. Jones' single-season record was broken last week by Spiller who now has 2,066 all-purpose yards.
• Smith ranks seventh on Maryland's career all-purpose yardage list (3,478) and has a chance to move up two spots vs. BC. He is 41 yards behind Charlie Wysocki and needs 57 more to equal Steve Atkins.
• Smith's 55 catches rank seventh on Maryland's single-season list. He needs three more receptions to move into fifth place. He also ranks eighth on the single-season yardage list and needs 27 more yards to reach seventh.
• Nick Ferrara's 75 points rank second among freshman in school history (89 by Nick Novak, 2001). He ranks 19th on the Maryland single-season scoring list and can move into the top 15 with five more points.
• The top two tacklers in the ACC will be on opposite sidelines Saturday. BC's Luke Kuechly moved past Alex Wujciak and is now first in the conference in tackles (11.5 per game). Wujciak, who had been first nearly all season, is second (10.8 pg).
• The Terps had a season-high 196 rushing yards vs. Florida State (11/21), but face the 22nd-ranked rushing defense (108.4 ypg) in Boston College.
Injuries Taking A Toll...
The Terps have lost a number of key performers to injury so far this season. CB Nolan Carroll (leg) was lost for the season in the second game. Starting left tackle Bruce Campbell has missed three games, punter Travis Baltz missed three contests before returning vs. Duke (10/24) and was injured (broken finger) vs. Virginia Tech (11/21) and is likely lost for the season. RB Da'Rel Scott has been out of action with a broken wrist the last four games, but returned vs. Florida State (11/21). So far this season, the Terps have lost 40 man-games to potential starters (DB Jamari McCollough - 2; Carroll - 9; Scott - 5; Baltz - 4; Campbell - 3; OL Tyler Bowen - 9; WR/PR Tony Logan - 2; LB Demetrius Hartsfield - 2; OL Bennett Fulper - 4) and that number continues to rise as Baltz was lost for the season against Virginia Tech (11/21). In addtion, two reserves - DL Joe Vellano and RB Caleb Porzel - who were impressive in the preseason missed the first half of the season. The Terps were also without a number of key reserves - WR Kerry Boykins, RB Gary Douglas, TE Lansford Watson and OL Lamar Young - vs. Duke (10/24), but got a number of those players back for the NC State game (11/7). Fulper, who started four games at guard, had shoulder surgery prior to the Wolfpack game and is out for the season. DL Isaiah Ross, a key true freshman reserve, injured his knee vs. NC State and is gone for the season. S Kenny Tate, one of the team's top defenders, sprained an ankle vs. Virginia Tech (11/14) and is done for the year.
Boston College At-A-Glance...
• Running back Montel Harris is second in the ACC and 18th in the nation in rushing yards, averaging 110.3 yards per game.
• The Eagles average only five penalties per game, tying them for 14th in the nation and first in the conference. Their 42.8 penalty yards per game is 12th fewest in the NCAA, and the best mark in the ACC.
• Wide receiver Rich Gunnell leads the team in receptions and receiving yards. He has caught 49 passes on the year for 708 yards and six touchdowns.
• The Eagles are fourth in the conference and 28th nationally in total defense, giving up 322.2 yards per game. They also rank fourth in the ACC and 24th in the nation in scoring defense (19.6 ppg).
• Linebacker Luke Kuechly ranks third in the nation in tackles with 11.5 per game. Kuechly's 1.14 tackles for loss per game is third best in the ACC.
• The Eagles rank second in the ACC and 34th in the nation in net punting, averaging 37.4 yards per attempt. Ryan Quigley averages 41.8 ypp.
Maryland-BC Series History...
• Maryland and Boston College will face off for the seventh time Saturday. The Eagles own a 4-2 edge in the all-time series, including a 2-1 advantage in College Park.
• The Terps snapped a BC three-game winning streak in the series with a 42-35 victory over the eighth-ranked Eagles in 2008. Chris Turner threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns, including two to TE Jason Goode. The Terps rushed for 135 yards against the top-ranked run defense in the nation (58 ypg) and the Maryland defense picked off Matt Ryan three times.
• Prior to 2008, Maryland's only win in the series came in 1985 when the Terps beat the Eagles 31-13 in Foxboro, Mass.
• The Eagles have won three of the four meetings since Boston College joined the ACC. Maryland fell 31-16 in College Park in 2005, and 38-16 at Boston College in 2006. The Eagles also upended the Terps, 28-21, last season in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
• Two of Turner's four 300-yard passing games have occurred vs. the Eagles.
