Quotes from the Military Bowl announcement teleconference
12/6/2010 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 6, 2010
Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen
On reaction to bowl:
"We are in full support of the Military Bowl and the USO. I hope our fan base will get behind this. In the past our fan base has done a very good job of traveling to all of our East Coast bowl games. I think that it is a time for the Terp Nation to really step up and get behind the Military Bowl and also get behind our young football team, and we really need their help."
On the players' reaction:
"We ended up 8-4 and there are not many 8-4 teams in the country. This is an opportunity; we are going to play in a bowl game. We are happy where we are at and we are going to make the best of it and play a very quality opponent.
"The toughest thing for our guys is that it is in our backyard and I think what is going to happen is the Military Bowl is going to surprise our players and show us what we have and sometimes closer to home, you don't know what you have. I'm sure the Military Bowl will have a very nice time. Hopefully, we will come on the field and play well and our fans will support it and it will be a great experience for us."
On East Carolina:
"I haven't really looked at them. They did play NC State and I did watch a tape of them when we were playing NC State. They beat NC State. They played very well with an offense very similar to Texas Tech. It's wide open and very explosive. I didn't get to study them but I got to look at them and I know what kind of football team they have."
Maryland Athletic Director Kevin Anderson
On reaction to the bowl selection:
"It gives me an opportunity to finally get back with Steve [Beck] and play in this bowl game. We weren't successful at Army [in getting in this game]. The military and everything that they do to protect our freedom is very near and dear to my heart so to be able to represent the University of Maryland and our players, we are very proud to do so."
"We are disappointed in the process [of how teams are selected to bowls]. We are disappointed in the way that things were determined and it has nothing to do with the bowl game and where we are playing, but if we have any concerns it would be with the process. I am looking at this more from a political aspect than from where people finished. We finished tied for third and things don't end up that way. We have talked to some league representatives and I think at our next meeting I would like to get a better understanding of how everything takes place."
On lobbying in the past week leading up to bowl selections:
"I wouldn't call it lobbying or politicking. We wanted to find out where we stood in the mix, and particularly in winning that last game. We thought it would determine where we placed in the league and that we would be rewarded for our placement. Evidently that last win wasn't good enough. I guess the one thing is that we have to take full accountability of it. Next time we are going to have to win more games to really make a difference and play in the [ACC] championship game. Where there is certainty and you know exactly where you are going to go and what you have to do."
On reason why the bowls picked another team over Maryland:
"Everybody we talked to talked about how well we traveled and how well in the past wherever we went to play a bowl game we were very well represented and that definitely was not an issue. We take everybody at word value of this. Whatever criteria were used, at some point in time I will understand what it will takes for us to place. But again, we are very proud and happy to play in the Military Bowl, particularly the cause of supporting the USO. And I know that what the USO does for our troops is phenomenal and something that is much needed and so we are very proud to represent the University of Maryland and play in this bowl game."
Military Bowl Executive Director Steve Beck
Opening Statement:
"On behalf of the Military Bowl we are extremely excited to announce that the University of Maryland Terrapins will face off against the East Carolina University Pirates in the 2010 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman, set for December 29th at RFK Stadium and live on ESPN at 2:30 p.m.
"The Military Bowl, now in its third year, has enjoyed wonderful match-ups in the first two years with Navy vs. Wake Forest and UCLA vs. Temple and we expect nothing different this year. What better way to introduce our new partners Northrop Grumman and the USO to D.C.'s bowl game than have a highly competitive game with a tremendous crowd at RFK Stadium. Maryland has an outstanding defense, 38th in the nation in points allowed and ECU has one of the nation's best offenses. We are pleased that the passionate Terps fan base can enjoy this game so close to home. We do expect a strong turnout from both Maryland and ECU fans. The University of Maryland has had a terrific season and we know the caliber of their team. We will see them on the field representing the ACC on December 29th. We look forward to giving the University of Maryland players and coaches, as well as the fans, the first-class experience we have provided in the past in our nation's capital. Thank you all for the opportunity."
On the importance of having a local anchor:
"Bowl games, especially in this economic climate that we are in right now, the regional teams really do help us. I think with Maryland's tremendous fan base, I'm sure they are going to come out and support their team and that is certainly going to help us. Now ECU is only a [short] drive away too, four and a half hours away. They have already done well with tickets and I think they are going to come up and invade the nation's capital too."
On his reactions to getting Maryland:
"I don't think I would use the term surprised, but what I am is thrilled to have the opportunity to have Maryland in the game. I think the match-up is a great match-up between two quality teams."
