Terps Take on No. 18 WVU Saturday
9/12/2011 8:00:00 AM | Football
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Saturday, Sept. 17
Maryland (1-0, 1-0 ACC)
vs.
No. 18 West Virginia (2-0, 0-0 Big East)
Kickoff: Noon EDT
Location: College Park, Md.
Stadium: Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium (54,000).
Gameday Information
• Directions to Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium• Parking
• Terp Town (Opens at 9 a.m.)
• Gameday Quick Facts (Tickets, Parking, etc.)
• Tailgating Tips
• Gameday Central | Gameday Updates on Twitter
Tickets...
A limited number of tickets are available for the game. Fans may call 1-800-IM-A-TERP from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays or click here. There is also a Maryland Pride pack ($99) available for the WVU game. Click here to purchase.The Comcast ticket office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Comcast ticket office will not be open Saturday. The ticket booths at Byrd Stadium will open at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Digital Ticketing...
Maryland Athletics introduced digital ticketing this season at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. This system will provide fans greater convenience and security by scanning bar-coded tickets. With the new system in place, Maryland Athletics requests that fans arrive early to the gates for the first few home games. Arriving early will ensure all fans quick access to their seats by avoiding the last-minute rush to the gates.
Broadcast Information
TV: ESPNU - Rob Stone (pbp) and Danny Kanell (color) will call the action. Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will air a replay of the ESPNU telecast at 7 p.m. Sunday.Radio: Terrapin Sports Radio Network - Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Jonathan Claiborne (color), Tim Strachan (color) and Dave Preston (sidelines) have the call. The Toyota Tailgate Show with Gary Stein begins at 11 a.m. Stein also serves as host on the postgame show. Click here to listen on-line through Terps TV. The game can also be heard on XM Sirius Channel 91. The Terrapin Sports Radio Network (14 affiliates): WJZ-FM 105.7 - Baltimore (Flagship); WJZ-AM 1300 - Baltimore (Flagship); ESPN980-AM - Washington D.C.; WWXX-FM 94.3 - Buckland, Va.; 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-AM 1230 - Midland; WMSG-AM 1050 - Oakland; WWXT-FM 92.7 - Prince Frederick, Md.; WTGM-AM 960 - Salisbury.
Game Notes
First-and-10...
• The Terrapins, wearing their `Maryland Pride' uniforms, kicked off the 2011 season on Labor Day with a thrilling 32-24 win over Miami before a nationally-televised audience on ESPN. The Terps, under the direction of first-year head coach Randy Edsall, now welcome interstate rival and 18th-ranked West Virginia which has posted a pair of convincing wins on the season.
• The Terrapins, who are receiving votes in both national polls, piled up 499 yards of total offense, forced four turnovers and scored twice defensively in their season-opening win over Miami. Maryland and Wake Forest, which are both 1-0, have the early lead in the ACC's Atlantic Division race.
• QB Danny O'Brien, the 2010 ACC Rookie of the Year, and three linemen headline the five starters back on an offense which ranked 29th in the FBS in scoring (32.2 ppg) and tied for fifth nationally in fewest turnovers (15) in 2010. O'Brien picked up where he left off last season by completing 31 of 44 passes for 348 yards, the second-highest total of his career, vs. the Hurricanes. Davin Meggett, a Doak Walker Award candidate who posted a team-high 720 rushing yards in 2010, has taken over as the No. 1 tailback and racked up a career-best 126 all-purpose yards vs. Miami. Matt Furstenberg is manning the tight-end position for the second-straight season. The sure-handed junior had four receptions (all for first downs) for 68 yards in the opener, while a receiving crew looking to replace it's top two options in Torrey Smith, a 2010 first team All-ACC pick, and Adrian Cannon shined. Seniors Quintin McCree and Ronnie Tyler, and juniors Kevin Dorsey and Kerry Boykins combined for 23 catches and 246 receiving yards. Tyler had the lone receiving TD and Dorsey's career-best 52-yard reception in the fourth quarter set up the game-winning field goal.
• Senior Kenny Tate along with juniors Joe Vellano and Demetrius Hartsfield highlight the seven starters back on a defense that scored four times (tied for sixth in the FBS) and ranked 38th nationally in points allowed (22.2 ppg) last season. Tate (100), a 2010 first team All-ACC pick, and Hartsfield (88) are the top two tacklers back for the Terrapins. Tate, who is on the watch list for a number of national awards, moved from safety to outside linebacker in the off-season and had 11 tackles and an interception against Miami. Hartsfield moved from Will LB to the Mike position in the off-season and recorded 13 tackles in the opener. Vellano was also a 2010 all-league pick after posting a team-best 5.0 sacks. He spearheads a defensive line which has just one senior in the two-deep and helped add to the Terps' defensive scoring prowess by returning a Miami fumble 30 yards for a touchdown. The Terps have their two top cornerbacks back from 2010 in seniors Cameron Chism and Trenton Hughes. Chism had 70 tackles and eight pass breakups last season, while Hughes had a team-high nine PBUs. Sophomore Dexter McDougle started opposite Chism in the opener with Hughes rotating in as the No. 3 cornerback. Junior LB Darin Drakeford was all over the field in his starting debut, posting a game- and career-high 14 tackles, including one sack, and a forced fumble. Tate's move to outside linebacker was made possible due to the emergence of sophomore Matt Robinson and junior Eric Franklin, a pair of big, physical safeties. Robinson chalked up a career-high 10 tackles in the opener.
• Maryland's special teams is in a state of transition this season. Senior Tony Logan, a 2010 first team All-ACC selection and record-setting punt returner is back, but the Terps have to replace Travis Baltz, who handled punting and place-kicking chores in 2010, and Smith, the ACC's all-time leader in kickoff return yards. Nick Ferrara, who was a 2009 freshman All-American, handled all three phases vs. Miami. The junior did an admirable job place-kicking, punting and kicking off for five games in 2009 when Baltz was unable to punt due to injury. Ferrara hit a career-best four field goals, including a 32-yard game-winner, against Miami. He also had one punt for 48 yards. With Smith gone to the NFL, the Terps turned to a freshmen at kickoff return. Reserve running back Justus Pickett returned five kickoffs for 78 yards in the season opener.
Quick Hitters...
• The Terps have won seven of their last eight season openers, including wins on Labor Day the last two years. They will now try and improve to 2-0 for the second straight year, but just the third time in the last five seasons.
• Maryland opened its schedule with a conference opponent for just the second time in the last 17 years, but the Terps won both of those contests. In addition to the 32-24 Labor Day win over Miami (9/5), the Terps opened the 2001 season with a 23-7 win over North Carolina.
• The Terps will look to snap a five-game skid against West Virginia Saturday. The Mountaineers averaged 44.5 points (19th in the FBS) over their first two games and yielded just 12.5 ppg (20th in the FBS).
• Danny O'Brien (top offensive back), Joe Vellano (co-defensive lineman) and Cameron Chism (top defensive back) were voted ACC Players of the Week on Tuesday, Sept. 6 for their performances vs. Miami.
• Despite just 11 starts since the start of 2010, O'Brien ranks 16th in school history (2,786) in passing yards.
• Tony Logan's career punt-return average of 13.4 yards ranks fourth in the FBS among active players.
• Despite starting just seven career games, Davin Meggett ranks 18th in school history (1,515) in rushing yards.
• Eight bowl teams from last year appear on the Terps' 2011 schedule: Miami (Hyundai Sun Bowl), West Virginia (Champs Sports Bowl), Georgia Tech (AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl), Clemson (Meineke Car Care Bowl), Boston College (Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl), Notre Dame (Champs Sports Bowl), Florida State (Chick-fil-A) and NC State (Champs Sports Bowl).
Cashing In...
Maryland is one of just five teams in the FBS with a turnover margin of +3.0 or greater. The Terps forced four turnovers vs. Miami (9/5) and surrendered the ball just once to the Hurricanes. Maryland scored 16 points off the four Miami miscues, but did not allow the Hurricanes to score off its lone turnover. Since the beginning of the 2010 season, Maryland has scored 116 points off turnovers (33), while the opposition has been held to 20 points (14).
Piling Up the Yards...
Maryland's no-huddle, hurry-up attack, which debuted vs. Miami (9/5), produced the biggest offensive output in almost six years. The Terps racked up 499 yards of total offense, the most since putting up 524 against North Carolina on Nov. 12, 2005. Quarterback Danny O'Brien accounted for 385 of those yards (348 passing, 37 rushing) while running back Davin Meggett, a Doak Walker watch list member, had 92 rushing yards and 34 receiving yards. O'Brien's total offense output ranked third in the FBS on the opening weekend of the season.
Big Plays...
Maryland limited big plays vs. Miami's (9/5) offense and got some from its own attack. The Terps had five offensive plays of more than 20 yards with none bigger than Kevin Dorsey's 52-yard fourth-quarter reception which set up Nick Ferrara's game-winning field goal. The Maryland defense held the Hurricanes to two plays over 20 yards, though one of those (41-yard scamper by Lamar Miller) went for a touchdown.
Decades Reunion...
The M Club, the department's lettterman organization, and the Maryland Gridiron Network, the football booster program, will serve as hosts to the fifth annual Decades Reunion this weekend. Following a reception Friday evening, letterwinners from Maryland teams of 2001, 1991, 1981, 1971, 1961 and 1951 will be recognized at halftime of the West Virginia game.
Home Cooking...
The Terps do not have to leave Maryland to play a game until the second weekend of October and play eight of their 12 regular-season contests in the state. Maryland is playing its opening four games at home for the first time in the modern era (first seven at home in 1911). In addition to the seven games in Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium, the Terps face Notre Dame at FedExField in Landover, Md., on Nov. 12 (a Fighting Irish home game). The Terps went 5-1 at home last season and 6-1 in the state of Maryland (victory over Navy in Baltimore).
Edsall Era Begins...
A new era in Maryland football officially got underway on Labor Day when the Terps played host to Miami. Head coach Randy Edsall, who transformed the University of Connecticut from a Division I-AA program (now FCS) to Division I-A (currently FBS), took over the reins of the Maryland program on Jan. 2. He was named the Terrapins' 34th head coach after directing the Huskies to two Big East Conference titles and five bowl games, including their first-ever BCS appearance (2011 Fiesta Bowl). Edsall is one of the few Maryland coaches to win their debut. Since Jim Tatum, who led the Terps to their lone national title in 1953, won his opener in 1947 only two other Terrapin coaches (of 11) - Tom Nugent (1959) and Ralph Friedgen (2001) - have been victorious in their debut.
Sudden Change...
After going 41 games without scoring via a fumble or interception (Erin Henderson in 2006 vs. Virginia), Maryland has registered eight defensive touchdowns in the last 17 contests, including a pair vs. Miami (9/5). Joe Vellano returned a fumble 30 yards for a score and Cameron Chism had 54-yard interception return for a TD. Late last season, Alex Wujciak had a 60-yard pick for a TD against Miami (11/6). Kenny Tate and Ryan Donohue both had interceptions for scores against Wake Forest (10/30/10). Demetrius Hartsfield's pick-six in the second quarter of the Morgan State game (9/11/10) was Maryland's first defensive score since Wujciak scored on a 70-yard interception return on 11/14/09 at NC State.
Terps Unveil New Uniforms...
On Monday, Aug. 22, Maryland Athletics unveiled its new football uniforms. Randy Edsall and players were on hand to showcase the new uniforms in a 30-minute fashion show at the Clarice Smith Center complete with a runway and a crowd of approximately 150 spectators. In all, 16 (of the 32) different jersey and helmet combinations were on display. The Terps will have plenty of options to choose from this season with jerseys and pants in red, black, white and gold, along with two helmets. "I know this: the kids are very, very proud of those uniforms," said Edsall. "I told the captains, you're the guys that are going to have to decide what we're wearing because there are too many options for me. The good thing is I think it gives us tremendous opportunities. We might not wear the same uniform all year long. To incorporate all our colors in those uniforms - it's unprecedented really in college football." The Uniforms, which prominently feature "Maryland" on the front, were designed by Under Armour. "What we want within these uniforms is performance and technology that the world has never seen," said UA founder/CEO and University of Maryland alumnus Kevin Plank. "We will have the lightest, the strongest, the most durable uniforms that any collegiate football team will have facing off in the 2011 football season. There is no greater thrill, privilege or honor than having Under Armour be a part of this program and all the Terrapin athletic program. Many, many good things are to come."
Maryland Pride Uniforms...
In his College Park debut, head coach Randy Edsall's Terrapins sported state-of-the-art `Maryland Pride' uniforms inspired by characteristics specific to the state flag and the University of Maryland. From head-to-toe, the right and left sides of the uniforms coordinated with the two patterns found on the state flag, including a custom helmet. "It was about being prideful of your state, being prideful of the University and being prideful of all the people that have put on the Maryland football jersey before us," said Edsall of the uniforms designed by Under Armour. "It's great that people are talking about Maryland football." The Terps warmed up for the Miami game in one their 32 uniform options before changing into the `Maryland Pride' gear before kickoff. The `Maryland Pride' outfit will be considered a `special occasion' uniform.
Streaks and Trends...
• The Terps have lost their last five meetings with West Virginia. A Mountaineers victory Saturday would tie for the longest win streak in the series by either team (Maryland won six straight times between 1949 and 1966).
• Maryland snapped a four-game losing streak to top 25 teams with last season's 38-31 win over 21st-ranked NC State (11/27). Maryland is in search of its first win over a top 20 team since downing 17th-ranked North Carolina (11/15/08).
• The Terrapins have won six of their last seven home games and averaged 39.0 points over that stretch.
• Since the beginning of the 2010 season, Maryland is 9-2 when winning the turnover battle.
• Danny O'Brien has averaged 300.8 passing yards over the last five games.
• CB Cameron Chism has started 24 consecutive games which leads the team. OT R.J. Dill has started 19 straight times which leads the offense.
• The Terps have recorded 27 picks over the last 18 games. They had at least one interception in 11 of 13 games last season and two in the season opener vs. Miami.
• The Terps turned the ball over just 14 times (10 interceptions/four fumbles) in 2010 and just four of those (two vs. Navy, 9/6; one vs. Miami, 11/6; one vs. FSU, 11/20) occurred in the red zone. Maryland was tied for fifth in the FBS in fewest turnovers. The Terps had 24 turnovers (10 picks/14 fumbles) in 2009.
By The Numbers...
0...Number of games running back Davin Meggett has missed in his career.
1...Andrew Gonnella is the only senior offensive lineman on the Maryland roster.
1...Ronnie Tyler ranks first on the team in career receptions (67) and receiving yards (763).
2...Former head coaches (Gary Crowton, Greg Gattuso) on Randy Edsall's staff.
3...Number of full-time punters (Brooks Barnard, Adam Podlesh and Travis Baltz) the Terps have employed in the last 10 years. Baltz started the last four seasons.
4...The Terps had just four penalties vs. Miami (9/5), marking the fewest since the 2010 season opener vs. Navy (also four).
4...Randy Edsall has taken his teams to bowl games in each of the last four seasons.
4...The Terps scored four times on defense in 2010 which was tied for sixth in the FBS.
4...Maryland tied for fourth nationally in turnover margin (+1.15 pg) last season. The Terps, plus-15 on the year, won the turnover battle in 10 of 13 games. They were +3.0 in the season opener.
7...The Terps have seven of their top 10 tacklers back from last season.
7...52,875 fans showed up to see Maryland face Miami. It was the seventh biggest crowd in Byrd Stadium's history and the largest since Sept. 13, 2007, when 53,107 saw the Terps play West Virginia.
10...The Terps have 28 former players on active NFL rosters, a number which ranks tied for 10th nationally.
15...Number of seniors on the Maryland's 96-player roster
16...Despite starting just 11 career games, Danny O'Brien's passing yardage total (2,786) already ranks 16th in school history.
20...Number of points the opposition scored off 14 Maryland turnovers last season. In contrast, the Terps scored 100 points off 29 opponent turnovers.
28...As of Sept. 8, there were 28 former Terps on NFL rosters, the second most in the ACC, trailing just Miami.
