April 24, 2002
Future Plans for the Football Program:
"On Friday, we are going to have our lettermen's and Maryland Gridiron Network's golf tournament. For the first time we are going to have two sessions: one that starts at 7:30 in the morning and will end around lunchtime. Our lettermen's tournament will take place in the afternoon. That's the first time we are going to have to do that, we have had a record number of people wanting to be involved."
Details on "Friedgen's Football 101":
"This Saturday is going to a busy day here. In the morning we are going to have a clinic for women called "Friedgen's Football 101." Right now we have 200 women signed up for it. We are hoping this will increase season ticket sales and hopefully educate the ladies of the house and maybe even get the men of the house to come to the game. At 3 p.m. we will have an autograph session with our players and our fans on the field at Byrd for Maryland Day. Last year we had 62,000 people on campus, I am hoping to have 75,000 this year and a lot of them will come down and see the 2002 Terrapins."
The Upcoming Spring Game:
"The spring game will take place at 4 p.m. I am down in some numbers. If we have an injury or two we will probably have to flip some people back and forth. I will try to play a game, it will be a red and white game and we will divide the players in two teams. I am probably going to play 12-minute quarters so the game will last two to two-and-a-half hours. Let the people see what we have worked hard this spring to accomplish. I am anxious to see our quarterbacks in a game situation."
The 2002 Football Gala:
"May 11th is our football gala, a celebration of Maryland football. Right now we have over 400 people and it will be in Cole Field House. We are going to have dancing, there will be a band, a sit-down dinner and we are going to have an auction there. I really want to make this something every Maryland fan and alumni can look forward to each year, having a good time while supporting Maryland football."
The 2002 Spring Practice:
"We began this spring down in numbers. We probably had 14 players not go through spring drills. A lot of them were absent because of injuries, some due to academics. We were really at the bare minimum. In a way it helped us. Some of our better players out, like E.J. Henderson and Bruce Perry, allowed us to work with other kids and I think it's going to make us stronger because they showed a lot of improvement. I am happy with our enthusiasm and effort and excitement. Today is out 13th practice ...I think we have had only one bad practice. It's amazing, the kids' confidence and work ethic. I think we are ahead of where we were last year. But I think it's expected because of the learning curve and having all our coaches in tact. I feel confident in all phases of our game."
An Indepth Look at the Team:
Wide Receivers:
"Our wide receivers, our two slot receivers are Rich Parson and Steve Suter. Steve injured his finger last year and came back. He has had an outstanding spring. I see him challenging Rich for the starting position but I feel very comfortable with either one of them there."
"Scooter Monroe has had a fantastic spring. He is a much better football player than last year. We have moved Latrez Harrison to wide-out, he doesn't have it all down yet, but he has shown abilities to make plays. He has very good hands and he is an excellent runner once he has the ball."
Tight Ends:
"Jeff Dugan has had a very good spring. I think he has improved in the past two games, and I think he is the best blocking tight end in the ACC right now. Derek Miller, a freshman, 6-7, 260 lbs, has shown me that he is going to figure into our plans next year. I am really pleased with his progress."
Offensive Line:
"I think Eric Dumas has made a tremendous improvement, he is really pushing C.J. Brooks for the left tackle position. And Matt Crawford, who last year was troubled with a knee injury is playing injury-free right now and has a very, very good spring. Lou Lombardo has improved, he suffered an ankle injury and he is going through practice, I think he is going to figure in next year also as well."
Guard:
"At the guard position, we have Todd Wike and Lamar Bryant, who has played really well this spring. Kyle Schmitt has done a good job at center and we can move him to guard also and that gives him some flexibility there."
Running Backs:
"Jason Crawford, Mario Merrills and Chris Downs have all had good springs. We have moved Bernie Fiddler, one of our fullbacks to linebacker."
Fullbacks:
"Chad Killian and James Lynch have really improved. Lynch right now is 260 lbs and he doesn't have a lot of body fat. It's hard to say that you have a fullback who is 5-10, 260 and runs pretty good, so he is doing a good job."
Defense:
"We have a lot of quality players whom we have to replace. The first guy you are going to enjoy seeing is Madieu Williams. Madieu is a transfer from Towson, very much in the mold of Chad Scott. He is really a good football player and we are going to improve there."
Secondary:
"All of our secondary guys have done a good job. Domonique Foxworth and Curome Cox are playing really well. Inside, Leon Joe has played well and so has Andrew Henley, our linebacker. Up front, we don't have a lot of depth and that concerns me. We don't have many coming in at that position either, so I think our starters will be good. I am just worried about our back-ups."
Linebackers:
"We moved Bernie Fiddler over to defense. I want to go through the whole spring to see whether to keep Bernie there or to go with the young freshman, he's playing in E.J.'s spot, and we are trying to find another linebacker that can help us."
Kicking Game:
"Right now our return guys for punts are Rich Parson and Steve Suter and on kickoffs it will be Chris Downs and Mario Merrills. I am going to try to have kickoffs and punts tomorrow. I want to see us improve in those areas and see these guys under pressure, catching punts in live situations. We will do that."
E.J. Henderson's injury:
"His wound has healed up. He is getting stronger every day. When he first got back, he was tough - walking to class and coming out to practice. I have a chair out for him to sit down but I have noticed that he is standing up more and more. E.J. is very confident that he will be ready to play and that helps my confidence. If he is not worried I guess I have to stop worrying. He hasn't started rehabilitation. It's going to be three weeks before we can start that."
Quarterback Situation:
"We are not going to determine that right now. It has been a pretty good battle between all of them. They have all gotten better. Some days, one makes more of a move than the other and the next day the other one comes back. What I am really pleased to see is that Chris Kelley is starting to pick up on some mental things that we had trouble getting down last year. He did some things yesterday that really impressed us. If we can get that down then we are doing good. Chris's strength is more accomplished in the running game than in the passing game. Scott McBrien's skills are more in the passing game than in the running game. Orlando Evans, a junior college kid, is not bad in either one, but not great in either one. Hunter Cross is kind of the same way. I see us making progress."
"Last year, I was concerned about Shaun Hill. All of these kids have a stronger arm than Shaun but now whether they have the other intangibles that Hill had, as far as being a competitor and being smart and dedicated and hard working, all of those things that made him a very good player for us last year, remains to be seen. We have to go through this summer and we will see when we get back. It won't take me long, I will go through a week to ten days to decide who the starting quarterback will be. The way I see it, all of them need to be the best they can be because you never know when the next guy has to be ready to play. We would want to find one guy who can win it for us but I would like to think all four of them can."
Thoughts Remaining From Last Season:
"Last year is over. It was nice, but it's gone, a memory. It's a whole new team, a whole new set of situations. What I like about college football is that you start all over and start from basics. The one thing that is left from last season that wasn't here last year at this time is confidence. There's enthusiasm, a work ethic. They understand what we want and what you have to do to prepare to win. That is there."
On Jason Crawford and Mario Merrills:
"Jason is bigger, taller actually. He has been bothered by a groin strain and hasn't accelerated like I think he can, although I saw some plays yesterday where he did that. Mario reminds me of Bruce last year. He is wanting to go east and west, instead of north and south. The thing is when he goes north and south, people start flying about because he runs very low. He is stockier and stronger than Bruce. They have different styles. I think Jason has benefited from being with the varsity for a whole year and he is a little further on his pass protection. Both are physical guys. I think there's a big upside to both and it's going to be who is willing to pay the price and make themself the best they want to be. That player will end up being the better of the two."
Injuries:
"I am hoping to get [Russell] Bonham back with that leg injury and we will see about that today. [Ed] Tyler, we are worried about him. He went through practice yesterday and was sore today, but I think he will be ready to go. Todd Wike sprained an ACL joint today. One thing we have learned to do is just go."
On New Uniforms for 2002:
"I wanted to update them, make them more modern but at the same time, keep the traditions in of Maryland football. I wanted them to be predominantly red and white but I wanted to see a hint of black and gold. They did a good job of tying the pant leg in with the black and gold stripe. The thing I am really excited about and I think our players will be too is the design of these uniforms: they are very tight, very form-fitting. They breathe very well, there is no cloth hanging over them."
On Having a Young Team:
"It's going to be a very competitive conference and a lot of our freshmen will have to come in and play. When you have that, it's not the greatest situation in the world because you are depending on some unknowns coming in and having to learn on the run. That being said, I am not willing to chalk up a loss. I think we are a young team. Last year, we were a senior team. It's back to square one this year. Hopefully we can get these freshmen prepared earlier in the season so that when we get to the main part of our league, they won't be freshmen anymore, but big contributors to our team."
