University of Maryland Athletics

Sept. 8, 1997

Terps Travel to Tallahassee to Face No. 5 Florida State

The University of Maryland will play the first road game in the Ron Vanderlinden era today as it travels to Tallahassee to play No. 5-ranked Florida State in the Atlantic Coast Conference season opener for both teams. Maryland enters the game looking for its first overall victory of the season; its first ACC victory of the season and its first ever victory over Florida State. The Terps will be facing a ranked Florida State team for the sixth consecutive season. The Seminoles, who lead the all-time series against the Terps by a 7-0 margin, have been ranked within the top six in the Associated Press poll since Florida State joined the ACC in 1992.

Ron Vanderlinden, who helped direct Colorado to the 1990 National Championship and Northwestern to back-to-back Big Ten Championships in 1995 and 1996, is in his first season at Maryland. He coached the defensive line (1983-91) and served as the recruiting coordinator (1985-86) for the Buffaloes and helped them to six bowl games. At Northwestern, Vanderlinden was the defensive architect of the 1995 Rose Bowl and 1996 Citrus Bowl participants.

Maryland travels to Tallahassee to play the Seminoles in the ACC season opener for both teams. Maryland holds a 25-17-2 record (59.1 winning percentage) all-time in ACC openers. The Terps most recently opened the 1995 season with a 32-18 victory over North Carolina in their conference opener on their way to a 6-5-0 finish. Maryland won its first ever ACC game as it defeated Clemson on October 2, 1953. The Terps have never opened their ACC season versus Florida State.

Senior co-captain Brian Cummings enjoyed a strong outing in the season opener versus Ohio as he completed 16 of 24 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown. The 66.7 competition percentage marked the seventh time during Cummings's career that he had completed 60 percent or more of his passes in a single game. His personal best was a stellar 83.3 (10/12) performance in the Terps' 1995 season opening victory at Tulane.

Rank    Pct.  Comp./Att.    Opponent        Date
1.      83.3    10/12       Tulane          Sept. 2, 1995
2.      72.4    21/29       Georgia Tech    Nov. 14, 1997
3.      70.8    17/24       Ala.-Birmingham Sept. 7, 1996
4.      70.4    19/27       Duke            Sept. 23, 1995
5.      66.7    16/24       Ohio            Sept. 6, 1997
        66.7    20/30       Wake Forest     Oct. 7, 1995
7.      65.0    13/20       Wake Forest     Oct. 19, 1996

Senior co-captain Brian Cummings enters today's game versus Florida State in a virtual tie for eighth place on Maryland's all-time pass completion percentage chart. His 66.7 (16/24) performance in the season opener versus Ohio upped his career percentage to 56.75 percent. Standing just ahead of Cummings is John Kaleo, who completed 56.80 of his passes from 1991-92. In his last three starts (Georgia Tech and Florida State in 1996 and Ohio in 1997), Cummings has completed 61.7 percent of his passes (51/80).

Senior co-captain Brian Cummings enters today's game versus Florida State in a virtual tie for eighth place on Maryland's all-time pass completion list.

Rank    Rate   Comp./Att.   Player, Years
1.      .6623   261/394     Bob Avellini, 1972-74
2.      .6619   650/982     Scott Milanovich, 1992-95
3.      .629    132/210     Frank Reich, 1983-84
4.      .5882   180/306     Larry Dick, 1975-77
        .5881   387/658     Neil O'Donnell, 1987-89
6.      .582    127/218     Dale Betty, 1958-60
7.      .571     52/91      Ben Kinard, 1973-74
8.      .56797  305/537     John Kaleo, 1991-92
        .56749  206/363     Brian Cummings, 1994-Present
10.     .553    251/454     Stan Gelbaugh, 1981-85

Senior tailback Buddy Rodgers, who accumulated 87 yards of total offense and one touchdown against Ohio (61 rushing/27 receiving) is as a candidate for the Dr. Pepper/Doak Walker Award. The Doak Walker Award was created in 1989 by a partnership of Southern Methodist University and GTE to recognize and celebrate the goodness in college athletics. The partnership established the Doak Walker Award, "The National Running Back Award." In 1996, Dr. Pepper joined SMU and GTE in the partnership.

1) "We're looking for young men who want to build the building - not simply go to a program in place, rent space and put on someone else's jersey. I'm looking for young men of character who will cherish tradition and take Maryland back to the top."

Ron Vanderlinden
Head Coach
University of Maryland

Jody Foldesy
Washington Times

Ron Vanderlinden
Head Coach
University of Maryland

Deborah A. Yow
Director of Athletics
University of Maryland

Ron Vanderlinden
Head Coach
University of Maryland

Seniors Brian Cummings, Eric Hicks and Eric Ogbogu have been chosen by their teammates to serve as captains for the 1997 season. The captains were selected Friday, August 29. Cummings will start for the third consecutive season at quarterback, while Hicks and Ogbogu have been mainstays on the defensive line since their arrival together in 1994.

A total of 11 freshman (six true freshman and five redshirt freshman) played collegiately for the first time against Ohio. Three of the first-timers - Ben Thomas (center), Doug Patterson (FL) and Moises Cruz (SE) were starters on the offensive side of the ball.

True Freshman       Redshirt Freshman
LaMont Jordan       Omar Cheeseboro
Tony Jackson        Sean Starner
Matt Kalapinski     Ben Thomas
Jason Hatala        Moises Cruz
Kris Jenkins        Mike Hull
Doug Patterson

Redshirt freshman Moises Cruz caught a career-high six passes for a career-high 91 yards in his first career game Saturday night against Ohio. He helped provide Maryland with its second quarter lead of 14-0 as he hauled in his first career touchdown - a 35-yard strike from quarterback Brian Cummings. Cruz's six receptions was the most by a Maryland receiver since Troy Davidson caught 8 passes against Georgia Tech on November 14, 1996.

Senior co-captain Brian Cummings hooked up from long range with redshirt freshman Moises Cruz for a 35-yard touchdown versus Ohio. It marked the seventh time in his career that Cummings had completed a touchdown pass over 30 yards. For his career, Cummings has thrown for 13 touchdowns - and more than half (53.8 percent) have come from longer than 30 yards.

Rank    Yards   QB-Receiver             Oppt        Date
1.      50      Cummings-M. Johnson     N. Carolina Sept. 9, 1995
T2.     48      Cummings-B. James       Duke        Sept. 23, 1995
        48      Cummings-Underwood      Wake        Oct. 19, 1996
4.      45      Cummings-J. Lewis       Duke        Sept. 23, 1995
5.      36      Cummings-M. Johnson     Wake        Oct. 19, 1996
6.      35      Cummings-Cruz           Ohio        Sept. 6, 1997   
7.      31      Cummings-T. Davidson    Fla. State  Nov. 23, 1996

Four freshmen (two true and two redshirt) combined to catch 11 passes for 124 yards and one touchdown against Ohio in their respective first career games. Redshirt freshman Moises Cruz led the way with a career-high six receptions while fellow redshirt Omar Cheeseboro caught three passes and true freshmen Doug Patterson and LaMont Jordan caught one pass each.

Maryland's first-year receivers led the Terps with 11 catches for 124 total yards and one touchdown.

    Class   Recpts. Yards   TD
    Fr.     11      124     1
    So.      2       20     0
    Sr.      3       36     0
            16      180     1

Redshirt junior Russ Edwards punted twice for a 44.5 yards per punt average versus Ohio. The 44.5 yards per punt ranks as the 10th best single game performance by a punter with at least two punts in a game in Maryland history. It marked the fifth time during his career that he had averaged over 40 yards per punt. Edwards's first punt of the night against Ohio traveled 42 yards and was downed at the Bobcat 5 yard line.

Rank Yards Per Punt  Opponent       Date
1.      44.5         Ohio           Sept. 6, 1997
2.      43.5         Virginia       Sept. 24, 1996
3.      42.3         West Virginia  Sept. 16, 1995
4.      42.0         West Virginia  Sept. 28, 1996
5.      40.7         North Carolina Oct. 12, 1996

Senior co-captain Brian Cummings completed 16 passes against Ohio. Of his 16 completions, nine were for first downs and one was for a touchdown. Redshirt freshman Moises Cruz was on the receiving end of four first-down passes and fellow redshirt freshman Omar Cheeseboro moved the chains twice on three catches.

Maryland was whistled for only three penalties for 25 yards against Ohio. It marked the third time in the last two seasons that the Terps had been called for three or less penalties in a single game. The Terps were called for only two penalties against West Virginia and Clemson last season.

Maryland converted 60 percent (9/15) of its third down conversion attempts against Ohio. It marked the highest third down conversion percentage since the Terps converted 66.7 percent (8/12) of its attempts versus Georgia Tech on October 22, 1994. The Terps have converted their third down attempts above the 40th percentile a total of 15 times since the beginning of the 1994 season.

Senior tailback Buddy Rodgers, a Doak Walker Award candidate as the nation's top running back, enters today's game versus Florida State with 1,356 career rushing yards and needs only 245 yards to join Maryland's all-time top-10 career rushing yards list.

The first coin toss...

Maryland called heads to win the first coin toss, deferred its decision until the second half and kicked off at the east end of the field against Ohio.

The first tackle...

Redshirt sophomore Lynde Washington recorded the first tackle of the Vanderlinden era on the opening kickoff.

The first sack...

Junior Eric Barton sacked Ohio quarterback Kareem Wilson for a loss of four yards on the first defensive series of the Vanderlinden era.

The first complete pass...

Brian Cummings completed the first pass of the Vanderlinden era, an 11-yard strike to tight end Tim Brown on the fifth play of the first offensive series of the Vanderlinden era.

The first touchdown/score...

Buddy Rodgers scored the first touchdown of the Ron Vanderlinden era on a one-yard run with 2:49 remaining in the first quarter against Ohio.

The first offensive possession...

Maryland scored the first touchdown of the Vanderlinden era on the first offensive series - 77 yards on 16 plays in 8:43.

The first punt return...

Freshman Tony Jackson, playing in his first career game, returned the first punt of the Vanderlinden era for 15 yards in the first quarter against Ohio.

The first fumble recovery...

Senior defensive end Eric Ogbogu recovered the first fumble for Maryland during the Vanderlinden era and returned it 13 yards.

Year  Attempts  Yards  Yards Per Carry  Touchdowns
1997     20        61       3.05             1
1996    100       447       4.47             5
1995    158       718       4.54             8
1994     39       130       3.33             4
        317     1,356       4.28            18

Senior Buddy Rodgers, a Doak Walker Award candidate as the nation's top running back, begins his senior season as one of the most prolific running backs in school history.

Rank    Category              Career Total
6th     Rushing Touchdowns         17
8th     Yards Per Attempt        4.44
11th    Rushing Attempts          317
13th    Rushing Yards           1,356

Senior Buddy Rodgers, a Doak Walker Award candidate as the nation's top running back, needs only 20 yards to surpass Tommy Neal and become the 12th all-time leading career rusher in school history. In addition, he is in striking distance of becoming a member of the schools top-10 list.

Rank    Player, Year            Yards   Rodgers Needs
10th    Art Seymore, 1970-72    1,656    +301
11th    Bren Lowrey, 1986-89    1,636    +281
12th    Tommy Neal, 1983-86     1,375     +20

Redshirt junior linebacker Kendall Ogle, who recorded eight stops against Ohio, is a candidate for the Butkus Award. Ogle recorded a career-high 75 tackles in 1996 and was recently named as the 18th-best linebacker in the nation by Lindy's Magazine. His 75 stops last season placed him third on the team and he recorded a career-best 14 tackles against West Virginia. Ogle is one of 52 players named to the initial watch list for the Butkus Award presented annually by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. to the nation's outstanding collegiate linebacker. The list will be trimmed to 10 semifinalists on October 16 and three finalists will be named on November 13. The winner will be announced on December 13 in Orlando.

Senior co-captain Brian Cummings was five for six for 78 yards and one touchdown in staking Maryland to a 14-7 half-time lead against Ohio.

Redshirt senior Tim Brown caught his first pass in a Maryland uniform against Ohio. The tight end caught an 11-yard pass from Brian Cummings on the first offensive series of the game against the Bobcats. It marked the longest reception by a Maryland tight end since Eric Henry caught a 12-yard pass from Scott Milanovich against West Virginia on September 17, 1994. Previously, Brown caught a two-point conversion pass against N.C. State on October 5, 1996. A conversion pass is not considered to be a reception in the NCAA statistics.

1995
Sept. 2     Tulane          W, 29-10
Sept. 9     N. Carolina     W, 32-18
Sept. 16    W. Virginia     W, 31-17
Sept. 23    Duke            W, 41-28
Oct. 21     Clemson         L, 0-17
Oct. 28     at L'Ville      L, 0-31
1996
Aug. 31     N. Illinois     W, 30-6
Sept. 7     Ala.-Birm       W, 39-15
Sept. 14    at Virginia     L, 3-21
Oct. 12     at N. Car       L, 7-38
Oct. 19     Wake For.       W, 52-0
Nov. 2      at Clemson      L, 3-35
Nov. 14     Ga. Tech        W, 13-10
Nov. 23     at Fl. State    L, 10-48
1997
Sept. 6     Ohio            L, 14-21

Cummings has an 8-7 record (53.3 winning percentage) and has started eight of the Terps' 11 victories in the last two seasons.

B. Rodgers      Rushing      8th
                Tot. Off.   17th
                Scoring     T8th
D. Boone        Rushing     18th
B. Underwood    Rushing     T21st
B. Cummings     Pass Eff.    4th
                Tot. Off.    8th
M. Cruz         Recp/Gm      5th
                Rcv Yd/Gm    6th    
                Scoring     T8th
                All Purp Yd 12th
O. Cheeseboro   Recp/Gme    14th
L. Sanders      KO Ret      T6th

Ron Vanderlinden and his staff have participated as coaches or players in 44 collegiate bowl games and three super bowls.

Defensive line coach Rubin Carter played in SB XXI and XII and coached in SB XXII with the Denver Broncos.

Redshirt senior Tim Brown's 11 receiving yards surpassed last seasons total reception yards by a Terp tight end, 8. Brown's one catch is only one less than the 1996 total of two (both by Craig Fitzgerald) and is one more than the 1995 total of zero. Maryland tight ends have caught only six passes for 45 yards in the last four years.

    Season  Catches by TE   Yards
    1997        1           11
    1996        2            8
    1995        0            0
    1994        3           26

Redshirt junior Rasheed Simmons made his Maryland debut against Ohio and recorded five total tackles. The game marked his first since December 28, 1995 as a Michigan Wolverine versus Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl.

Junior Kendall Ogle (14 tackles), junior Eric Barton (13 tackles) and senior Eric Ogbogu (11) led Maryland in tackles and became the first trio to record double figures in tackles since Barton (14), Ogle (11) and Ratcliff Thomas (10) against Duke on October 26, 1996. The Terps had multiple double-digit tacklers in six games during the 1996 season.

All Maryland games are heard on the Learfield/Maryland Radio Network. Johnny Holliday, in his 19th season as the Voice of the Terps', handles the play-by-play while Ken Broo joins the broadcast team this season as the color analyst. WBAL (1090-AM) serves as the flagship station for the 12-station network. The Terps can be heard on WJFK - FM (106.7) in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Head Coach Ron Vanderlinden will meet the media each Monday at Noon on the second floor of the Tyser Tower Press Box.

Ron Vanderlinden will be among the nine ACC coaches featured on the weekly teleconference each Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Coach Vanderlinden can be heard from 11:40-11:50. Each coach will make an opening statement and take questions during the 10 minute period. The number for media access only is (212) 547-0297.

Maryland fans can hear the live play-by-play of all 11 Terp games this season from any telephone in the world on TEAMLINE. Fans in the United States can dial 1-800-846-4700 and enter the Maryland Terrapins team code 5517 to access the games with a Visa or Mastercard.

Buddy Rodgers
Career Total Touchdowns
18 (current) + 1 (needs)= 19
(to tie Tommy Neal for 5th place all-time at Maryland)

Buddy Rodgers
Career 100 Yd Rushing Games
5 (current)+ 1 (needs)= 6
(to move into a tie for 6th place all-time at Maryland)

Buddy Rodgers
Career Yards Gained
1,356 (current)+ 20 (needs)= 1,376
(to move past Tommy Neal for 12th place all-time at Maryland)

Brian Underwood
Career Rushing Yards
943 (current)+ 57 (needs)= 1,000
(to become the 19th runner in school history to gain 1,000 career rushing yards)

Eric Ogbogu
Career Sacks
14.5 (current)+ 1 (needs)= 15.5
(to move into 8th place all-time at Maryland)