Maryland Athletics - University of Maryland Official Athletic Site - Football
Sept. 23, 1997
Terps Travel North to Play Temple of the BIG EAST Conference; First Ever Meeting Versus Owls
Barton Records Career-High 17 Tackles; Ogbogu Moves into Eighth Place All-Time in School History with 15.5 Quarterback Sacks
Maryland Terrapins (0-3, 0-2 ACC) at Temple Owls (1-3, 1-1 BIG EAST) Saturday, September 27, 1997; 6:00 P.M. Franklin Field/53,000 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"These first three games taught us who the big dogs are and where we need to go to get them."
Ron Vanderlinden
University of Maryland
September 20, 1997
TERPS TRAVEL NORTH OF THE MASON-DIXON LINE TO PLAY TEMPLE
Maryland travels
north of the Mason-Dixon line for the first time since the final game of the 1994 season
(when it played at Syracuse) to face the Owls of Temple University. Tonight's contest
marks the first between the Terps and the Owls and Maryland's first versus a Big East
Team since its November 19, 1994 game at Syracuse. Maryland has played every team that
currently makes up the Big East conference with the exception of Temple. The Terps'
all-time record against current Big East schools is 60-58-4 (.508). Temple is the first
of two Big East teams the Terps will face this season. Maryland will play host to West
Virginia on October 11. The last time the Terps played two Big East conference schools
in one season was 1994; West Virginia and Syracuse.
PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM
Maryland will play Temple tonight in the city of
Philadelphia at Franklin Field. It marks the Terps first return to the city and the
historic stadium since playing Penn in 1941.
HISTORIC FIRSTS AT FRANKLIN FIELD
Franklin Field originally opened in 1895
(at a cost of $100,000) for the first running of the Penn Relays. The stadium was
rebuilt 75 years ago. The field, deemed the oldest stadium still operating for football
games by the NCAA, was the site of the nation's first scoreboard (1895), the nation's
first two-tiered stadium (1922), the first football radio broadcast (WIP, 1922), the
first football telecast (Maryland vs. Penn., Oct., 5, 1940) and Vince Lombardi's only
NFL playoff loss.
VANDERLINDEN AND DICKERSON
Maryland's Ron Vanderlinden and Temple's Ron
Dickerson worked together as assistant coaches at the University of Colorado from
1983-84. Vanderlinden joined Bill McCartney's staff in Boulder in 1983 while Dickerson
worked for the Buffaloes' program from 1982-84.
| BRIAN CUMMINGS BY THE NUMBERS | |
| .574 | Brian Cummings has completed .574 percent (226/394) of his career passes which places him seventh on the all-time completion percentage list at Maryland. |
| 1 | Brian Cummings has thrown only one interception in 55 attempts this season. |
| 7 | Brian Cummings will make his career-high seventh consecutive start versus Temple tonight. |
| 8 | Brian Cummings scored his eighth career rushing touchdown against North Carolina on Saturday. |
| 14 | Brian Cummings has completed at least one pass to a career-high 14 different receivers this season. |
| 21 | Brian Cummings has accounted for 21 career touchdowns (13 passing and eight rushing) during his career at Maryland. |
| 40 | Brian Cummings has thrown 40 consecutive passes without an interception entering tonight's game versus Temple. |
| 226 | Brian Cumming's 226 career completitions place him 10th all-time in school history. He passed former Terp Al Neville (1971-73) with 13 completions against North Carolina. |
| 394 | Brian Cummings's 394 career passing attempts ties him for tenth all-time at Maryland with Bob Avellini (1972-74). |
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP COACHES
Maryland's Ron Vanderlinden was a member of the
coaching staff of the 1990 National Champion University of Colorado while Temple's Ron
Dickerson was a member of the coaching staff at Penn State when the Nittany Lions won
the 1987 National Championship.
THE FIRST COMMERCIALLY TELEVISED GAME
The first regularly scheduled,
commercial television production of a college football game came 57 years ago on October
5, 1940 as the Terps traveled to Franklin Field to play Pennsylvania. Legendary Jack
Faber was Maryland's head coach. The game was telecast with two cameras with telescopic
lenses and two announcers. The signal was first fed through a production unit that
selected the best action to be transmitted to television sets in Philadelphia and
Reading, Pa.
TERPS ON ASTROTURF
Maryland will play on Astroturf tonight versus Temple for
the first time since September 28, 1996 when the Terps played West Virginia at
Mountaineer Field. Maryland's most recent victory on an Astroturf field was on
September 17, 1994 when the Terps defeated the Mountaineers, 24-13, at Mountaineer
Field. It is the only time the Terps will play on Astroturf this season.
BARTON RECORDS CAREER-HIGH 17 TACKLES AGAINST N. CAROLINA
Junior linebacker
Eric Barton recorded a career-high 17 tackles to lead the Terps defense against North
Carolina. He was credited with a career-high 11 solo stops, six assists, one pass break
up and three quarterback hurries. Barton, an Honorable Mention All-ACC Selection in
1996, is looking to lead the Terps in tackles for the second consecutive season.
CUMMINGS CONTINUES TO FIND MARYLAND TARGETS
Senior quarterback Brian Cummings
tied his personal consecutive game streak of two games without throwing an interception
when he found nothing but Terp receivers against North Carolina. Cummings has thrown 40
consecutive passes and gone nine consecutive quarters without having thrown an
interception. That streak dates back to the third quarter of Maryland's season opening
game against Ohio. It marks his longest streak since he threw 82 passes without an
interception against West Virginia, Duke, Wake Forest and Clemson during the 1995
season.
CUMMINGS FREQUENTLY ON TARGET
Senior quarterback Brian Cummings has completed
at least 63 percent of his pass attempts in each of the three Maryland games so far this
season. His 65.5 percent (36/55) completion rate ranks as his best start after the
first three games during his three-year career. He has now completed 60 percent or more
of his passes in five of his last seven games. During that stretch, he owns a
completion percentage of 60.7 (88/145).
UNDERWOOD BECOMES 19TH TERP TO SURPASS 1,000 YARDS
Redshirt senior running
back Brian Underwood gained 63 yards on 16 attempts against North Carolina to surpass
the 1,000 career yard mark. He became only the 19th runner in school history to surpass
the mark and enters tonight's game versus Temple needing only 87 yards to move into
18th-place on the school's all-time career rushing yardage list.
| TEPRS BY THE NUMBERS | |
| .500 | Maryland has a .500 record against the six Big East teams in the first meeting of the teams. The Terps defeated Boston College, Miami (Fla.) and Syracuse in the first ever meetings between the schools. |
| .525 | Maryland has an all-time record of 58-52-10 in the first game played against the 120 opponents on the Terps all-time series list. Maryland meets Temple for the first time tonight. |
| 2 | Punter Russell Edwards has now completed two career passes from the punting formation - one against North Carolina on Saturday and one against Duke in 1996. |
| 3 | Three different players completed passes against North Carolina on Saturday. The last time that happened was Sept., 21, 1991 when Jim Sandwisch (11 comp.), John Kaleo (1) and Tony Scarpino (5) completed 17 of 32 passes against West Virginia. |
| 10 | Redshirt freshman Moises Cruz's six receptions versus Ohio on Sept. 6 tied him for 10th place on the single game receptions list by a Maryland freshman. |
| 44 | Lamont Jordan's 44-yard touchdown run against Florida State was the third longest touchdown run by a freshman in school history. |
| .667 | Brian Cummings has completed six of nine passes in thr first quarter of the first three games of the season. |
| 2 | Tight end Mike Hull has caught at least one pass in each of the last two games and has three for the season. It marks the first time a tight end position has caught passes in consecutive games since the final two games of the 1991 season. |
| 3 | Maryland limited North Carolina to three first downs rushing. |
| 3 | Maryland has won the coin toss prior to all three of its games so far this season. |
| 10 | Maryland's first year performers (Moises Cruz, RFr., Mike Hull, RFr., Lamont Jordan, TFr., Jason Hatala, TFr., and Doug Patterson, TFr.) combined to make 10 of Maryland's 15 pass receptions against North Carolina. |
| 14 | Different players have caught at least one pass in the Terps' first three games this season. |
| -74 | Maryland held North Carolina, which entered the game averaging 137 rushing yards per game, to 63 yards rushing 74 yards below its average. |
| 147 | Sophomore Lewis Sanders has more total yards on kickoff returns in three games this season (147) than each of the Terps' three opponents so far this season (127). |
IT HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME VERSUS NORTH CAROLINA...
...Redshirt sophomore Peter Timmins caught his first career pass;
...True freshman Jason Hatala caught his first career pass;
...Redshirt freshman Omar Cheeseboro returned his first career kickoff;
...True freshman Kris Jenkins recorded his first career tackle for minus yards;
...Redshirt sophomore Paul Jackson recorded his first career fumble recovery;
...True freshman Lamont Jordan attempted his first career pass.
SANDERS TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE
True sophomore Lewis Sanders became the first
Terp player to return a kickoff for a touchdown since Geroy Simon brought one all the
way back versus N.C. State on November 5, 1994. It marked only the third time since the
1981 season and the seventh time since 1975 that a Terp player had returned a kickoff
for a touchdown. Sanders' return was for 90 yards.
KICKOFF RETURNS FOR TOUCHDOWNS Yards Player Opponent Date 98 Steve Atkins N.C. State Oct., 7, 1978 96 Ricky Jennings N.C. State Oct. 11, 1975 94 Geroy Simon N.C. State Nov. 5, 1994 93 Ricky Jennings Kentucky Sept. 27, 1975 92 Tim Quander Duke Oct. 24, 1981 92 John Shultz Clemson Nov. 15, 1975 90 Lewis Sanders N. Carolina Sept. 20, 1997
TERPS SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN RUSHING DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
After allowing 256
rushing yards against Ohio's option offense in the season opener, Maryland has limited
Florida State (98 yards) and North Carolina (63 yards) to a total of 161 total combined
rushing yards. The Terps' front seven allowed the then-No. 5 ranked Seminoles only 98
yards on 30 attempts (3.3 yards per carry) and held the Tar Heels to 63 yards on 27
carries (2.2 yards per carry).
TERPS RUSHING DEFENSE IN 1997
Maryland's defense has cut its opponents
rushing average per play nearly in half over the last two games. The Terps allowed a
season-high 4.6 rushing yards per attempt against Ohio in the season opener but have
since allowed 2.7 yards per attempt in the last two games.
Ohio vs. FSU/UNC Improvement
Attempts 56 59
Yards 256 161
Yds/Att 4.6 2.7 -1.9 Yds./Att.
Yds/Game 256.0 80.5 -175.5 Yds./Game
TERPS RUNNING BACKS HOLDING ON TO THE BALL
The first fumble by a Maryland
player during the Ron Vanderlinden era came nearly six minutes into the second quarter
the third game of the season. The Terps went nearly 141 minutes without a fumble before
the miscue against the Tar Heels. The Terps accumulated 54 carries before fumbling the
football.
CUMMINGS CONTINUES TO SHOOT UP ALL-TIME PERCENTAGE CHART
Senior co-captain
Brian Cummings has completed at least 63 percent of his passes in each of his three
games this season. His 65.5 percent completion rate has moved him into seventh-place
all-time at Maryland.
TERPS TOP CAREER COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
Senior co-captain Brian Cummings
enters tonight's game versus Temple in seventh 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. .573 226/394 Brian Cummings, 1994-Present
8. .571 52/91 Ben Kinard, 1973-74
9. .569 305/537 John Kaleo, 1991-92
10. .553 251/454 Stan Gelbaugh, 1981-85
JAMES RETURNS TO RECEIVER ROTATION
Redshirt junior wide receiver Bruce James
was the Terps' leading receiver against North Carolina as he tied his career-high with
four receptions for 37 yards. He has now caught four passes in a game three times; most
recently against Duke on September 23, 1995. James has now caught 41 passes for 440
career yards for an average of 10.7 yards per game.
CRUZEN' WITH MOISES
Redshirt freshman Moises Cruz caught four passes for 37
yards to bring his three-game season totals to 10 catches for 128 yards. He begins
tonight's game versus Temple as Maryland's leading receiver with a 42.7 yards per game
average and a 12.8 yards per reception average.
CRUZ BEGINS TO POSITION HIMSELF AS A TOP FRESHMAN RECEIVER
Redshirt freshman
Moises Cruz begins tonight's game with 10 catches for 128 yards. He has already become
only the 16th freshman in school history to amass at least 10 receptions in a season and
is one of only 16 freshman to have gained 100 or more yards in receptions during his
first season. The school records for freshman receivers are 58 catches and 509 yards by
Frank Wycheck in 1990. Wycheck currently plays for the Tennessee Oilers of the NFL.
FRESHMAN CAREER RECEPTIONS
Rank Player, Year Receptions Cruz Needs to Pass
1. Frank Wycheck, 1990 58 +49
10. Sean Sullivan, 1983 15 +6
13. Chad Wiestling, 1990 13 +4
Walt Williams, 1993 13 +4
Brian Underwood, 1994 13 +4
Troy Davidson, 1996 13 +4
14. Jermaine Stewart 11 +2
15. Moises Cruz, 1997 10
FRESHMAN CAREER RECEPTION YARDS Rank Player, Year Recp./Yards Cruz Needs to Pass 1. Frank Wycheck, 1990 509 +382 10. Sean Sullivan, 1983 217 +90 11. Geory Simon, 1993 194 +67 12. Troy Davidson, 1996 177 +50 13. Mosies Cruz, 1997 128
EDWARDS CAREER NUMBERS KICKING UPWARDS
Redshirt junior Russell Edwards enters tonight's game versus Temple with a 39.6
yards per punt average through the first three games of the season. He has 106
career punts for a career punting average of 37.1 yards per punt. Edwards is
averaging three more yards per punt this season than he had during his first two
seasons.
Years Punts Yards Average 1995-96 89 3,253 36.6 1997 17 673 39.6 Career 106 3,926 37.1
EDWARDS JOINS TERPS ALL-TIME TOP 10
Redshirt junior punter Russell
Edwards punted eight times against North Carolina to bring his career total to
106. His 106 punts ties him for 10th all-time at the University of Maryland.
Dan DeArmas (1988-91) is the career leader with 268 career punts.
CAREER PUNTS
Rank Player, Years Punts Edwards Needs to Pass
1. Dan DeArmas, 1988-91 268 +162
8. Alan Sadler, 1982-83 132 +127
9. Gary Collins, 1959-61 113 +8
10. Phil Wagenheim, 1973-74 106 +1
Russell Edwards, 1995-Present 106
RODGERS NAMED TO DOAK WALKER AWARD LIST
Senior tailback Buddy
Rodgers, who has accumulated 117 all-purpose yards and one touchdown in the
first two games of the season (66 rushing/32 receiving/19 kickoff return yards)
is 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.
CUMMINGS, E. HICKS AND OGBOGU NAMED AS CAPTAINS
Seniors Brian
Cummings, Eric Hicks and Eric Ogbogu were chosen by their teammates to serve as
captains for the 1997 season. The captains were selected Friday, August 29.
Cummings is a starter for the third consecutive season at quarterback, while
Hicks and Ogbogu have been mainstays on the defensive line since their arrival
together in 1994.
BRIAN CUMMINGS AS THE TERPS' STARTING QUARTERBACK 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 Sept. 13 at Fl. State L, 7-50 Sept. 20 N. Car. L, 14-40
44 BOWLS AND 3 SUPER BOWLS
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.
RODGERS' RANKINGS
Senior Buddy Rodgers, a Doak Walker Award candidate
as the nation's top running back, is one of the most prolific running backs in
school history.
Rank Category Career Total 6th Rushing Touchdowns 17 10th Yards Per Attempt 4.21 11th Rushing Attempts 323 13th Rushing Yards 1,361
EDWARDS THE PASSER
Punter Russell Edwards's 17-yard pass to Peter
Timmins in the first quarter was Maryland's first completed pass by a
non-quarterback since running back Buddy Rodgers completed a 32-yard touchdown
pass to wide receiver Mancel Johnson against North Carolina on September 9, 1995
in Byrd Stadium.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Senior Buddy Rodgers, a Doak Walker Award
candidate as the nation's top running back, needs only 15 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 school's 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 + 15
OGLE ON BUTKUS AWARD WATCH LIST
Redshirt junior linebacker Kendall
Ogle, who has recorded 36 tackles in the first three games of the season (14
against Ohio, 13 against Florida State and nine against North Carolina), 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.
TERPS ON THE AIR
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.
RON VANDERLINDEN'S WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE
Head Coach Ron
Vanderlinden will meet the media each Monday at Noon on the second floor of the
Tyser Tower Press Box.
ACC COACHES TELECONFERENCE
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.
TERP GAMES ON TEAMLINE
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.
TERPS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB
All of the latest and most up-to date
information on every aspect of Maryland athletics can be found on the World Wide
Web at www.umterps.com. Net users can find the latest information of each of
Maryland's 24 athletic teams, purchase tickets to upcoming events and find
information on many other aspects of the Department of Athletics at Maryland.
RON VANDERLINDEN ON MARYLAND'S RADIO SPORTSLINE
John Wagner,
University System Radio-TV Director, provides actualities and interviews for
radio with Maryland football coach Ron Vanderlinden. Stations can access these
sound bites by calling the Sportsline at (301) 779-6397.
