Bleacher Report - Articles by Brett Gellman

Maryland Vs Rutgers: Least from the East

Brett Gellman — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:32:34 -0400

While most fans in the area, if not the country, will be watching a marquee ACC matchup in Virginia Tech vs. Miami, two struggling programs will take the field in College Park when Maryland (1-2, 0-0 ACC) faces Rutgers (2-1, 0-1 Big East) in the Terps' final non-conference game of the season.

The Terrapins are reeling from a stunning home loss from none other than Middle Tennessee State for the second consecutive year. It was Maryland's worst home loss in 12 years as the team has not fallen to a non-BCS conference opponent since an upset by Ohio in 1997.

Turnovers (four to be precise), penalties, and a Blue Raider spread offense that spelled trouble for the Maryland defense from the start allowed Middle Tennessee to escape Byrd with a 32-31 victory thanks to a last second field goal. Key injuries for the Terps also played a role which forced head coach Ralph Friedgen to insert inexperienced players into the game.

All and all, if Maryland has any hope of salvaging its season from a dreadful start, it begins this Saturday against the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers is also having its fair share of problems as the team got decimated by Big East favorite Cincinnati 47-15 at their home opener. And while the Knights team bounced back against Howard the following week, Rutgers only managed to beat FIU by an 8-point margin last Saturday. Furthermore, starting quarterback and true freshman Tom Savage is a game-time decision.

A few things fall in favor for the Terrapins. First, offensive lineman Bruce Campbell and safety Jamari McCollough will return to the starting lineup after suffering injuries against Cal three weeks ago. Campbell will be able to protect quarterback Chris Turner's blind spot more effectively while McCollough brings senior leadership to a depleted Maryland secondary.

Rutgers also employs a more traditional offense which should make things less stressful for the Terps' defensive unit. Maryland has been unable to defend the spread as we quickly learned when they played James Madison and Middle Tennessee State, so Rutgers' more conventional schemes should be a nice change of pace for the Terps. However, I wouldn't expect too many sacks by Maryland since the Scarlet Knights boast a senior-laden offensive line that was rated one of the best in the conference.

Prediction: 38-33 Maryland. I'm going with the Terps here because it is just not possible to make as many mistakes as Maryland committed last week. They gave the game away in so many different ways and MTSU still only won the game by a single digit. Also, Rutgers just isn't very good. Then again, neither are the Terps, but the Scarlet Knights lack the offensive weapons to match the explosiveness of running back Da'Rel Scott and wide receiver/kick returner Torrey Smith.

Maryland Football, Week 2: Fear the CAA

Brett Gellman — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:10:54 -0400

Last week couldn't have been a worse opening week for the ACC. While Virginia Tech more than held their own before falling to Alabama, there was not one marquee win for the conference.

In fact, the ACC had just one victory against an FBS school (Clemson defeated Middle Tennessee State at home). To add insult to injury, not one but two teams fell to FCS schools, at home!

Both victories came from the CAA as Richmond defeated Duke while William & Mary stunned Virginia. Then again, it's rather hard to win in Charlottesville when the home team is turning the ball over seven times.

As for the Terps, things unraveled rather quickly during their blowout loss to Cal. In fact, it was the school's worst opening result when Maryland was defeated by football powerhouse St. John's of Annapolis, 50-0, back in 1892.

Maryland (0-1, 0-0 ACC) should find solace in the fact that they'll be playing in Byrd Stadium for their home opener, but as we've quickly learned, they should not underestimate their opponent in James Madison, another team hailing from the suddenly upset-driven CAA.

Fortunately for Maryland, the Dukes lost a dangerous weapon in former quarterback Rodney Landers, who led the team in rushing.

JMU will instead have to play two new quarterbacks to fill the void Landers left, but seeing that this is their first game of the season, they might have some difficulties adjusting the offense against a team hungry for redemption.

The Terps offensive live, as young and thin as it is already, lost mammoth left tackle Bruce Campbell to turf toe last week and will obviously have to improve their blocking capabilities after a disappointing effort last week.

On the flip side, Cal had one of the best defensive fronts the Terrapins will face all year, but quarterback Chris Turner will be unable to get the offense going if the line lets Turner repeatedly get sacked a la last week, six times to be precise.

Maryland also starts a four-game homestand this Saturday, three of which are against non-conference opponents before kicking off ACC action against Clemson in the beginning of October.

Head coach Ralph Friedgen is optimistic that his young team will be able to mature and develop during this time and that the Cal game will be thing of the past. One can only help after that waxing.

Prediction

Maryland 26-10. The Terps have a reputation of playing down to their opponent's level, so expect this game to be a close one. Then again, they probably want to rid themselves of the bad taste the Golden Bears left in their mouths.

Maybe that means we'll see Don Brown's aggressive defense finally display itself, as it was mostly nonexistent in Memorial Stadium.

JMU is currently ranked sixth in the FCS, and as we've already learned with Duke and UVA, upsets are certainly possible. The Terps should be victorious here, but with such an inexperienced offensive line, it will most likely be a low-scoring affair.

Maryland @ No. 12 California: From East to West

Brett Gellman — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:50:17 -0400

While the California Golden Bears defeated Washington State by a whopping 63-point margin in the second week of college football last season, the Maryland Terrapins suffered defeat from the unlikeliest of foes in an ugly loss to Middle Tennessee State. Both teams were scheduled to face each other the following week, with Cal being the obvious favorite to win.

Who could’ve predicted that Maryland would possess a 28-6 advantage in the fourth quarter and eventually come out victorious in College Park when the two teams finally met?

Certainly not many, as both fanbases were stunned. Maybe it was the hot and humid weather, or that the Terps needed to redeem themselves after falling to MTSU, or even the early 9:00 a.m. Pacific kickoff time.

This time, however, things will be much different.

Maryland will travel to the west coast for not only a 10:00 p.m. Eastern kickoff, but will be surrounded by a crowd channeling Tobias Funke in a Blue-Out atmosphere.

Then, there’s the fact that Cal is undefeated in home-openers under head coach Jeff Tedford, not to mention that they’re 27-4 overall in Berkeley through the last five seasons.

Oh, and let’s not forget about Heisman candidate Jahvid Best, one of the nation’s most prolific running backs.

The odds of Maryland coming out of Memorial Stadium victorious are rather slim. Even Vegas wasn’t too kind to the Terps, as they listed them as 21.5 underdogs. Now, I’m not a betting man, but I don’t think bookies are giving Maryland enough credit.

The Terps return quarterback Chris Turner who enters his third season under center, and his second under offensive coordinator James Franklin’s west-coast oriented system. Turner played one of his best games against the Bears, as the California native went 15 for 19 and threw two touchdowns.

Maryland also brings back All-ACC running back Da’Rel Scott to the fold and will be complemented by sophomore Davin Meggett. The two backs combined for nearly 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns against the Bears. And while the Terps will miss the playmaking abilities of Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland will bring no less than nine receivers to Berkeley.

Just like Cal, the biggest question mark for the Terps is their young, unproven offensive line. The Terps return only two starters and will insert three new players, two of which are former walk-ons. Maryland will have to heavily rely upon senior fullback Cory Jackson for additional blocking until the line ultimately finds its groove.

One thing that Maryland fans won’t have to worry about is the defense. First-year defensive coordinator Don Brown has implemented an aggressive 4-3 style that is wildly unpredictable, which is a stark contrast to the read-and-react style Maryland previously used. Look for cornerback Nolan Carroll and safety Kenny Tate as breakout players to excel under this new scheme.

Prediction: 31-21, California. Ralph Friedgen’s teams always seem to get out to a slow start, but shipping them out west to a highly-ranked team looking to exact revenge in a hostile atmosphere will be tough, to say the least. I’m sure that Jahvid Best wants to rack up as many yards as he can after he was repeatedly seen on YouTube last fall tossing up his breakfast following a vicious hit by Kevin Barnes.

Breaking in an offensive line with players who have less than 30 collective starts under their belt could be a recipe for disaster. Furthermore, the Fridge hasn’t even named a starting placekicker yet, leaving special teams as another question mark. Then there’s the defense—we have absolutely no idea how they will perform, as this will be a brand new system for the Terps.

There are just way too many question marks going on for the Terps to leave Memorial Stadium victorious. However, I do believe it will be closer than Vegas predicts.

Maryland Football 2009 Preview: Younger and Leaner

Brett Gellman — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:52:11 -0400

Today marks the start of fall camp for the Maryland Terrapins, and if it weren't for the sweltering heat in the DC area, practice would've already started by now (it's been pushed back to 7 p.m.).

Today's scheduling adjustment is just a minor reflection of the amount of changes the program has undergone since the Terps concluded a wildly inconsistent 8-5 season with a victory over Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl last December.

The most noticeable change would be that of head coach Ralph Friedgen.

The Fridge, now in his ninth year with the program, has shed over 100 pounds and plans to lose 50 more thanks in part to a strict diet he started late last year. If he keeps going at this rate, do fans start dubbing him as the “Mini-Fridge?"

As for the actual game, the Terrapins hired former UMass head coach Don Brown to take over as defensive coordinator after Chris Cosh left to take the same job at Kansas State. Brown employs a more aggressive scheme and his system will be a huge contrast from the passive, prevent defense Maryland used during Cosh's tenure.

Another major adjustment would be the fact that Maryland lost 30 seniors last season, the largest class Fridge has ever graduated. Not only did the Terps lose star wide receiver Darruis Heyward-Bey to the Raiders as a top 10 draft pick, but the once veteran-laden offensive line now boasts only two returning starters. This unit is the biggest question marking going into the season by far.

Senior quarterback Chris Turner returns to the fold with no less than nine young receivers to throw the ball to.

Turner, however, will have to fight the stigma of being the top 25 killer and provide consistency throughout the entire season since his performances against ranked opponents last season were excellent while he turned the ball over to teams like Middle Tennessee State.

Maryland's first test will be a difficult one as they head to the west coast to face California on Sept. 5 in a rematch from last season. The Terps upset the Bears in College Park last year, which if you recall, included an instant YouTube hit courtesy of Kevin Barnes.

The difference this time around is that the Bears will not only be at home with a comfy 7 p.m. kickoff time, but will also boost a No. 12 ranking. I'd imagine that Cal is looking for revenge, and more specifically, Jahvid Best.

The Terps youth will show this season, and with a new defense installed, there will definitely be growing pains.

Most media outlets have picked Maryland to finish at the bottom of the conference, and while that may not ultimately be the case, the Terps were maddeningly frustrating to watch last year. Here's hoping they're able to find some consistency in 2009.

Georgetown's Epic Collapse

Brett Gellman — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:05:35 -0400

While we're on the cusp of Selection Sunday, one DC area team will be notably absent from the field of 65.

It's amazing, given the disparity of the teams in the Washington region, that one team that clearly should've been in the tournament will not hear their name called tonight while another program that originally had no business being in there somehow managed to find a way.

The Georgetown Hoyas, who had reached the Final Four just two years ago, will be left out of this year's NCAA Tournament after compiling a 16-14 record and 7-11 in the Big East Conference.

How in the world did this happen? It wasn't long ago that Georgetown was ranked one of the top teams in the country, climbing as high as No. 8 in the Coaches Poll.

The team, which has been very successful in recruiting talent in the DC area, was comprised of highly touted recruits and was able to gain a commitment from the country's top power forward prospect last year, Greg Monroe.

Georgetown started out the gate strongly and won 10 out of their 11 games early in the season. The Hoyas routed local rival Maryland in the Old Spice Classic by nearly 30 points and defeated Memphis in an overtime thriller. Wins over Big East rivals UConn and Syracuse convinced Hoya Nation that they'd be dancing deeply into the tournament when March rolled around.

Unfortunately, no one could've predicted how poorly January and February would treat the Hoyas.

Beginning with a road loss at Duke, Georgetown managed to lose 10 out of its last 13 games in the regular season, three of which were decided in overtime. While some losses were against tourney-bound teams, a fair portion of them were to programs Georgetown had no business losing to.

None hurt more than their regular season finale road loss at St. John's, which clearly ended any hope for the Hoyas returning the dance sans winning the Big East title.

Prior to the crushing defeat at St. John's, the Hoyas barely managed to stay on the bubble because they played the nation's hardest schedule. That proved to be an invalid argument after Georgetown fell once again to the Red Storm just one week later in the opening round of the Big East Tournament.

Throughout all of this, the blame clearly lays on Head Coach John Thompson III. They're one of the most talented teams in the Big East, but players can only take you so far; just ask Roy Williams.

While many thought a storm was brewing in nearby College Park, it's now the Hilltop that should head to the observatory. One recruit has already decommitted from the Hoyas and team chemistry isn't great at the moment.

Georgetown will now have to wait until next year to return to the Dance while they ruminate how a season that started off so well ended so poorly.

Boise Blues: Terps Take on Nevada in Humanitarian Bowl

Brett Gellman — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:02:50 -0500

It's hard to imagine that Maryland was two wins away from potentially playing in the Orange Bowl in sunny Miami. It's also equally hard to imagine that the team would be shipped out West to play on the infamous blue turf of Boise State University in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl.

Yet the worst case scenario transpired as the Terps dropped its last two games of the season to Florida State and Boston College, ultimately finishing with a 4-4 record in the ACC which punched their ticket to Idaho.

While five teams in the conference finished their season with an identical record as the Terps, Maryland had no other choice but to play at Boise since the team was unable to accept a bid for the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in DC due to final exams as well as have participated in the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco a year ago.

Then again, the entire idea of the bowl pecking order, at least in the ACC, has seemed a little preposterous since Clemson was invited to the prestigious Gator Bowl with a paltry 6-5 record.

That didn't sit too well with Florida State fans, as the Seminoles had a better overall resume. Unfortunately for the Noles, money, not your record, is what ultimately counts as Clemson is known for their well-traveling fan base.

As for today's game, scheduled for a 4:30pm ET kickoff, the Terps (7-5, 4-4 ACC) will be taking on the Nevada Wolf Pack (7-5, 5-3 WAC) of the WAC Conference in what will (thankfully) be the ACC's final game in the Humanitarian Bowl.

Maryland running back Da'Rel Scott will have a difficult time on the ground as Nevada possesses the nation's second best run defense. Scott will have to channel the success he had earlier in the season now that the speedy sophomore is finally healthy but he could have trouble finding some holes not only because of the Wolf Pack's strong defensive skills but also because of the Terps' own underachieving offensive line.

If the Terps want to come out of Boise victorious they'll have to rely on throwing the ball as the Wolf Pack's pass defense is the worst in the country, giving up nearly 321 yards per game.

Fans, however, should be sure not to overlook Nevada just because they're in a non-BCS league.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the WAC offensive player of the year, threw over 2,400 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Kaepernick is also quite the mobile threat as he scrambled for over 1,000 yards and collected another 16 touchdowns on the ground.

Prediction: 38-31 Nevada

The Wolf Pack's shotgun pistol formation will give the Terps all sorts of defensive problems judging from Maryland's past games against mobile quarterbacks.

Then again, with former defensive coordinator Chris Cosh departing before the bowl game, linebackers coach Al Seamonson will step in as interim DC and could possibly inject new life into the struggling unit.

The Terps won't be able to get the running game going which means quarterback Chris Turner will have to rely on wide receivers Danny Oquendo and Darius Heyward-Bey (in what could very much be his final game in a Maryland uniform) against a very weak Nevada pass defense.

All and all, Nevada's potent offense may ultimately be too much for the Terrapins, which will lead to a Wolf Pack victory.

Georgetown-Maryland: A Local Rivalry Renewed

Brett Gellman — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:11:53 -0500

While it is Rivalry Week in the world of college football, several early-season tournaments are already underway in college hoops.

The Old Spice Classic is one of the more noteworthy events due to its loaded field of participants, two of which include local programs Georgetown and Maryland.

Because the Terps fell to Gonzaga while the Hoyas lost to Tennessee on Saturday, these two storied teams will meet tomorrow night in the consolation game at 5:30 PM on ESPN2.

Who knew a game for third place would be so exciting all of a sudden?

The last time the Terps played the Hoyas was in the 2001 Sweet Sixteen. The Terrapins ultimately pulled off the victory and marched their way towards the program's first Final Four.

It was the first time the two teams had squared off against one another since 1993, and another 13 years prior to that.

Before 1980, Georgetown and Maryland used to play each other every season.

Many fans recall that game in '93 as the turning point for Maryland basketball following the aftermath of the Len Bias tragedy.

On the night after Thanksgiving, the Terps faced the 15th ranked Hoyas in a nationally-televised game at the now-defunct US Air Arena (a.k.a. Capital Centre) in Landover, Georgetown's home court at the time (though the site may as well have been called neutral with the large number of Maryland fans in attendance).

The rest, as they say, is history, as Duane Simpkins made the game-winning layup with 3.5 seconds left in overtime. It was Gary Williams' first marquee win since returning to his alma mater as the Terrapins' head coach and put Maryland back on the basketball map while making Joe Smith a household name

Excluding their 2001 meeting, Maryland and Georgetown have not played each other in more than 15 years.

The topic has been discussed many times as to why these teams have not played since, but fate has brought the two programs back together come Sunday evening.

Obviously, things have changed as the Hoyas have dominated the local scene as of late while the Terps have failed to reach the NCAA Tournament three out of the last four years.

Georgetown has also made themselves a presence in the Big East under Coach John Thompson III, while the Terps have been stuck in middle-of-the pack status in the ACC after their National Championship run in 2002.

It is a shame that only through a select series of events in Orlando has given us this desired matchup instead of it being an annual event of some sort.

The Hoyas were supposed to play at Cole Field House the following season after the '93 upset but things got muddled in the process and the rivalry halted from thereon out.

Georgetown has also never played in the BB&T Classic since its inception in 1995, a tournament which has featured essentially every other local program in the area, from George Washington to Howard.

Sunday night, however, Hoyas and Terps fans can rejoice in seeing this local rivalry renewed, at least for one evening.

What do you think? Would a Georgetown-Maryland rivalry excite you? Would you want to see these teams battle it out each season

Why Can’t Maryland Win the Games That Matter Most?

Brett Gellman — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:19:49 -0500

It was frigid evening in College Park. Maryland’s senior players were introduced one-by-one before kickoff to one of the most important games of the Terrapins’ season.

The Terps were taking on Florida Statefor contention of first place of the Atlantic Division of the ACC. It was a must-win for both teams, as Wake Forest was defeated by Boston College earlier that afternoon.

Had Wake Forest won, the Terps could’ve clinched a trip to Tampa Bay with a victory over the Seminoles. But because BC was victorious, Maryland needed to win out its remaining two games in order to play at the ACC Championship game.

Instead, the Terrapins, who played under the lights on national television in front of a blackout crowd, were shellacked by the Noles, 37-3.

It was a game with so much on the line: previously undefeated at Byrd Stadium with six victories, one step closer to the conference championship, and, lastly, it was Senior Night.

Despite baffling losses to Virginia and Middle Tennessee State, the Terps still had a chance to capture their first ACC title since 2001. In just one game, the dream had vanished.

Gone was the chance to play in Tampa. Orange Bowl? Forget about it. The best Maryland can do now is the Gator Bowl, and even then the Terps would need a lot of help to get there.

So, what happened? How could a team that defeated No. 16 North Carolina in a dogfight last weekend fall flat on its face seven days later in a game of even more importance?

This has been the trend not just this season, but for several years.

Remember back in 2006 when Maryland had a chance to win the Atlantic against Wake Forest, at home no less? They lost the game and Wake went on to capture the ACC Championship.

Just two years later, and featuring a lot of the same players from the '06 team, the Terps couldn’t get it done. Heck, they couldn’t even get started by looking at the score.

Their veteran offensive line severely underachieved after an excellent performance just a week ago. Quarterback Chris Turner turned into a tackling dummy after the line allowed six sacks.

Maryland’s running game produced a total of one rushing yard in the first half.

The fact of the matter is that Florida State came out ready and hungry. They were not only the better team on the field, but the only team out there. The Terps didn’t even bother to show up.

With everything on the line, someone must’ve forgotten the oxygen tank in the locker room. Maryland was deflated before the game even got started.

Terrapins-Seminoles: Saturday Night Lights

Brett Gellman — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:54:58 -0500

The Maryland Terrapins (7-3, 4-2 ACC) face the Florida State Seminoles (7-3, 4-3 ACC) tomorrow evening at Byrd Stadium in what will finally clear up the ACC title picture in the penultimate week of conference action.

It is perhaps the Terps’ most important game of the season as they are in control of their own destiny in the Atlantic Division.

Florida State was originally in the driver’s seat, but after falling to Boston College in Tallahassee last weekend, the Noles are on the outside looking in after Maryland defeated North Carolina in a 17-15 upset the same day.

Should Wake Forest (6-4, 4-3 ACC) defeat Boston College (7-3, 3-3 ACC) tomorrow afternoon in Winston-Salem, the Terps could potentially capture the Atlantic Division if they defeat Florida State later that night in College Park.

If Wake Forest loses, Maryland would have to beat the Noles as well as win at Boston College the following weekend in order to head to the ACC Championship game.

Just like Maryland, BC has destiny in its own hands and can win the Atlantic by winning out as well. However, that all depends on the outcome of their matchup against the Demon Deacons tomorrow afternoon. That game, which many Maryland and Florida State fans will have their eyes on, will be televised on ESPN at 3:30pm EST.

Nonetheless, the Terrapins have been on a roll at Byrd Stadium as they have been undefeated at home this season. They are also the only program in the entire country to have defeated four AP Top 25 teams.

On the flipside, the Terps are also the most schizophrenic team after head scratching losses to Virginia and, even more puzzling, Middle Tennessee State.

Yet here we are as the Terps surprisingly have the best chance to make the conference championship game. Yeah, bookies must hate the ACC.

As for the game itself, FSU quarterback Christian Ponder is one of the more talented QBs the Noles have had in quite some time. While not the most accurate (he’s thrown as many touchdowns as interceptions), he’s very mobile and could cause some problems for the Terrapins defensive line.

The Noles also expect the all five receivers who were suspended last week for an on-campus brawl to return to the field tomorrow night.

What Florida State will be missing is their two starting safeties. Darius McClure injured himself last week after celebrating an interception against BC while Myron Rolle will be in Birmingham, Alabama for his Rhodes Scholarship interview.

Rolle could return after halftime as the Noles have provided private transportation for the junior following the conclusion of his interview.

Noles kicker Graham Gano could also play a huge role in tomorrow’s game. The senior leads the nation in field goals and could make all the difference in the game as FSU learned last time they visited College Park in a 27-24 loss.

The Terrapins, who will be playing in front of a “blackout” crowd on Senior Night, have remained relatively healthy after their victory against the Tar Heels.

Running backs Da’Rel Scott and Davin Meggett ferociously brought back the running game which was notably absent just a week prior against Virginia Tech thanks to the improvement in Maryland’s offensive line.

The defense also played one of its best games of the season as they kept the Tar Heels scoreless in the second half. The Terps will have to continue this trend as they will matchup against one of the best receiving corps in the ACC. Fortunately, Florida State’s offensive line is one of the worst in the conference.

Prediction: 24-20 Florida State. I give up on choosing winners of the parity-ridden ACC. It’s honestly a pure crapshoot. See Georgia Tech’s lopsided victory over Miami last night for further evidence. The Canes were riding high on a five game winning streak with control of the Coastal Division and get manhandled in Atlanta, 41-23.

I’ll go with the Noles because the Terps are favored to win this game and because FSU isn’t ranked. It’s the only way to makes sense out of this outcome.

Young Terps Face Challenging Schedule

Brett Gellman — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:34:42 -0500

Head coach Gary Williams has his hands full with perhaps one of his youngest squads heading into the 2008-09 season, his 20th with his alma mater.

While the Terps have a plethora of talent at the guard position, the team appears to lack some serious frontcourt depth.

The graduations of James Gist and Bambale Osby have left the Terrapins with just a handful of inexperienced big men who played limited minutes last season.

This year’s schedule will prove to be daunting if the Terps do not develop a post-presence before the ACC slate kicks off.

What’s even more troubling is the fact that the Terps are the only team in the entire ACC to play North Carolina and Duke twice, two teams which are currently sitting in the Top 10.

In this article, we’ll rundown the Top 10 games Maryland fans will look forward to the most. Let’s get started, shall we?

10) vs. American—12/22/08: Yes, American is an interesting game this year. Why, you ask? Because the Eagles, who eventually went on to capture the Patriot League Championship, stunningly defeated the Terps last year on Maryland’s home court. The last time that happened? 1926.

9) vs. Michigan—12/3/08: Maryland meets its second Big Ten opponent of the season as they host Michigan back in College Park as part of the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. While not the most formidable foe in the conference, Maryland does not plan to take John Beilein’s team lightly.

8) vs. Virginia Tech—2/14/09: The Hokies have had the Terps number since joining the ACC. In fact, the Terps have won just one out of their last four meetings with Virginia Tech. Fortunately, they only play Seth Greenberg’s team once this year.

7) vs. Miami– 1/31/09: The Hurricanes have always given the Terps a headache, especially since Miami has won five of its last six meetings against Maryland. In other words, the Terrapins have won just one game against the Canes since joining the conference. Senior (and Baltimore native) Jack McClinton will have Maryland keep taking their Advil unless they’re constantly defending him.

6) at Clemson– 2/19/09: Rest assured, the Terrapins clearly remember Terrence Oglesby’s winning three-point shot at the end of regulation last year at the Comcast Center which all but eliminated the Terps’ hopes for the NCAA Tournament.

It was Maryland’s toughest loss of the season and the Terps would love nothing more than to seek revenge against the Tigers. A win on the road here would greatly improve the Terps’ RPI.

5) vs. Michigan State—11/27/08 (Old Spice Classic): Less than two weeks away, this ACC/Big Ten matchup will serve as a barometer to where both teams stand in terms of development and talent. It will also be both teams’ first true test of the season. A victory over the Spartans would help solidify Maryland’s resume if they’re on the NCAA bubble.

4) at North Carolina—2/3/09: Many Carolina fans would tell you that Duke is their rival, but you can bet that the Tar Heels would love nothing more than to beat Maryland after the Terps upset them at the Dean Dome last season when they were ranked No.1, in front of a nationally televised audience no less.

In fact, UNC hasn’t defeated the Terps since 2006. The Tar Heels are stacked this year and an upset seems very out of the question this time around.

3) at Duke—1/24/09: Seeking revenge after last year’s loss, the Terps hope to continue their winning ways at Cameron Indoor Stadium in this nationally televised showdown. The last time Maryland won at Durham was back in 2007 when then-freshman Greivis Vasquez nearly posted a triple-double. The Terps will have to rely on the Venezuelan once more to notch a victory at Duke.

2) vs. North Carolina—2/21/09: The last time UNC visited College Park, Maryland overcame a 12 point deficit and defeated the No.5 Tar Heels in dramatic fashion. With the home crowd behind them, this could be an interesting matchup to watch. What’s noteworthy about the scheduling of this game is that it is the first of a two-game home series. The Terps face Duke just three days later.

1) vs. Duke—2/25/09: Just a month after visiting Cameron, and three days after hosting UNC, the Terps take on the Blue Devils for their second meeting of the season. Maryland fans look forward to this game the most as the Comcast Center reaches record-breaking decibel levels while cheering against one its most hated rivals.

It’s always the toughest ticket in College Park it seems as many “fans” come out of the woodwork. Amazingly, they’re nowhere to be found in the earlier non-conference games of the season where the outcomes are just as important.

No.16 North Carolina Visits Maryland in ACC Showdown

Brett Gellman — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:48:22 -0500

The Maryland Terrapins (6-3, 3-2 ACC) kick off a pivotal two-game home stretch on Saturday afternoon when they take on No. 16 North Carolina (7-2, 3-2 ACC) in a game with huge conference title implications for both teams.

After falling 23-13 to Virginia Tech last Thursday night, the Terps still control their own destiny in the Atlantic Division as they dropped just half a game behind Florida State and Wake Forest.

It's simple.

There is a possibility Maryland may go to Tampa Bay if they win their remaining games, but the Terps unfortunately have the hardest schedule left among the other Atlantic Division teams in contention.

Florida State, Wake Forest, and even Boston College are in the hunt for the Atlantic Division title. Only in the ACC can a team like Boston College with a 2-3 conference record still make it to the championship game.

The Coastal Division is even more of a mess with 3-2 records from Miami, Virginia Tech, and UNC. Tech and Miami play this evening and the winner will capture sole possession of first place in the division, until Saturday that is.

The Tar Heels have a chance to capitalize on the parity of the conference when they travel to College Park this Saturday in what will be the conference's biggest game of the weekend.

UNC already knocked Georgia Tech out of contention after their 28-7 victory last weekend. Quarterback Cameron Sexton threw for two touchdown passes, while running back Ryan Houston racked up another two scores on the ground.

Expect Carolina to use Houston tactically after Maryland's horrid run defense made a star out of Virginia Tech running back Darren Evans last week. The freshman RB collected a school-record of 253 yards last Thursday, which has caused major reshuffling on the Terrapin defensive line.

Maryland hopes to regroup after last week's loss and playing in the comfortable confines of Byrd Stadium can only help. The team is undefeated at home this season and has consecutively beat five ranked opponents dating back to last year.

Saturday's match-up will prove to be the Terrapins most difficult opponent yet until a resurgent Florida State comes to town the following week.

Maryland's defense does not act as an advantage this year, therefore, they must rely on the offense to put up as many points as possible in order to have a chance at victory. It won't be easy with UNC leading the nation with 18 intercepted passes.

Maryland's offensive line also needs to improve its run blocking in order for running backs Da'Rel Scott and Davin Meggett to accrue positive yardage, while quarterback Chris Turner works to find ways to get the ball to wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey. As evidenced last week by his 63-yard touchdown, this junior is a playmaker.

Prediction: 35-24 North Carolina.

Unless the Terrapins increase their aggression on defense and stop giving up the big plays, the Tar Hells will leave Byrd Stadium victorious. North Carolina doesn't have the balanced offense that the Terrapins do, but their defense will ultimately win the game. Undoubtedly, Florida State will be watching closely.

Maryland Seeks Revenge Against Hokies in Thursday Night Showdown

Brett Gellman — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:29:17 -0500

The last time the Maryland Terrapins visited Lane Stadium back on a chilly Thursday night in 2004, they were the recipients of a 55-6 drubbing and were embarrassed in front a national television audience.

Then again, the Hokies were also ranked 15th at the time and eventually went on to win the conference championship. Meanwhile, the Terps entered the game with a 4-5 record and had one of the worst offenses in Ralph Friedgen’s tenure, since he took over the program back in 2001.

Flash forward four years later and things have changed significantly.

No. 23 Maryland (6-2, 3-1 ACC) is in first place in the Atlantic Division and is the only team in the entire ACC with just one conference loss.

Virginia Tech (5-3, 2-2 ACC), on the other hand, has lost two consecutive conference games and currently stands second to last in the Coastal Division.

The Hokies have struggled offensively since the start of season (ranked 112th in the nation), and now that quarterbacks Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor are both questionable for tomorrow night’s game after enduring injuries against Florida State, that leaves redshirt senior Cory Holt as the team’s most healthy option behind center.

However, it has been confirmed that all three quarterbacks (Taylor, Glennon, and Holt) will be dressed and ready to compete tonight, but I expect Glennon to take the most snaps, as Taylor's mobile playing style will only aggravate his ankle sprain. The game is a must-win for the Hokies if they want to remain in contention for the conference championship.

The Terps have had their fair share of injuries as well as star running back and ACC leading rusher Da’Rel Scott reinjured his shoulder two weeks ago against NC State. Scott’s speed is dangerous but has been limited lately because of his durability. He’s listed as questionable, along with linebackers Dave Phillistin and Adrian Moten.

Virginia Tech’s defense is its greatest asset. Cornerback Macho Harris already has four interceptions this season. The Hokies will plan to bring the pressure to Maryland quarterback Chris Turner early and often in hopes of forcing a turnover, something Tech mightily excels at. In fact, it ranks sixth in the country in turnover margin.

As for predictions, this one is a tossup. The Terps always seem to play well against better opposition, and while the Hokies may not be ranked, they still play fierce, tough Beamer Ball. The electric atmosphere in Blacksburg on a Thursday night is unlike anything else in college football, and that can only help Tech.

Prediction

21-17, Virginia Tech. Winning at Lane Stadium on a Thursday night is hard. Like, really hard. The only exception was Boston College’s win last year, and that took a miraculous play by Matt Ryan in order to seal it up. At any rate, this should be a very enjoyable game at a great game-day atmosphere in one of the most unpredictable conferences in all of college football.

Turner Needs to Keep the Switch On In Order for Terps Success

Brett Gellman — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:59:08 -0400

The Maryland Terrapins have been the epitome of inconsistency this college football season.

Fall to lowly Middle Tennessee State, but bounce back against Cal? Sure, why not?

Get blanked by Virginia one week, but shutout Wake the next? Um, OK.

More than halfway through the season, the Terps stand at a humble 5-2 record. It's those two losses, however, that are entirely perplexing.

Most observers would think that those losses would've been from one of the three ranked opponents the Terps have played. Instead, they were garnered from teams with losing records.

So how is it that Maryland is the only team in the country to have beaten three ranked teams only to fall to less heralded opponents?

One would look to quarterback Chris Turner. When he's on, he's on.

The California Kid is brilliant against ranked opposition. According to ESPN Research, Turner is 5-0 against Top 25 teams since taking over at quarterback last year. He's amassed 1,135 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions in those five games.

Yet Turner has struggled against weaker opponents in the other 13 games he's played in, throwing nearly twice as many interceptions (13) than touchdowns (7).

But Turner has looked more confident and less shaky this season as opposed to last year.

Look no further than last weekend when Maryland played its best game of the season against #19 Wake Forest. Turner threw a career-high 41 passes, connecting on 29 of them for 321 yards and a touchdown.

The Terps were also finally able to fully utilize star wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey, who caught a career-high 11 catches, collected 101 yards, and scored a touchdown.

Maryland has had some difficulties getting their playmaker the ball this season but offensive coordinator James Franklin has stressed the importance of the junior wideout and said that they try to include him in as many plays as they possibly can.

A shift in the offensive line has also seemed to help as true sophomore Bruce Campbell took over at left tackle while fifth year senior Scott Burley was shifted over to the right. The change gave running back Da'Rel Scott plenty of holes to run through and allowed Turner ample time in the pocket to throw the ball.

Perhaps the most drastic improvement in Maryland's offense has been the performance of kicker Obi Egekeze. After missing his first five field goals this season (including a 27 yard chip shot vs. Cal), he has made his last nine and is currently tied for second place in the conference.

The kicking game will only get more important from here on out against the next five teams the Terps play.

One the defensive side, Maryland received some very bad news as senior cornerback Kevin Barnes broke his shoulder blade last weekend and will be out for remainder of the season.

Barnes is one of the most talented defensive players the Terps have on their roster and even became a YouTube sensation after his memorable, viscous hit against Cal running back Javid Best.

The depleted secondary is cause for alarm as, along with Barnes, defensive backs Richard Taylor and Dominique Herald are also out for the year.

As for Saturday's match-up against NC State, Maryland will need to play with the same intensity as last weekend and not allow the struggling Wolfpack to embarrass the Terps in front of a Homecoming crowd.

If Turner starts the game off hot then it's all said and done. His momentum is key to the Terps' success and a shaky start could result in a closer game than people expect. With Maryland's limited secondary, ever-improving quarterback Russell Wilson could have a monster day at Byrd Stadium.

Frankly, no one knows what to expect with the schizophrenic Terps but Maryland is undefeated at home and seems recharged and refocused after the Virginia debacle.

Now in a four-way tie for first place in the Atlantic Division, the Terrapins control their destiny from here on out but must take care of business against NC state tomorrow afternoon if they want to reach Tampa Bay.

Which Maryland Team Will Show Up?

Brett Gellman — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:27:21 -0400

Just two weeks ago, the Maryland Terrapins visited Charlottesville to play a struggling UVA team that had just gotten blown out by Duke. Meanwhile, the Terps were coming off a come from behind victory against the then-ranked Clemson Tigers in a game that helped seal the fate of former head coach Tommy Bowden.

Maryland, who had stood at 4-1 and undefeated in the conference, had momentum going their way until that fateful day in Hooville.

The Virginia team that showed up that night, however, was not the one that was blown out by USC, UConn, and Duke. No, this was a much different Cavalier squad. They dominated in all facets of the game and shut out the Terps in a stunning 31-0 victory.

Of course, it comes as no surprise that Maryland bounced back last weekend by blanking No. 19 Wake Forest 26-0 in dominating fashion.

Why? Simple. Maryland has continued its consistent trend of inconsistency.

So why aren't the Terps ranked after being the only school in the nation this season to have defeated three ranked teams? Perhaps maddening losses to Middle Tennessee State and the aforementioned Cavaliers help explain the reason.

Looking back, perhaps that Virginia loss wasn't so bad now that the Cavs (4-3, 2-1 ACC) have won three straight, their last over a ranked North Carolina team. But it is how the Terps lost by being shut out, only to shut out their next opponent, that's entirely frustrating.

As for the loss to MTSU, there's simply no excuse for that.

Anyway, the Terps (5-2, 2-1 ACC) reclaimed the driver's seat for the Atlantic Division title last Saturday by defeating Wake (4-2, 2-1 ACC), but it wouldn't entirely surprise anyone if they were to fall to lowly NC State (2-5, 0-3 ACC) this weekend.

The solution to this trend of erratic wins and losses would? Simple: Beat the Wolfpack. Beat them soundly.

Show the nation (and pollsters) that you can get up and defeat the teams you're supposed to, as well as the ones that pit you as the underdogs.

As for Halloween, the Terps certainly don't need a costume for this year. They've been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for far too long already.

Maryland Terps Are Consistently Inconsistent

Brett Gellman — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:39:27 -0400

If you looked up the definition of bipolar in the dictionary, Maryland Football would probably be needs its own addendum.

Saturday's inexplicable 31-0 loss to ACC doormat Virginia was one that will go down in the record books as Ralph Friedgen's worse loss.

That's right.

Just a month removed from the Middle Tennessee State debacle, this blunder tops the disaster in Murfreesboro.

At least the Terps put some points on the board in that game.

This one, however, hurts. It hurts badly.

How could Maryland, who just one week ago stunned the ACC with a win at Death Valley, fall prey to a team who got blown by Duke? Yes, Duke.

Maryland (4-2, 1-1 ACC) had everything going for them after defeating the Clemson Tigers in a come-from-behind victory. They were on the cusp of being ranked, had a bye week coming up, and play four of their next six opponents at home.

You couldn't ask for a better scenario.

After the MTSU setback, the Terps won three straight, two of which were over ranked teams (California, Clemson.)

Up next was rival Virginia, a team who struggled out the gate and put Al Groh on the hot seat. Their sole win at the time was against the Richmond Spiders after getting demolished by USC, UConn, and, yes, the Blue Devils.

Yet, with nearly every media outlet favoring the Terps in an easy victory, the unfathomable happened.

Maryland failed to score the entire game and UVA (2-3, 1-1 ACC) had its best outing of the season.

Good thing an Orange Bowl representative was in attendance, and no, it wasn't because the Cavaliers were playing.

This has been the trend for the Terrapins for quite awhile. They have a frustrating tendency to play to their level of competition.

Why do they barely win over Delaware yet demolish Cal 28-6 up until the third quarter?

Why do they lose on the road to a lowly Sun Belt squad but beat the ACC preseason favorites?

It's a troubling trend that is clearly not being properly addressed by the coaching staff. While 4-2 is a reasonable record for Maryland fans, you would think those two losses would be from Cal and Clemson as opposed to Middle Tennessee State and Virginia.

Despite the rabid fans standing proudly in the visiting section, the team that put on a gritty performance against the Tigers was nowhere to be found. Maryland failed to capitalize on what should've been a golden opportunity to showcase its talent in front of a nationally televised audience.

Quarterback Chris Turner didn't have enough time to find an open receiver—including playmaker Darius Heyward-Bey—thanks to the senior-laden, yet struggling, offensive line.

Da'Rel Scott, one of the top running backs in all of Division I, couldn't get the running game going because players were failing to block their assignments properly.

The defense had its own problems thanks to an injury-depleted secondary. Senior cornerback Kevin Barnes endured a helmet-to-helmet hit but continued to play since there weren't any reserves available.

Special Teams can be summarized by Obi Egekeze's four yard onside kick. It was his only appearance in Scott Stadium the entire evening.

The game was embarrassing on all accounts and the coaching staff is entirely to blame for this disaster. There is enough talent on that field that it's simply inexcusable to be shutout by such an inferior opponent.

Maryland now faces a bye week and will have two weeks to let Saturday's loss marinate until they face Wake on October 18.

Let's hope the Demon Deacons are ranked so the Terps can play up to their opponents.

Maryland Has Potential to Surprise in Wide-Open ACC

Brett Gellman — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:18:48 -0400

After a shocking, deflating loss to Middle Tennessee State in what was arguably one of the worst defeats in Ralph Friedgen's tenure, the Maryland Terrapins regrouped and stunned the nation by soundly defeating No. 23 California in front of a nationally televised audience the following week.

This past Saturday, the Terps blew out Eastern Michigan 51-24 in one of the best offensive showings Maryland has produced since 2004.

Standing at 3-1 with conference play looming ahead and a road game at Death Valley in just six days, the Terrapins, when playing to their potential, have demonstrated that they have the capability to capture the ACC championship.

And that's what I need to stress again: playing to their potential. The Terps have relentlessly played to the level of their competition over the past few years. Unlike other BCS teams who have blown out their weaker opponents in early non-conference matchups, Maryland keeps the game too interesting—and more importantly, too close.

The Terps squeaked by Delaware in their home opener 14-7 and stunningly fell to the Blue Raiders the next week in Murfreesboro. Yet Maryland was able to regroup the following week and play three quarters of solid football against Cal, resulting in a 35-27 win over the Bears. Sound familiar?

Who could forget last year's debacle at Wake Forest when the Terps were up 24-3 in the fourth quarter and proceeded to lose in overtime, then bounce back the next week and defeat No. 10 Rutgers? It's thrilling, yet frustrating.

This time, however, Maryland seems to have found its groove with last Saturday's result as conclusive evidence. The offense, led by junior quarterback Chris Turner, was clicking on all facets thanks to some excellent play calling by offensive coordinator James Franklin.

Running back Da'Rel Scott has rapidly become one of the Terrapins' most explosive weapons on the field and currently leads the ACC in rushing yards. The speedy sophomore was held out of last Saturday's game due to a shoulder injury but should be OK for the Tigers this Saturday.

Oh, and let's not forget about Darius Heyward-Bey. Turner has thrown at least one TD pass to the star junior wide receiver per game since taking over as the starting quarterback after Jordan Steffy tore ligaments in his thumb in Week One.

Terp fans even got to see past page five of the playbook against EMU as Maryland showcased a nice gadget play. During the fourth quarter, the Terps perfectly executed a double reverse when slot receiver Danny Oquendo threw the ball (left-handed, I might add) to a wide-open Isaiah Williams for an easy touchdown.

Meanwhile, the defense needs to get its act together fast before kicking off ACC action against Clemson this Saturday. Both the Blue Raiders and Eagles were easily able to throw the ball downfield and win the time of possession battle.

Defensive coordinator Chris Cosh has had criticism thrown his way more than once by Terp fans, but to this credit, he did have a nearly flawless game plan against Cal's receivers, which resulted in five pass coverage sacks.

On the special teams front, placekicker Obi Egekeze was 0-5 in field goals during his first three games until he finally got out of his slump last Saturday against EMU. Egekeze connected on all three of his field goal attempts, as well as notching six PATs and four touchbacks. His job is safe for another day as it was in severe jeopardy after missing a 27-yarder a week prior.

If Maryland can improve its defensive schemes, remain consistent with the kicking game, and continue its creative, high-scoring offense, this team has the potential to be dangerous.

Ah, potential. There's that word again.

Reeling Terps to Face Surging Golden Bears This Saturday

Brett Gellman — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:34:42 -0400

The Maryland Terrapins (1-1, 0-0 ACC) opted out of their annual rivalry against West Virginia for this year and next so that they could play a home and home series versus #23 California of the Pac-10 conference.

Given that the Golden Bears (2-0, 1-0 Pac-10) just defeated Washington State 66-3 while West Virginia fell to East Carolina 24-3, the Terps probably wish they’d be facing the Mountaineers this Saturday instead. Oh, and let’s not forget that Maryland lost to Middle Tennessee State of all teams to top things off.

While the ACC continues to receive flack for how weak the conference is, the Terrapins did nothing but fuel the fire to the discussion as they were shockingly defeated by the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State 24-14 last Saturday in Murfreesboro.

The loss was hailed by media outlets and the fan base alike as the worst loss Maryland has endured under head coach Ralph Friedgen in his eight year tenure.

The only other game that comes to mind which was as stunningly disappointing was a season-opening defeat to Northern Illinois back in 2003. However, that team featured star running back Michael Turner (who now starts for the Atlanta Falcons) and finished the season ranked in the Top 25.

The Blue Raiders, however, were picked to finish middle of the pack in the Sun Belt conference and only had 71 players on scholarship.

While Cal has averaged 52 points in its first two games of the season, the Terps have only scored 28 points total this season. Mismatch, anyone? Maryland’s lone win was against FCS opponent Delaware in the season opener, edging out the Blue Hens 14-7. One could only imagine what would’ve happened if Joe Flacco (now starting for the Ravens) was still the quarterback for Delaware.

Bears running back Jahvid Best is Cal’s greatest offensive weapon and the Terrapins defense will have their hands full with the speedy sophomore.

Speaking of defense, the Maryland unit needs some work after they gave up 24 points to Middle Tennessee last week. The Blue Raiders spread offense and no-huddle schemes gave Maryland defensive coordinator Chris Cosh quite the headache.

Unfortunately, they will be without starting free safety Terrell Skinner for 2-3 weeks due to a high ankle sprain. This loss will be notably felt as Skinner was perhaps one of Maryland’s best defensive players despite this being his first season as a starter.

On a more positive note, Terps running back Da’Rel Scott has excelled since taking over the starting position vacated by Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore. In just two games the redshirt sophomore has compiled 320 yards and two touchdowns.

Maryland’s running game is perhaps the team’s best offensive threat until the quarterback situation stabilizes.

Fifth-year senior Jordan Steffy was initially named the starting QB amidst criticism from Terrapin fans, but after he tore ligaments in his thumb late in the game against Delaware, backup Chris Turner took over the spot.

Turner, who started eight games last season after Steffy went down earlier in the year due to a concussion, started against Middle Tennessee State last weekend and had a dreadful performance.

Turner completed only 13 of his 28 passes and threw three picks with only one TD. Expect Florida transfer Josh Portis to split time with Turner against Cal as the athletic QB possesses unparalleled speed.

Another area which needs drastic improvement is the kicking unit. Senior place kicker Obi Egekeze has missed all four of his attempts and needs to regain his confidence before the conference slate starts.

Too bad hitting the crossbars doesn’t count as he’s been 3 for 4 on those.

Prediction: Well it’s going to be tough for the Terps to bounce back from a demoralizing loss to Middle Tennessee State and face a Top-25 team with a surefire offense.

Turner needs to get the ball to Darius Heyward-Bey as much as possible. The junior wide receiver and preseason All-American is the Terps greatest asset and needs to get as many catches as he possibly can in order to stand a chance against Cal.

After Saturday’s disaster, this writer just doesn’t see it happening.

Cal 38-24.

Jordan Steffy Named Terps' Starting Quarterback for 2008 Season

Brett Gellman — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:58:32 -0400

Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen has named fifth-year senior Jordan Steffy this season’s starting quarterback, according to Washington Times reporter Patrick Stevens.

Steffy started the first five games last season until he was injured against Rutgers after receiving a concussion from a helmet-to-helmet hit.

Second-string sophomore Chris Turner took over the role and excelled at the position, leading the Terps to wins over the No. 10 Scarlet Knights, as well as No. 8 Boston College.

Turner’s finest moment was a bowl-clinching 37-0 shutout victory at NC State, where the junior completed 19 of his 24 passes and ran a 41-yard option.

Turner was atop the depth chart at the start of fall camp, but the Fridge continuously stressed consistency from his quarterbacks at practice during the QB battle.

Friedgen has stated that he has three quarterbacks he can work with, and that includes Florida transfer Josh Portis, who is now the team’s third-string QB after sitting out last year due to an academic violation.

Many expected Turner to start this season, with Portis playing in select packages. After today’s news, those plans have obviously changed. Regardless of who the starter is, expect Portis to see significant playing time.

Fans have already questioned Friedgen’s decision, especially since Turner led the Terrapins to victories over two Top 10 teams, as well as a bowl game berth.

One reason could be that James Franklin, the Terps’ new offensive coordinator, implements a West Coast-style offense that plays to Steffy’s strengths. Franklin is also the quarterbacks coach and recruited Steffy out of high school.

Franklin had this to say about the competition (courtesy of The Washington Times):

"We have the statistics all the time and they're posted downstairs. ... It gets hard if one quarterback all through spring and all through summer camp was statistically better in almost every single category, it's hard to rationalize not making him the starter. Not only documenting that every day after practice, but having all that documentation to make sure because your gut feeling is one thing and the statistics are another. We have to make sure we're being credible with the information."

The Terps kick off their season against Delaware on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Maryland Football's Hot Recruiting Streak Continues

Brett Gellman — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:26:02 -0400

Within one week of Caleb Porzel’s pledge to play for Maryland, the Terps have landed three more recruits for next year’s class.

Running back D.J. Adams of Norcross, Georgia was the highest touted player amongst the three. Sporting offers from Notre Dame, Clemson, and Mississippi State, Adams, ranked by Rivals as the 32nd-best RB in the country, ultimately chose Maryland as his destination on Monday.

The Terps now have two running backs in their class of 2009 and hope to add a third with coveted prospect (and local product) Tavon Austin.

Speaking of local talent, the Terps added their ninth in-state commit with the pledge of Edmonson defensive end David Mackall. Rated by Scout as a three-star prospect, Mackall told the Baltimore Sun’s Matt Bracken about the importance of in-state products staying at home and playing in front of friends and family at College Park.

“It’s a big thing because for one, when I used to go up to Maryland for the games, the home crowd was into it,” Mackall said. “And I feel like if more players come from the same place, it’s going to be a better [atmosphere] than if players come from [other areas]. But we’re [all coming from the same place, which helps] because I feel you all have to have that friendship and trust.”

Last but not least, Avery Murray, an underrated prospect from South Carolina, picked the Terps over Buffalo and Middle Tennessee last week and is slated to play linebacker in College Park. According to Bracken, it turns out the Terps staff found out about Avery while trying to recruit his teammate, Mallicah Goodman (who later committed to Clemson).

“[The UM staff was] just looking at other kids that we had and saw some tape on [Murray]. ... [He went to College Park for a visit and] they offered him pretty soon after that.”

While some Terp fans might be cautiously optimistic about the commitment of a player who doesn’t have multiple stars attached to his name, or offers from more prominent schools, Maryland could have landed a diamond in the rough with Murray, especially after an ESPN evaluation that was, coincidentally, updated today.

Murray is an explosive linebacker prospect with the physical tools to develop on either the inside and outside in college. Lacks the ideal frame for a perimeter player but is very well-built and his longer limbs show potential for future physical development….

Overall, Murray could be sliding under the radar due to his tweener inside/outside linebacker status, but he is a productive football player with good toughness, speed, and a nose for the football. Would fit best in a heavy pressure defense that frees him up to attack on the perimeter.

The Terrapins staff has done a bang-up job in recruiting thus far, but it appears they’re far from finished due to the many highly-ranked targets with Maryland offers still on the board.

Maryland Football: Terps Reeling in Homegrown Talent

Brett Gellman — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:03:18 -0400

With the recent addition of Good Counsel’s stud running back Caleb Porzel, the Maryland Terrapins have been firing on all cylinders with their local recruiting.

Out of the 14 commitments the Terps currently have on board for the 2009 class, eight of them are from Maryland.

It has become a priority for Ralph Friedgen to keep in-state talent at the home school after programs such as Illinois and Penn State continually grazed the DC-Maryland-Virginia area due to the immense amount of talent available.

Illinois’ Mike Locksley, a former coach at Maryland, and Penn State’s Larry Johnson both have local ties to high schools in the DC region and have had significant success recruiting the area. The Baltimore Sun even ran a piece about how the Lions were supposedly stocking up on all of Maryland’s talent.

This year, however, Maryland has made some significant strides in keeping some of the state’s best players at home in College Park.

Dematha’s Kenny Tate, the final player to commit to the Terps last year, marked an important first step for Maryland recruiting, as Tate was recognized by recruiting services as one of the country’s top receivers. The Terps beat out schools such as Illinois, Florida, and Penn State and were able to keep a local star at the home school.

This year has been even more successful as Maryland won a key recruiting battle after receiving the commitment of Forestville’s DeOnte Arnett. Arnett, rated as the 11th-best strongside defensive end in the country by Rivals, chose the Terps over schools such as Ohio State and Georgia thanks in part to the recent addition of offensive coordinator James Franklin.

Terrapin fans have been excited by Franklin’s return to College Park since he’s known to be an excellent recruiter, but don’t overlook defensive coordinator Chris Cosh’s prowess either. Cosh was not only responsible for signing Tate but received the recent commitment of Porzel as well.

Porzel, who originally committed to Virginia but later reopened his recruitment, chose Maryland yesterday, securing the Terps an incredibly talented—and equally as important, local—running back.

Porzel even hinted that his friend Travis Hawkins, who was rated by Scout as the sixth-best cornerback in the country, could be coming to Maryland as well, according to an interview with TurtleSportsReport’s Jeff Ermann. Should that be the case, the Terrapins would immediately have a Top 25 recruiting class.

Jelani Jenkins, one of the top linebacker prospects in the country (as well as Porzel’s teammate), is on Maryland’s wish list too. A high school All-American who has received offers from essentially every top football program in the country, Jenkins would be a huge coup for the Terps, but fans will most likely have to wait until the fall to hear where Jenkins will wind up.

Running back Tavon Austin is another top target for the Maryland staff. Despite Porzel’s commitment, the Terps would love to have the Baltimore product onboard. Maryland likes to employ tandem running backs (Lattimore-Ball, Green-Scott), and the duo of Porzel-Austin would certainly be an exciting prospect.

With plenty of time left until Signing Day and a plethora of local talent still on the board, Maryland could be gearing up for one of its best recruiting classes since the Fridge came to College Park.

Maryland Basketball: Sean Mosley Expected to Qualify

Brett Gellman — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:30:58 -0400

Sean Mosley, the gem of Maryland's 2008 recruiting class, is expected to academically qualify and join the Terrapins roster in the fall, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Mosley was ranked by Rivals as the 11th-best shooting guard in the country, earned Player of the Year honors from the Sun, and, alongside Henry Sims (who committed to Georgetown), was one of the top players in Baltimore, if not the entire state of Maryland.

This is quite a bit of good news for Terp fans after what has been a tumultuous recruiting period. Mosley is a highly competitive, hard-nosed player who has been trying to reach a qualifying score on his SAT after signing a Letter of Intent with Maryland last summer.

He had one more chance to take the exam a few weeks ago—otherwise he would've had to prep for a year. Fortunately, it appears Mosley achieved a satisfactory score on his final attempt and will subsequently be approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

After the losses of Tyree Evans and Gus Gilchrist, a worst case scenario would've involved Mosley failing to qualify, whereby no scholarship players would've been brought in for the upcoming season.

With the likely addition of Steve Goins (there have been conflicting reports as to whether Goins has officially committed or not) and the positive news regarding Mosley, things may not be as bad as they appear in Garyland.

In fact, Jin Soo Kim, a Korean small forward with excellent shooting skills, has reclassified himself as a 2008 player and may join the Terrapins this fall as well. Kim was originally a 2009 commit but has already met the requirements to graduate early and has the opportunity join the team a year earlier than expected.

Should that be the case, a 2008 class of Mosley, Kim, and Goins would be solid given the ups and downs of recruiting this season.

Maryland Basketball: It’s Never Too Late to Recruit

Brett Gellman — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:42:34 -0400

In case you’re wondering, today is the first of July. Most college basketball teams are already recruiting for their 2009, if not 2010, classes.

Maryland, on the other hand, who have endured one of the most bizarre recruiting seasons in Gary Williams’ tenure, just received a commitment from Chicago center Steve Goins for this fall, according to Jeff Ermann of TurtleSportsReport.com.

Yes, the Terrapins are still looking for players for the upcoming season.

Let’s not be too hard on the Terps, though. No one could’ve predicted the absurdness that was recruiting in College Park this year.

The Comcast Center essentially turned into a revolving door of players who either failed to academically qualify (Terrence Jennings, Bobby Maze), backed out of their commitments (Tyree Evans), transferred to another school (Gus Gilchrist), or are still waiting to pass the NCAA Clearinghouse (Sean Mosley).

The most perplexing story was heralded local Gus Gilchrist, who signed a Letter of Intent with Maryland after asking for a release from Virginia Tech last year, but abruptly decided to transfer to South Florida, of all places, last month. Gilchrist was forced to sit out a year with the Terps due to transferring to another ACC school and would’ve been eligible to play for Maryland on December 22, 2008.

Instead, he and his trainer decided it was best to transfer (again) to an out-of-conference school so he could retain all four years of eligibility, compared to the two-and-a-half he would’ve had at Maryland.

After the departures of senior big men James Gist and Bambale Osby, Gilchrist was essentially guaranteed a starting spot on the roster—so why leave an ACC program that continuously sends players to the NBA (with Gist being the latest) and go to a Big East bottom feeder with barely any television exposure?

While the Terps have a strong backcourt with Greivis Vasquez, Eric Hayes, Adrian Bowie, and Cliff Tucker, the departure of Gilchrist (as well as the transfer of forward Shane Walker) has left Maryland lacking some serious depth up-front.

Enter Steve Goins. Rated by Scout as the 27th-best center in the nation, Goins has been flying under the recruiting radar and fits the Gary Williams mold of a developing player. Weighing 250 pounds and standing 6”10”, Goins adds a sorely-needed big body to the Terrapins roster.

While some fans may grumble about the fact that Maryland shouldn’t be recruiting players a few months before the start of the season (can’t argue there), no one could’ve predicted the amount of craziness that was this recruiting season.