Maryland Terrapins football

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For current information on this topic, see 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team

Maryland Terrapins
First season	1892
Staff
Athletic director	Deborah A. Yow
Head coach	Ralph Friedgen
	8th year, 56–31
Stadium
Home stadium	Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium
Stadium capacity	51,055
Stadium surface	Grass
Location	College Park, Maryland
League/Conference
Conference	ACC
Division	Atlantic
Team records
All-time record	592–517–43 (.534)
Postseason bowl record	9–11–2
Awards
National titles	2
Conference titles	11
All-Americans	19
Pageantry
Colors	Red and White
Fight song	Maryland Victory Song (played after UMD scores), Maryland Fight Song (played after opponent scores)
Mascot	Testudo
Marching band	Mighty Sound of Maryland
Rivals	West Virginia Mountaineers
Website	UMTerps.com

The Maryland Terrapins (commonly referred to as 'the Terps') is the intercollegiate football team that represents the University of Maryland in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The team's history includes two national championships, nine ACC championships, two Southern Conference championships, two perfect undefeated seasons, numerous All-Americans and Hall of Fame inductees, and 22 bowl game appearances. Maryland holds the record for third-most ACC championships at nine, behind only Florida State (12) and Clemson (13). Many former Terrapin players and coaches have gone on to careers in professional football, including 14 first-round NFL draft picks.

Since Ralph Friedgen took over as head coach in 2001, Terrapins football has experienced a period of resurgence, winning the ACC Championship in 2001, many sought-after new recruits, and five bowl game appearances to include a BCS bowl and three bowl championships. During Friedgen's tenure, the Terps have accumulated a 56-31 record.

[edit] History

[edit] The Early Years (1892–1946)

In 1892, what was then the Maryland Agricultural College, fielded its first college football team. They would go scoreless during their inaugural year consisting of three games against St. John's College, Johns Hopkins, and Episcopal High School. The following season, they went unbeaten in their six matches. For the first two decades of the program, the team primarily competed against local universities and high schools, mainly due to the prohibitive nature of long-distance travel and embryonic stage of intercollegiate conference play at the time. In 1911, Harry C. "Curley" Byrd took over as head coach, a position he held for more than twenty years before taking the job as university president.

From 1918 to 1920, Maryland played in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, then in 1921 joined the Southern Conference where it would remain for thirty years.^[1][2]

Frank Dobson, formerly an assistant coach at Georgia Tech under John Heisman, took over as head coach in 1936. The next year, Dobson led Maryland in an 8-2 season to include a victory over Florida, which culminated in their first Southern Conference championship.^[3]

In 1942, Clark Shaughnessy, the architect of Stanford's undefeated 1940 turnaround from a 1-7-1 squad the year prior, was brought aboard as head coach, and the team achieved a 7-2 record. He stayed on for only the season, however, and coaches changed frequently in the next several years.

In 1945 Paul "Bear" Bryant, who would go on to reach fame as long-time Alabama coach, took over the Terrapins. Under his stead, Maryland defeated #13 Virginia (19-13). His tenure was short lived however, serving only one year before departing for Kentucky, due to a personality conflict with university president Byrd. He was replaced by Shaughnessy for his second non-consecutive and final year as head coach, achieving a disappointing 3-6 season for a career Maryland total of 10-8-0.

[edit] The Jim Tatum Dynasty and Formation of the ACC (1947–1972)

Jim Tatum took the reins in 1947, after a brief stint at Oklahoma where he led the Sooners to a national championship in his first and only season there. Tatum arrived at Maryland as its sixth head coach in eight years, but he stayed on for almost a decade to become the most successful head coach in school history.

In his first season, in 1947, he helped Maryland to their first bowl game. The Terrapins traveled to the Gator Bowl, where they tied against Georgia (20-20).

In 1949, Maryland defeated #15 Boston University (14-13). They would go on again to the Gator Bowl to defeat #20 Missouri (20-7). The Terrapins finished the season ranked #14 in the nation by the Associated Press with an 8-1-0 record.^[4]

Byrd Stadium showing the Tyser Tower suites added in 1991. Basketball arena Cole Field House can be seen in the distance (left).

The Terrapin's current home, Byrd Stadium, was constructed in 1950, named in honor of former coach and then Maryland president Curly Byrd, with an initial capacity of 34,680. This number would later be raised significantly with augmentation. Maryland started the season ranked #15 and defeated Navy 35-21 in Byrd Stadium's inaugural game.^[5]

Maryland started with a pre-season rank of #16, and went on to win the co-championship of the 1951 Southern Conference, along with VMI, as both teams had 5-0 conference records. They then defeated #1 Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl (28-13), capping a perfect season (10-0). At the time however, the wire services released final rankings before the bowl games, so despite Maryland finishing a perfect season and defeating the top-ranked Tennessee team, they held an AP ranking of #3. The College Football Research Association and National Championship Foundation have since retroactively credited the Terrapins with the 1951 championship.

In 1952, with pre-season rank of #2, Maryland went on to shut-out #19 Georgia (37-0) and defeat #20 Navy (38-7). They would finish the season ranked #13.

In 1953, Maryland and six other schools split from the Southern Conference to form the Atlantic Coast Conference. That year, Maryland again had a top-ten pre-season ranking, standing at #9 in the AP poll. The Terrapins shut-out two ranked teams: #11 Mississippi (38-0) and #11 Alabama (21-0). Maryland won co-championship of the Atlantic Coast Conference along with Duke, and secured a berth for the Orange Bowl as the only undefeated and untied team in the nation. In Miami, Tatum's #1 Maryland faced the team he had coached for a season prior to arriving at College Park: #4 Oklahoma. The Sooners handed Maryland their only defeat, 0-7, but -- as had happened in 1951 to the Terrapins' detriment -- the final pre-bowl wire rankings stood, and for the third time in four years, AP's national champion was defeated in their bowl game. However, unlike Tennessee, who retained their top-rank despite losing to Maryland in 1951, the Terrapins (10-1-0) did indeed finish with the best record, better than their opponent the Sooners (9-1-1).^[6][7] Maryland ranked first nationally in terms of rushing defense (83.9 yards allowed per game) and scoring defense (3.1 points allowed per game). At the same time, the Terps scored a record combined total of 298 points, a number not exceeded until 1967.^[8]

Maryland finished 1954 with a 7-2-1 record, earning them a #8 AP rank. In 1955, the Terrapins shut-out #1 UCLA 7-0 in a game dubbed "The Best of The East vs. The Best of The West", beat #20 Baylor (20-6), and won the co-championship of the ACC alongside Duke for the second consecutive year. Maryland finished the regular season undefeated and ranked #3 in the nation right behind 8-1 Michigan State. The Terps were given an Orange Bowl rematch against #1 Oklahoma and a chance to avenge the shattering of their perfect record in 1953. However, the Sooners beat them again, 6-20, and they once more finished the season with a 10-1 record. Maryland again had the number-one rushing defense (83.9 yards allowed per game).

Jim Tatum left as head coach in 1955 to continue coaching at the North Carolina, shortly before dying of a rare illness. During his nine-year tenure at Maryland, Jim Tatum's Terrapins secured a winning season every year, three perfect regular seasons, one perfect post-season, six top-20 final rankings, five bowl game appearances to include two each in the prestigious Orange Bowl and Gator Bowl, three conference championships, and two national championships (one retroactively awarded). Tatum attained a remarkable 73-15-4 record, making him the winningest Maryland coach of all-time with a .815 winning percentage. He was voted national Coach of the Year in 1953. Tatum's accomplishments secured legendary status and earned him a place in the College Football Hall of Fame and the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame.^[9]

Maryland entered 1956 with the rank of #6, but after the departure of Tatum, they suffered their first losing season (2-7-1) in a decade. This marked the beginning of a long, relatively undistinguished period of Terrapins history. Between 1956 and 1971 they managed a record of just 50-100-1 and only three winning seasons. In 1967, they suffered their first and only winless season in 75 years.^[10] There were some high points during that period, though, to include victories over #14 North Carolina (21-7) in 1957, #11 Clemson (28-25) in 1959, #8 Clemson (19-17) in 1960, and #7 Syracuse (22-21) in 1961. In 1962, having impressed Terps assistant coach Lee Corso in the Maryland-Navy game, African-American wide receiver Darryl Hill transferred from the Naval Academy. Hill broke the color barrier in football at four institutions: Gonzaga High School, the Naval Academy, Maryland, and the ACC.^[11][12][13] In 1965, back Bob Sullivan led the nation with 10 interceptions.^[14]

[edit] The Jerry Claiborne Dynasty (1972–1981)

In 1972, Jerry Claiborne took over as head coach of a Terrapin team with only nine wins in five years. Both of the previous seasons, Maryland had gone just 2-9-0. Claiborne's first year saw them reach 5-5-1, and the following season they reached their first bowl game in almost two decades. Since Claiborne's arrival, the team steadily improved until his fifth season in 1976, that year finishing with an 11-0 record, their first undefeated regular season since Jim Tatum's 1955 squad.

Entering the 1974 season ranked as #14, the Terrapins went on to beat #17 North Carolina State (20-10) and win the ACC championship. They were defeated by #20 Tennessee in the Liberty Bowl (7-3), finishing the season ranked #13.

In 1975, starting off #17, Maryland would again win the ACC, and defeat #13 Florida in the Gator Bowl (13-0), finishing #13 in the nation. The Terrapins led the ACC in total offense at 375.2 yards per game.

In 1976, they would start ranked #12, and go on to finish the season undefeated, securing the Terps' third ACC championship in a row. Against #6 Houston in the Cotton Bowl, the Terps would falter, losing 30-21, and ending the season ranked #8.

In 1978, Maryland beat #20 NC State (31-7) and finished with a ranking of #20. From 1974 to 1978, Jerry Claiborne and the Terrapins had secured five consecutive bowl game berths and three consecutive ACC championships. The Terps made it to a sixth bowl game in 1980. After the 1981 season, Claiborne followed in the footsteps of Bear Bryant and left the program for Kentucky. He was replaced by Bobby Ross.^[15]

[edit] The Bobby Ross Dynasty (1982–1986)

Former Maryland assistant coach and Citadel head coach Bobby Ross returned in 1982 to take over the Terrapins.

That season, Maryland defeated #10 North Carolina (31-24), and then edged out Miami (18-17) before going into their biggest conference game of the season: the 1981 national champion Clemson Tigers. Between 1974 and 1988 the ACC was won by either Maryland or Clemson all but three years. Going into that second-to-last regular season game, the Terrapins had lost only twice, against ranked non-conference opponents by modest margins: #7 Penn State (31-39) and #17 West Virginia (18-19). Clemson had lost only to the 1980 national champions #7 Georgia (7-13) and tied Boston College (17-17) after Doug Flutie led the Eagles to a minor comeback. Clemson was therefore out of the running for defending their NCAA championship, but an ACC title was still possible. Both the Terps and the Tigers had perfect ACC records at 4-0 a piece, whereas the other conference contender, North Carolina, had already racked up two losses. Thus, decades before the official ACC Championship Game, 1982 saw a rare de facto title match. Clemson scored first, then pulled away 7-14 before half. Despite a favorable wind twice yielding the Terps excellent field position, Boomer Esiason throwing for two more rapid-fire touchdowns and a two-point conversion, and a stout defense holding Clemson at bay, Maryland turned the ball over five times in the second half to end it in a 22-24 result.^[16]

With a victory over Maryland, Clemson won the ACC, with the Terps finishing second in the conference. Immediately after the game, it was announced that an NCAA investigation into Clemson's recruiting practices found improprieties, and they were denied a bowl game and television coverage for a season. The ACC instituted further punishment, making them ineligible for a conference title the next two seasons.^[17] Maryland lost the hard-fought Clemson game by just two-points, but delivered convincing victories against every other ACC team they faced, accumulating a 103 combined point margin in five conference games. The Terps finished 1982 ranked #20 after an Aloha Bowl defeat against #9 Washington.

In 1983, the Terps again lost an early game to #20 West Virginia (21-31) and then were defeated by #3 Auburn (23-35), but beat #17 Pittsburgh (13-7) and #3 North Carolina (28-26). Clemson and Maryland once more met with perfect records against ACC teams (4-0), and the Terps again lost, this time though, blown out 27-52. Despite this loss, Maryland officially finished with a 5-0 conference record and as the ACC champions, due to Clemson's ineligibility over illegal recruiting practices.

1984, saw the Terps beat #17 West Virginia (20-17), #20 Clemson (41-23), and #6 Miami in what was at the time the greatest comeback victory in college football history.

Maryland, trailing the Hurricanes 31-0 at halftime, would go on to rally under quarterback Frank Reich after he replaced Stan Gelbaugh. Reich threw four touchdown passes, and capitalizing on Miami errors, the Terrapins went on to win 42-40. The recovery of a 31-point halftime deficit would stand as the greatest comeback victory in college football history for the next 22 years, until the record was finally broken by Michigan State against Northwestern. Frank Reich went on to again repeat the feat in his professional career with the Buffalo Bills overcoming a 32-point deficit, setting the NFL comeback record.

With a 5-0 conference record, the Terrapins again secured the ACC championship. Maryland capped the season by edging Tennessee 28-27 in a Sun Bowl victory, to finish #12 in the nation.

Maryland went into the 1985 season #7, and set its all-time home attendance record in Byrd Stadium with an average of 49,385 over five games. However, they dropped to #17 in week two, and then out of the polls after a week four shutout at the hands of Michigan. Despite the early setbacks, the Terrapins finished with a conference 6-0, winning the ACC championship for the third consecutive year. They finished out the season with a victory over Syracuse (35-18) in the Cherry Bowl and earned a #18 ranking.^[18]

Between Ross's and Claiborne's accumulated championships, the Terrapins became the first and (so far) only team to win three consecutive outright ACC titles two times (1974-76 and 1983-85). This distinction still stands, despite Florida State's 1992-2000 ACC dynasty, due to shared co-championships with Virginia in 1995 and Georgia Tech in 1998.^[19]

[edit] The Dark Years (1986–2000)

In 1986, Maryland athletics in general were marred by basketball star Len Bias' death, and the Terrapins football team was no exception. They suffered a disappointing 5-5-1 season, with its highlight being a tie against #15 Clemson (17-17). With the recent change in Maryland's recruiting standards in the wake of the Bias tragedy, Bobby Ross would move on to coach at conference rival Georgia Tech. This proved the beginnings of a lackluster period for Terrapins football, with the team accounting a 55-88 record and only one bowl appearance between the 1987 and 2000 seasons. Ross was succeeded by quarterbacks coach and offensive play caller Joe Krivak for 1987. A controversial loss to Virginia in the final game of the 1988 cost the team a post-season bowl berth and left the Terps at 5-6. The 1989 campaign saw the Terps tie Joe Paterno's #13 Penn State (13-13), and in 1990, the Terps beat #25 West Virginia (14-10) and #8 Virginia (35-30), going on to tie Louisiana Tech (34-34) in the Independence Bowl. Following an injury riddled 1991 campaign of 2 wins and 9 losses, new Athletic Director Andy Geiger eyed a new coach, Mark Duffner from Holy Cross, only a year after he granted Krivak a 5 year extension. .^[20]

In 1995, at Florida State, Terrapins' quarterback Scott Milanovich threw the third-most single-game completions for the season at 46 (first- and second-most were both by Rusty LaRue of Wake Forest). The same game, wide receiver Geroy Simon came in tied for fifth-most single-game receptions with 16. Regardless, Maryland lost the game (17-59).

Ron "Vandy" Vanderlinden was brought aboard as head coach for the 1997 season. As assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Northwestern, Vanderlinden had helped engineer an impressive reversal of fortunes, and before that, had done the same at Colorado as defensive assistant. Both those teams had suffered abysmal records prior to and during the early years of his tenure, only to see dramatic improvement within the next few seasons. Northwestern proved to be the Cinderella story of 1995, winning the Big Ten championship with a final record of 10-2 (Big Ten: 8-0), and in 1996 winning the Big Ten co-championship with a 9-3 (Big Ten: 7-1) record.

The 1999 season represented the first glimmer of hope for the Terrapins. Maryland started off with a 4-1 record, losing only to #9 Georgia Tech. They suffered another defeat against Clemson and then improved to 5-2 after beating North Carolina (45-7). A winning season seemed assured until sliding further to 5-5 after a devastating three game losing streak. Their finale against bitter rivals Virginia was to decide whether they would secure their first winning season since 1995 and a likely bowl bid to either the Aloha Bowl or Oahu Bowl. Maryland initially trailed 0-17, but came back to tie at 17-17 before halftime. Standout sophomore running back and Heisman prospect Lamont Jordan ran 90 yards to bring it to 24-17, but Virginia equalized shortly thereafter. Brian Kopka kicked a third field goal to bring it to 30-27 with 5:18 left on the clock. The Cavaliers responded by mounting a long drive culminating in a Billy McMullen touchdown reception with 26 seconds remaining. A 30-33 final result evaporated Maryland's winning season and bowl game hopes. Starters from that game who would go on to achieve notability and school fame as part of the 2001 squad were then freshman linebacker E.J. Henderson, sophomore wide receiver Guilian Gary, and redshirt freshman punter Brooks Barnard.

2000 again brought the Terrapins painfully close to a winning season and bowl bid. Once more, they entered their season finale with a 5-5 record, which included a double overtime 35-28 victory against NC State. This time they faced #24 Georgia Tech, who crushed their chances with a 22-35 result.

Despite rebuilding the Maryland squad, Vanderlinden was released as head coach after the 2000 season's heartbreaking finish. In 1999 alone, the Terps had accumulated as many wins as the previous two seasons combined, allowed an ACC low of 11 sacks compared with 56 in 1997, and leapfrogged 57 spots in NCAA offensive rankings. In 1998, the Terrapins were rated one of the most improved teams in defense, scoring defense, passing defense, and rushing. Vanderlinden's tenure was to prove instrumental in Maryland's meteoric 2001 rise under coach Ralph Friedgen.^[21]

[edit] The Friedgen Era (2001–Present)

In 2001, Ralph "The Fridge" Friedgen was brought on as the Terrapins head coach. Friedgen had played at Maryland as an offensive guard and worked under Bobby Ross at The Citadel and Maryland as offensive coordinator. He was charged with leading the Terrapins' to reach their full potential, a team that had not won a bowl game in 16 years, and had no bowl appearances and only one winning season since 1990. With an offensive mindset and talented young players, including those recruited under Vanderlinden and others secured in part due to the efforts of wide receivers coach Jim Franklin, the Maryland Terrapins surprised pundits and fans by storming back onto the national stage starting in 2001.

The 2001 Season

See also: 2001 Maryland Terrapins football team

In 2001, despite the Terrapins' disappointing recent finishes, Ralph Friedgen inherited a good situation as their new head coach. His predecessor, Ron Vanderlinden, and the Maryland team had just barely fallen shy of winning seasons for the last two years in a row. Additionally, the 2001 squad was returning many experienced, quality players.

Maryland won its first four games, including against strong conference competitor Wake Forest (27-20) and regional rival West Virginia (32-20), to earn an AP ranking of #25. The Terrapins then met their main rival, the Virginia Cavaliers, on Homecoming weekend at College Park, and beat them by a 20-point margin (21-41).

The Terps went on to Atlanta to face #15 Georgia Tech. With 5 seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter, and Maryland trailing 14-17, the Terps were forced to try for the tying field goal from 46 yards. Their kicker, redshirt freshman Nick Novak, had earlier missed a field goal attempt, bouncing it off an upright, and had an overall unimpressive record in his early career. However, Novak made the 46-yard field goal, sending the game into overtime, where he again made good on a 26-yard field goal, winning the game for Maryland (20-17). By the end of his college career Novak would go on to become the ACC all-time leading point scorer with 393 points, and capture the ACC record for 80 field goals. Interestingly, Novak, like Frank Reich, would repeat a similar performance in his professional career: in 2006, Novak kicked a 47-yard field goal with no time left on the clock allowing the Washington Redskins to defeat their archrival the Dallas Cowboys.

After sailing past Duke (59-17) at home, then #10 Maryland traveled to Tallahassee to face #18 Florida State. This resulted in their only defeat (31-52) during the season, dropping their AP ranking to #15.

Maryland finished out with victories over Troy State (47-14), Clemson (37-20), and NC State (23-19). The Terrapins closed the regular season ranked #6 in the nation and first in the conference, with a record of 10-1 (ACC: 7-1). The Terrapins, having secured the 2001 ACC championship, became the first time any team other than Florida State had won it outright since they entered the conference in 1991. Additionally, Ralph Friedgen became the only first-year coach to ever win the ACC title.

As ACC champions, the Terps earned a berth in the Orange Bowl to face the SEC champion, Steve Spurrier's #5 Florida, in a BCS match-up. The Gators beat the Terrapins with a lop-sided result (23-56). Thus, Maryland ended the post-season with a 10-2 record, ranked #10 in the nation.

Though overmatched in the Orange Bowl, their first bowl appearance in eleven years, the Terrapin team had made an extraordinary accomplishment. Ralph Friedgen, inheriting a program with one winning season within ten years, led the Terps through an explosive rise which resulted in a conference championship, a BCS bowl game, a #6 ranking at the season's end, and a top-ten post-season BCS ranking. The season had demonstrated Maryland's resurgence as a conference and indeed national contender, and made the school a more appealing prospect for talented recruits.

2002–Present

See also: 2005 Maryland Terrapins football team and 2006 Maryland Terrapins football team.

Maryland went into the 2002 season ranked #20 and buoyed by the past season which had culminated in national recognition. However, they were off to a bad start (1-2), after being shut out 22-0 in their opener against #12 Notre Dame in the Kickoff Classic and once again beaten badly by #16 Florida State (10-37). But, the Terrapins rallied, defeating #13 West Virginia (48-17) and #17 NC State (24-21), and lost only one more game all season, to Virginia (13-48). They were invited to the Peach Bowl to play Tennessee, who they beat 30-3. They finished the 11-3 (ACC: 6-2) season ranked #18, making it the third straight top-25 season for the first time since Jerry Claiborne's time as coach in 1976. Additionally, they were ranked #3 in the nation by The New York Times, behind only split-national champions LSU and USC.^[22]

The 2003 season also started badly for the #15 Terps. They suffered consecutive defeats in their first two games, by out-of-conference Northern Illinois (13-20) and again by #8 Florida State (10-35). Maryland bounced back to deliver three consecutive overwhelming victories: The Citadel (61-0), #23 West Virginia (34-7), and Eastern Michigan (37-13). The Terps continued the season, with only one loss, a close match against Georgia Tech (3-7). They finished the season ranked #24, securing a re-match against #20 West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. Again, the Terps blew out the Mountaineers 41-7. Their final record was 10-3 (ACC: 6-2), ranking #17.

Vernon Davis catches a pass against Clemson.

The Terrapins entered 2004 with a #22 preseason AP ranking, but having lost several of their star players from their last three seasons and with a relatively inexperienced squad. It proved to be Friedgen's first season as head coach without a winning record and without a bowl bid. The Terrapins finishing a disappointing 5-6 (ACC: 3-5). A narrow 16-19 loss to West Virginia was the first loss in the series since his tenure, where the Terps had won the previous four match-ups by large margins. The disappointing year included losses to #12 Virginia (0-16) and #15 Virginia Tech (6-55). The highlight of the season was a stunning 20-17 victory over #5 Florida State, breaking the Seminoles' perfect 14-0 series record between the teams. It was also the Terrapins' first win against a top 10 team since 1990 when they beat out #8 Virginia.

In 2005, Maryland again finished 5-6 and without a bowl bid. Despite a close opening game victory over Navy (23-20), their squad, still undergoing a rebuilding phase, faced an extremely difficult schedule. It included a tough Virginia team and four teams with final rankings: #7 Virginia Tech, #21 Clemson, #23 Florida State, and a revitalized #5 West Virginia. All of those matches resulted in losses for the Terps.

2006 saw a minor surge in Maryland football. Friedgen's Terrapins once again achieved a winning season (9-4) and bowl victory after two disappointing years. Maryland achieved an upset win over #19 Clemson (13-12) in week 11, the Terps made it into the rankings at #23, then climbed to #21 after a victory over Miami (14-13). They dropped back off the following week after a wide-margin defeat at the hands of #20 Boston College (16-38). Five of their games were narrowly won by a combined margin of just 11 points. Maryland won a bid to the Champs Sports Bowl to face Purdue, whom they beat soundly (24-7) and capped the season with a 9-4 record.

Darrius Heyward-Bey scores a touchdown in the stunning Maryland Terrapins 34-24 victory over #10 Rutgers.

The 2007 Season

See also: 2007 Maryland Terrapins football team

The 2007 season was started with hopes for further improvement, but these were quickly tempered when a fleet-footed West Virginia squad delivered a crushing defeat (14-31). Maryland rallied for stunning high-scoring victories over two top-ten ranked teams. The unranked Terrapins first shocked a #10 Rutgers with a 34-24 result before going on to face #8 Boston College's best rated rushing defense in the nation.

Against Boston College, as with most of the season, the Maryland squad was injury riddled, with leading rusher Keon Lattimore and second-leading receiver Oquendo both out. Reserve quarterback Chris Turner was filling in for starter Jordan Steffy who was taken out of the Rutgers game with a concussion, and ended up starting for most of the season.^[23] By skillfully playing the ball through the air, Turner complimented the rushing attack to keep the Eagles at bay, before pulling away 42-28 in the fourth quarter. The Terps racked up a total 135 rushing yards – twice the end-of-season average allowed by the vaunted Boston College defense. The Maryland defense made two interceptions and four sacks against BC's star quarterback Matt Ryan, who had up to that point only been sacked nine times in as many games (three were by FSU). In the final minutes, Boston College managed another touchdown, but an attempted on-side kick was shanked allowing Maryland to run out the clock and come away with a 42-35 upset victory.^[24][25]

While able to edge out a competitive Georgia Tech team (28-26), the Maryland squad – notorious under Friedgen's play calling for its inconsistency – faltered in winnable matches against Virginia (17-18), North Carolina (13-16), and Wake Forest (24-31 OT). Against Virginia, with the Cavaliers on 3rd and 15, a pass interference call against the Terps marked the beginning of a game-winning touchdown drive. At Wake Forest, the Terrapins blew a 24-3 lead starting late in the third quarter when a Steffy pass was intercepted for a 100-yard touchdown return, signaling the start to an extraordinary Demon Deacon comeback ending in overtime. Maryland played a closely contested second half in a comeback attempt against Florida State, but it ultimately fell short (16-24).^[26][27]

With Maryland and NC State both 5-6, the two ACC teams met for their final matches of the regular season to compete for a sixth win, and with it bowl eligibility. The Terrapins sealed their invitation after delivering a devastating 37-0 onslaught against the Wolfpack.

Thus, Maryland was offered a berth in the Emerald Bowl against the Pac-10's number three team Oregon State. After dominating the first quarter where Turner threw for two touchdowns, Maryland slid to a 14-21 defeat by the Beavers. Despite having already shocked Boston College's highly touted number-one ranked run defense, the number-two, Oregon State's, proved too much for the Terrapins. Maryland was held to only 2 rushing yards in the first three quarters, finishing the Emerald Bowl with a total of just 19.^[28][29]

According to USA Today's final Sagarin computer-generated ratings, Maryland had the second hardest schedule in the ACC (after FSU) and 27th strongest schedule in Division I football.^[30]

[edit] The Future

See also: 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team

At the close of 2007, Maryland ended yet another year with some disappointment, having a lackluster post-season record of 6-7. Shortly after the Emerald Bowl, star linebacker Erin Henderson, who accounted for a conference high of four forced fumbles, announced that he would forgo his senior year with the Terrapins in order to enter the NFL draft.^[31] Ralph Friedgen announced that Maryland would be bringing back former wide receivers coach Jim Franklin as offensive coordinator, and no longer be making play calls himself. Franklin, who was instrumental in earlier recruiting efforts, will bring with him the prospect of attracting more talented young players.^[32]

The Terrapins are due to face a very difficult schedule in 2008: 2007 ACC champions Virginia Tech, 2007 ACC runners-up Boston College, Virginia, and Clemson will all be played away. Also on the schedule is Florida State, Wake Forest, North Carolina, North Carolina State,^[33] and (in lieu of West Virginia) California.^[34]

[edit] Home Stadium

See also: Byrd Stadium

The Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium (usually simply 'Byrd Stadium') has been the home of Terrapins football since 1950. It was named in honor of long-time coach and university president Dr. Harry C. Byrd. Initially it had a seating capacity of 34,680, but over the years additions have increased this to 51,055. When built, the stadium cost $1 million, allegedly using funds initially intended for a new library. Shortly after completion, the stadium hosted its first match against Navy, which Maryland won 35-21. That same year, the new field held its first and only bowl game to date, with Texas A&M playing Georgia in the Presidential Cup Bowl. The final result was 40-20 in favor of the Aggies.^[35]

[edit] Rivalries

Maryland competes against several schools in what may be considered rivalries, though these are not as historic or organized as those of some southern universities. To be considered a proper rivalry, the match-up should share most or all of the following attributes: a mutual dislike but grudging respect, a history of regular meetings, competitive nature, a traditionally even match, and an ability to mobilize their fanbases. According to those criteria, the following are considered to be Maryland rivals:

[edit] Current Rivalries

West Virginia: This 'border war' is probably the most emotionally charged out-of-conference match-up, and the Mountaineers and Terps have met 46 times since their first game in 1919. Since 2001, under Rich Rodriguez and Ralph Friedgen, the two programs simultaneously underwent dramatic improvement to once again reach the national level. Fuelling hard feelings on both sides, the programs poach each other's local area for recruits. For example, former Terps quarterback Scott McBrien transferred from West Virginia after relegation to reserve status, and fullback Cory Jackson is a Morgantown, WV native. Likewise, many 2007 Mountaineers are from Maryland, northern Virginia, and southeastern Pennsylvania.^[36] WVU star running back Steve Slaton committed to Maryland but his scholarship offer was retracted.^[37] The teams faced each other in the 2004 Gator Bowl, and Maryland won Friedgen and Rodriguez's first four match-ups, and West Virginia the last four. Maryland has since dropped West Virginia from their 2008 and 2009 schedules in favor of California, marking the first break of the series in 28 years. West Virginia replaced the Terps with Colorado, but the two will meet again in 2010.^{[38][39][40][41]}

Current series record: 21-23-2

Current continuity: 28 years (ends in 2008)

Virginia: The Cavaliers are the team's main conference rival, although one-sided as the Virginia Cavaliers true rival is Virginia Tech. The healthy competition is mainly due to geography and recruiting, this rivalry is at least intensified by the diametric cultures of the two schools. According to the current ACC setup implemented in 2005, Maryland and Virginia are paired as 'cross-division rivals', and as such play each year despite being in separate divisions. During years when it is at home, the Virginia game is usually played on Homecoming weekend. In recent years, Maryland's late-season loss to UVA cost them a 2002 ACC co-championship with Florida State.^[42] Since Friedgen took over, the Terps have won 4 and Al Groh's Cavs, 3, with the last two contests decided by a combined 3 points.

Current series record: 41-29-2

Current continuity: 51 years

[edit] Potential Rivalries

Florida State: When Bobby Bowden's Seminoles joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1992, it entered into a period of conference domination, securing the ACC title every year until 2001. Maryland was the team that de-throned the 'Noles, when they captured that year's championship to bring an end to FSU's nine-year title run. Despite this, it wasn't until 2004 that the Terrapins actually beat Florida State. They repeated the feat in 2006 by narrowly holding onto to a 3-point lead for the entire final quarter. Currently, the lopsided series stands at 2-16, with FSU averaging a 25-point margin per game.

Current series record: 2-16-0

Current continuity: 16 years

Clemson: Between 1974 and 1988, the ACC championship was held by one of these two schools for all but three years. During this period, the Tigers met the Terps in many exciting match-ups, often with conference title implications. After a long stint of Clemson domination in the '90s, series balance returned during Friedgen's tenure, with Maryland winning four and the Tigers three since 2001.

Current series record: 24-30-2

Current continuity: 56 years

NC State: Although the Wolfpack's primary rivals are all in-state – Tobacco Road schools and East Carolina – competitiveness with Maryland has been increasing in recent years. The two have met continuously for the past 54 years, but the nascent reinvigoration has especially gained traction during the overlapping tenures of head coaches Chuck Amato and Ralph Friedgen. In 2005 and 2007, NC State and Maryland played their last season matches against each other with a bowl bid on the line, both years each team with 5 wins needed a sixth to be eligible. The Wolfpack won in 2005, advancing to the Meineke Car Care Bowl, and the Terrapins won in 2007 to advance to the Emerald Bowl.

Current series record: 30-29-4

Current continuity: 54 years

[edit] Former Rivalries

Aside from the current rivalries, there are also a few schools which have in the past fit the definition of rivals, and may again some time in the future. These dormant rivals include:

Penn State: Penn State and Maryland have met in briefly interrupted stretches since 1917 in what has been an even more unbalanced series than that with Florida State. The two teams played all but three years between 1960 and 1993, but have not met since. The one-sided record belies what was normally a competitive match-up until the later years. While Maryland only came away from the series with one win and one tie, insult was added to injury by numerous loses determined by missed field goals, turnovers, or questionable officiating (in 1985, the Terps missed five field goals to lose 7-19). Aside from the painful memories, both schools aggressively compete for recruits in the Baltimore/Washington metro area and when they did play, it held recruiting implications for the mid-Atlantic. A recent example of this is when Baltimore-area player Antonio Logan-El, who after making a verbal commitment to Maryland, ultimately signed with Penn State in 2006.^[43] The teams last met in 1993 and there are currently no known plans for future meetings.^[44][45]

Current series record: 1-35-1

Current continuity: None

Navy: The Terps met the Naval Academy several times between the 1930s and '60s, including some neutral site matches in Baltimore and Washington, D.C.. Angered Navy officials allowed the series contract to lapse after the 1964 match where linebacker Jerry Fishman twice responded to anti-semitic taunts from the Brigade of Midshipmen with a middle finger.^[46] In 2005, for the first time in forty years, the game was revived in Baltimore. The result was an electric contest with a close Terps win late in the game (23-20). In the next post-season, Maryland declined an invitation to face Navy in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, NC, in order to go to the Champs Sports Bowl against Purdue in Orlando. The decision was based on the players preference, a bigger school pay-out, warmer weather, a Big Ten opponent, more exposure, and the Champs Sports Bowl was deemed to be the number-four non-BCS bowl while the Meineke game was number-six. Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk has stated that this snub is the basis for their rejection of Maryland offers to renew the series in 2010. With the comparable skill level of these two squads, in addition to geographic proximity (within an hour's distance), this match-up has the potential of being a respectable in-state rivalry. However, for the time being, Maryland is willing while the Academy remains ambivalent. There will not be a series revival in 2010 and another match-up in the near future is in doubt.^[47][48]

Current series record: 6-8-0

Current continuity: None

Duke: Duke is unquestionably Maryland's basketball nemesis due to many fans' visceral hatred for the Blue Devils.^[49] However, while these rancorous feelings spill over to some degree, the overmatch in football means emotions are not as high compared with most other conference match-ups. Additionally, under the 2005 re-structuring of the ACC, the schools are now in separate divisions and no longer meet annually, but rather for two-year stints on a rotational basis every fifth season. In the 1950s, both teams were considered top-flight and were routinely at the top of the conference, with Duke and Maryland sharing the 1953 and 1955 ACC titles.

Current series record: 30-18-0

Current continuity: None (33 years before 2005 ACC re-organization)

[edit] Traditions

See also: Maryland Terrapins#Traditions

[edit] Nickname

The school's athletic teams were originally known as 'The Old Liners', in reference to the Maryland nickname of the 'Old Line State'. In 1932, Curly Byrd suggested a replacement named after a type of land-dwelling turtle, the diamondback terrapin. The student newspaper was already in fact named The Diamondback, and the species was common throughout the state, in particular the Chesapeake Bay area where Dr. Byrd spent his childhood. Soon, newspapers began referring to the team simply as the 'Terps' to shorten headlines.^[50] The truncated name stuck, and is now in official use by the school.

[edit] Mascot

The mascot is a diamondback terrapin named Testudo, most likely from the ancient Roman military tactic, where soldiers would protect their entire infantry square from projectiles by completely enclosing it with their shields. In Latin, testudo means 'turtle', and derivations of the word have been used in scientific nomenclature related to the reptile, such as the order Testudine and family Testudinidae.^[51]

[edit] Team Achievements

The Terrapins have accumulated various titles and distinctions in its 116 years of intercollegiate competition. Some of the most prestigious achievements are annotated below, with a boldface indicating a perfect regular season (no losses or ties), and italics indicate a perfect post-season record:

• National championships: 1953, 1951 (retroactive)

• ACC championships: 2001, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1955, 1953

• Southern championships: 1951, 1937

• Undefeated seasons (overall): 1955, 1953, 1951, 1893

• Undefeated seasons (conference): 1985, 1984, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1955, 1954, 1953, 1951, 1949, 1943, 1937

• Bowl appearances: 2007, 2006, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1990, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1980, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1955, 1953, 1951, 1949, 1947

[edit] Individual Honors

[edit] All-Americans

Each year, various publications release their own lists of an "All-American" team, that is, a hypothetical team made up of those deemed the best players in their respective positions. Some choose more than one set of All-Americans, with a first-, second-, and sometimes third-team.

Using the officially recognized All-American lists, the NCAA determines its consensus All-Americans via a point system: three points if the player was selected for the first team, two points for the second team, and one point for the third team. Over time, the sources used to determine the final selection have varied. Currently, the NCAA recognizes the lists from these sources as the basis for the consensus honors: the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), The Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF).^{[52][53][54][55]}

The following Maryland players were selected by at least one official source as first-team All-Americans:

The following Maryland players did not secure a place on any first-team, but did receive honors as second- and third-team All-Americans:

[edit] All-Conference Honorees

The Atlantic Coast Conference also publishes an annual list naming the best players in the ACC. Many Maryland players have been named as All-ACC players on either the first-team or the second-team (shown in gray):^[56]

[edit] College Football Hall of Fame

[edit] Current NFL Players

• Rob Abiamiri – Tight end, free agent
• Eric Barton – Linebacker, New York Jets
• Conrad Bolston – Defensive tackle, Green Bay Packers
• Jon Condo – Defensive end, Oakland Raiders
• Curome Cox – Safety, Denver Broncos
• Vernon Davis – Tight end, San Francisco 49ers; 2005 All-American and All-ACC first team, 2006 first-round NFL Draft pick
• Ricardo Dickerson – Linebacker, Oakland Raiders
• Jeff Dugan – Tight end, Minnesota Vikings
• Melvin Fowler – Offensive Lineman, Buffalo Bills
• Domonique Foxworth – Cornerback, Denver Broncos
• Jared Gaither – Offensive tackle, Baltimore Ravens
• E.J. Henderson – Linebacker, Minnesota Vikings; 2001 and 2002 All-American, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and All-ACC first team, 2001 ACC Player of the Year, 2002 Peach Bowl Defensive MVP
• Stephon Heyer – Offensive lineman, Washington Redskins
• Eric Hicks – Defensive end, free agent
• Shaun Hill – Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
• Sam Hollenbach – Quarterback, Washington Redskins; 2006 Champs Sports Bowl MVP
• David Holloway – Linebacker, Arizona Cardinals
• D'Qwell Jackson – Linebacker, Cleveland Browns; 2005 ACC Player of the Year
• Kris Jenkins – Defensive lineman, Carolina Panthers
• Leon Joe – Linebacker, Buffalo Bills
• LaMont Jordan – Running back, Oakland Raiders; 1999 All-ACC first team, Maryland single season rushing record
• William Kershaw – Linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles
• Gerrick McPhearson – Cornerback, New York Giants
• Dan Melendez – Wide receiver, Washington Redskins
• Shawne Merriman – Linebacker, San Diego Chargers; 2005 first-round NFL Draft pick, 2005 NFL Rookie of the Year
• Matt Murphy – Tight end, Buffalo Bills
• Nick Novak – Kicker, Kansas City Chiefs; 2003 All-ACC first team, ACC all-time leading scorer (393 points)
• Rich Parson – Wide receiver, free agent
• Adam Podlesh – Punter, Jacksonville Jaguars
• Lewis Sanders – Cornerback, Atlanta Falcons
• Chad Scott – Cornerback, New England Patriots; 1997 first-round NFL Draft pick
• Randy Starks – Defensive tackle, Tackle Tennessee Titans
• Al Wallace – Defensive end, Buffalo Bills
• Madieu Williams – Safety, Cincinnati Bengals
• Josh Wilson – Cornerback, Seattle Seahawks
• Erin Henderson – Linebacker, Minnesota Vikings. Brother of E.J. Henderson

[edit] Notable Former Players

• Dick Bielski – Running back, Baltimore Colts; 1955 first-round NFL Draft pick, NFL Championship
• Tom Brown – Safety, Green Bay Packers; NFL Championship, two Super Bowl championships
• Lloyd Burruss – Kansas City Chiefs; Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame
• Joe Campbell – Defensive end, Oakland Raiders; 1977 first-round NFL Draft pick, Super Bowl championship
• Gary Collins – Wide receiver, Cleveland Browns; 1962 first-round NFL Draft pick, NFL 1960s All-Decade team, Browns record for 70 touchdown receptions
• Ed Cooke – Defensive end, Baltimore Colts; NFL Championship
• Bob Dean – Kicker and lineman, Edmonton Eskimos (CFL); three Grey Cup championships
• Boomer Esiason – Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals; 1988 NFL MVP
• Bernie Faloney – Quarterback, Canadian Football League; 1954 first-round NFL Draft pick, 1961 CFL Hall of Fame, CFL Most Outstanding Player, five Grey Cup championships, Heisman Trophy third runner-up
• Erin Henderson – Dick Butkus Award semi-finalist, All-ACC first team, 2007 most tackles per game and recovered fumbles in ACC, announced he is foregoing senior year to enter the NFL
• Darryl Hill – First African-American football player at Navy, Gonzaga College High School, Maryland, and in the ACC
• Stan Jones – Offensive guard/defensive tackle, Chicago Bear; Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame
• Ray Krouse – Defensive lineman, Detroit Lions and Baltimore Colts; three NFL Championships
• Jermaine Lewis – Wide receiver, Baltimore Ravens; Super Bowl champion, ACC record for 193 receptions
• Mark Manges – Quarterback, Phoenix Cardinals; a Heisman contender until he broke his wrist, appeared on the cover of 1976 Sports Illustrated while quarterback for the Terps
• Scott Milanovich – Quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; CFL coach; school record for career passing yards (6,125)
• Ed Modzelewski – Running back, Cleveland Browns; NFL championship
• Dick Modzelewski – Defensive tackle and head coach, Cleveland Browns; 1952 first-round NFL Draft pick, two NFL Championships
• Renaldo Nehemiah – Wide receiver, San Francisco 49ers; broke several world records in track and field
• Dick Nolan – Safety and head coach, NFL; NFL Championship
• Neil O'Donnell – Former NFL quarterback
• Eric Ogbogu – Former NFL linebacker, lead actor in Under Armour commercials, 1998 Hula Bowl MVP
• Neal Olkewicz – Lineback, Washington Redskins; two Super Bowl championships
• Bob Pellegrini – Linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles; 1956 first-round NFL Draft pick, NFL Championship, College Football Hall of Fame
• Bruce Perry – Tailback, NFL and CFL; 2001 ACC Offensive Player of the Year and Doak Walker Award finalist
• Kevin Plank – Founder of Under Armour
• Frank Reich – Former NFL quarterback; NFL record for greatest comeback win (32 points), formerly held record for greatest NCAA comeback win (31 points)
• Jack Scarbath – Quarterback, Washington Redskins; 1953 first-round NFL Draft pick, Heisman Trophy runner-up, College Football Hall of Fame
• Bob Shemonski – Halfback; school record of five touchdowns in a game (against Virginia Tech, 1950)
• Roger Shoals – Offensive tackle, Cleveland Browns; NFL Championship
• Geroy Simon – Slotback, British Columbia Lions; 2006 CFL Most Outstanding Player, CFL record for 1,856 single-season receiving yards
• Steve Suter – Wide receiver and special teams; ACC all-time record for 1,271 punt return yards
• Mike Tice – Tight ends coach, Jacksonville Jaguars
• Ed Vereb – Running back, Washington Redskins; 1956 first-round NFL Draft pick
• Larry Webster – Defensive tackle, Baltimore Ravens; Super Bowl championship
• Randy White – Defensive tackle, Dallas Cowboys; 1975 first-round NFL Draft pick, NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Frank Wycheck – Tight end, Tennessee Titans; went 5-for-6 passing the ball in his career (all on trick plays), resulting in 148 yards, 2 touchdowns, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating

[edit] Notable Former Coaches

• Frank Beamer – Head coach, Virginia Tech; former Maryland Terrapins graduate assistant
• Bear Bryant – Head coach, Alabama (1958-82); Terrapins head coach (1945)
• Lee Corso – ESPN sportscaster; head coach, Louisville and Indiana; former Maryland quarterbacks coach
• Tom Nugent - Inventor of the I-formation
• Bobby Ross - Head coach, Georgia Tech, Army, and NFL; national championship with Georgia Tech, and as Army head coach he became highest paid federal government employee^[57]
• Clark Shaughnessy – Head coach, Chicago and Stanford; revolutionized the T-formation and, with it, the passing game
• Charlie Taaffe – Coach, Canadian Football League; former Terrapins offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, 1999 and 2000 CFL Coach of the Year
• Jim Tatum – All-time winningest Maryland head coach (.815), pioneer of the split-T offense
• Ron Vanderlinden – Linebacker coach, Penn State; former Terrapins head coach, at PSU he has coached recipients of a Dick Butkus Award, three Chuck Bednarik Awards, and numerous All-Big Ten and All-American honorees

[edit] Timeline

[edit] See also

• Maryland Terrapins
• 2001 Maryland Terrapins football team
• 2005 Maryland Terrapins football team
• 2006 Maryland Terrapins football team
• 2007 Maryland Terrapins football team
• 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Maryland Gridiron Network
• University of Maryland Terrapins Official Athletic Site, Football
• "University of Maryland" College Football Reference
• "Awards" College Football History