CRUCIAL CLEMSON VICTORY!

Ask and you shall receive. Well, I asked for a victory in Death Valley and I received one. Although things did not look promising after the first half where the Terps looked left for dead going into halftime down 17-6. The defense allowed close to 200 yards rushing and Spiller and Davis looked "un-tackle-able".

Things turned around though, was it a pep talk by the coach at the half? Was it a veteran leader stepping up and getting his team riled up? Or perhaps it was the realization that there was still a chance to steal a game on the road and set the tempo for the ACC season.

Heyward-Bey ripped off a 76 yard sprint to shift the momentum and countless receivers contributed with 6 different guys getting into the action. One interesting thing to note, Heyward-Bey did not account for a reception in the game.

What exactly happened to the Clemson offense in the 2nd half? They had zero points and did not pose much of a threat after halftime. I know for one thing for sure though, the Terp's d showed some heart and passion. Personally, I love the linebacking group that lines up every game. The secondary has it's moments as well.

Who deserves the gameball for this game? Well I think it has to be split between Chris Turner for showing poise and accuracy and also the defense for stepping up to the challenege in the second half and slowing down a dyanic running duo.

Now let's carry on this momentum to an inferior team, the Wahoos of Virginia or whatever they call themselves these days.

Fast Start in the ACC is CRUCIAL

So here we are, the start of the ACC season for the Terps and what should we expect? Well for one, a lot of balance. The preseason favorite, Clemson was ranked #9 in the preseason polls and was just as quickly knocked out of the rankings by 'Bama. Other perennial teams like Virignia Tech, Florida State and Miami aren't going to scare anyone this season. Wake Forest looks like the strongest of the bunch at this point.

So what does this all mean? Well a FAST start in the ACC is CRUCIAL. Convienantly enough the Terps ACC season starts with the orange and purple of Clemson in Death Valley, the preseason favorite. So what better way to prevent the 1-4 ACC start of last season rearing its ugly head once again this season than to defeat Clemson in Death Valley.

The key to the game will be to slow down the combo of Spiller and Davis, while getting Green and Scott rolling for the Terps.

In my opinion, The Terps ACC schedule is pretty friendly outside of the Thursday night clash in Blacksburg against the Hokies of VT. The ACC is definitely up for the grabs and if the offense that appears against CAL and Eastern Michigan appears more than the offense that was present for Delaware and Middle Tennessee State, then the Terps should do just fine. However, if it doesn't it could be a long season.

Once again, a fast start is crucial especially against preseason favorite Clemson.

-Steak

Curry on the Cal Game

If you have been listening in on the Steak Crab and Curry Show then you know all three of us talk about the fact that the Terps always play to the level of their competition. Saturday's game against California was no exception as the Terrapins beat the Golden Bears 35-27. Maybe it was the noon game time (which is 9 am in California) or maybe it was just a good team finally finding their identity; either way the Terps looked good taking care of the 23rd ranked team in the nation. Maryland's two running backs Da'Rel Scott and Davin Meggit chewed up the Cal defense for 169 yards and 3 td's. Chris Turner who threw 3 picks against Middle Tennessee State last weekend did not commit a turnover on Saturday while going 15/19 passing with 156 yds and a td. But it was the Maryland defense that really surprised people including myself. They held RB Jahvid Best to just 25 yards rushing after he ran for 311 yds in Cal's first two games. They also sacked QB Kevin Riley 5 times and forced him to throw an interception.

I cant be happier for the players and coaches of this team especially after the dissapointing loss to Middle Tennesse last weekend. This just goes to show that we have a very tough team that is willing to go toe to toe with anyone in the country. With a balanced offense that doesnt turn the ball over and a defense forcing turnovers and sacks I really feel that the Terps have a good chance of being ACC Champs. One thing that has been worrying me is our kicking game. Egekeze has not made a field goal all year and when the Terps get to conference play, every point counts and could be the difference between win and a loss. I don't know who Coach Friedgen can turn to for field goals; maybe a soccer player on the bench or someone else but this needs to be taken care of asap.

Im looking forward to the game on Saturday against Eastern Carolina because it gives Maryland a chance to build off of this past weekends win. For once in my collegiate career I want to see our football team absolutely decimate an opponent; blow them out of the water by 50 points. Saturday will give us an opportunity to do just that and hopefully our team is up for the challenge.

As always...GO TERPS

Lots of Terp Goodness

Lots of Terps Goodness of news and notes and predictions has come through with the ACC Blog on ESPN.Com. One of our favorite writers and ACC beat reporters, Heather Dinich has recently updated her blog with a rankings of the hardest schedules and games to watch in the ACC. Some of the highlights below:

ACC's Hardest Schedules:

1. Georgia Tech -- Paul Johnson has back-to-back road games in the ACC against Boston College and Virginia Tech in the first three weeks, plus road trips to Clemson, UNC and rival Georgia. Yikes. The only breaks are the fact Wake and Maryland aren't on there. And Duke is.

7. Maryland -- The Terps get road trips to Clemson and Virginia Tech, plus a tough nonconference home game against Cal and a visit from Wake Forest. By the time these guys play Duke again, the Blue Devils just might win.

12. North Carolina -- The Tar Heels don't play Clemson, Wake Forest or Florida State -- three of the top teams in the Atlantic Division. And they've got Virginia Tech early (Sept. 20). If there was ever a year for Butch Davis to take advantage of his schedule and a watered-down division, this would be it.

Top 10 Games To Watch:

5. Maryland at Clemson, Sept. 27: Ralph Friedgen loves playing in Death Valley, and the Terps have a team that could surprise a few people, the Tigers included. The addition of first-year offensive coordinator James Franklin, backup quarterback Josh Portis, and a veteran offensive line make Maryland a dark horse.

You can read the full posts and Heather's preseason predictions here.


5 DAYS TIL KICKOFF!

Terps in the NFL

The Baltimore Sun did an excellent job of running down some of the recent football Terps and their where abouts this training camp. The only Terp to be drafted this year was Dre Moore, who went to Tampa Bay. Here are some of the highlights of the article:

-According to Scout.com, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden thinks defensive tackle Dre Moore -- Maryland's lone draft choice -- has a ways to go before making an impact:It was obvious, though, that Gruden thought fourth-round pick Dre Moore, a defensive tackle out of Maryland, was behind the rest of the class."You know, this is not a game where you want to do too much thinking at that position," Gruden said. "You've got to get off the ball, you've got to be disruptive, and he is getting better. I think he's getting in better shape. The tempo and the speed of this game is probably a little bit foreign to him but he does have talent."

- Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that an injury to backup linebacker Heath Farwell will open the door for Erin Henderson to receive more playing time.Childress said Henderson, the undrafted free agent, will get more reps in practice. Henderson has shown flashes in camp and had a solid debut Friday with five tackles.

- An injury to Green Bay Packers backup tight end Tory Humphrey could pave the way for Joey Haynos to claim the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that Haynos' speed and blocking have impressed Packers coaches:Haynos is extraordinarily long-levered at 6-8, 268 pounds. He primarily worked as a blocker and possession receiver at Maryland, where he had 67 receptions for 687 yards and three touchdowns over his last two seasons. McAdoo said Haynos is the most fundamentally sound blocker among the rookie tight ends, and in training camp, Haynos has shown an ability to get downfield, too.

You can read the rest of the article here . A highly recommended read!

BONUS CUTS:
- SI.com has its ACC preview up, the Terps are predicted to finish 3rd in the Atlantic at 4-4 in ACC play
-They also pegged Darrius Heyward-Bey as the 5th most outstanding player in the ACC

Terps Football News & Notes

Heather Dinich of ESPN.com updated her ACC blog recently with some news and notes from practic here:

" *The secondary has to replace three of four starters from a year ago, but this group led a ramped up defensive charge in the first day of full pads. DB's Nolan Carroll, Jeff Allen and Kevin Barnes each made interceptions. Carroll produced what was perhaps the play of the day when he dove to make a shoestring catch on a pass deflected by defensive lineman Mack Frost.

* The defense implemented blitz package drills for the first time.

* Is former Florida QB Josh Portis finally making a move? Ralph Friedgen said Portis looked the best on Wednesday.

* The standout offensive play, though, came from redshirt freshman receiver Tony Logan, who caught a touchdown on a deep fade pattern, prompting offensive coordinator James Franklin to exclaim, "That's beautiful! I love these touchdowns -- the defender can't find the ball!"

UMD Football: News & Notes

A few more notes from the 2nd day of practice for the Terps at Training Camp courtesy of www.umterps.com:

*The Terps have only practiced for two days, but Friedgen indicated after Tuesday's practice that some players atop the depth chart are being pushed. Redshirt freshman Torrey Smith is pushing incumbent starter Isaiah Williams at X receiver. Williams has started the last two seasons, but Smith was singled out in the spring as a potential difference maker by Friedgen and the rest of the coaching staff.

*Senior left tackle Scott Burley, who was a second-team All-ACC choice, is trying to fend off a challenge from Bruce Campbell, who played as a true freshman last season.

*Friedgen also singled out freshman running back Davin Meggett for his play during camp. Meggett has not only showed quickness running the ball, but also blocked a punt in special teams drills.

Terps' Burning Questions

Heather Dinich, who covers the ACC on ESPN.com with a very up to date blog, answers three burning questions about the Terps heading into the 2008 season.

"1. How will the ongoing battle at quarterback affect the team chemistry?
This is a similar situation to what's going on at Virginia Tech, and who knows, maybe Friedgen will play both Jordan Steffy and Chris Turner in situations that play to each of their strengths. Regardless of what happens, they both have reason to believe it's their job. Steffy looked legitimately good this spring, but Turner proved he was more than capable last year when Steffy suffered a concussion.

2. How much more productive will the offense be under first-year coordinator James Franklin?
This was a smart hire because Franklin recruited half the players he's now coaching, and his addition to the staff allows Friedgen the luxury of being the head coach without having to worry about calling the plays. Look for Franklin to throw more deep balls this season and for receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey to catch them.

3. How important is this season for Friedgen?
Maryland has had three losing seasons in the past four years. No wonder the local media isn't chipping at the lock on the gate to see spring practice. In 2006, the Terps beat Purdue in the Champs Sports Bowl, but that was their lone bowl win since the 2003 Gator Bowl. The athletic department is heavily invested in stadium renovation and trying to sell luxury suites. Somehow, though, (namely a sweet contract and a metro audience where the Ravens, Redskins, Orioles and Nats divert some of the attention) Friedgen has escaped the hot seat. "

Heather was a guest on the Steak, Crab, & Curry Show last Spring and the interview can be heard on our podcast. The podcast is available for download on iTunes.

You can also read the ACC Blog by Heather here.

**Also, on the blog, Heather broke down the power rankings of the ACC:

The Terps were ranked 4th with the description "The Terps could be this year's darkhorse, as Ralph Friedgen made a smart off-season hire in offensive coordinator James Franklin and has playmakers with the potential to flourish in the West Coast offense. The key will be how he uses -- not appeases -- his quarterbacks."

Preseason Coaches Poll

The Preseason Coaches Poll was released today and the Top 5 goes like this ...


1. Georgia (22)
2. USC (14)
3. Ohio State (14)
4. Oklahoma (3)
5. Florida (5)

Where do the Terps check in?

Answer: Honorable Mention Section with 4 Votes

Other ACC Teams in the Top 25: Clemson (#9), Virginia Tech (#15)

Others Receiving Votes: Florida State, Boston College, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia Tech

ACC Hate-O-Meter

On ESPN.com they are running some rankings of the most hated College Football Programs across the country. Heather Dinich is the blogger for the ACC and she presented her rankings of the most hated programs in the ACC:

I warned you. Today is trash talkin' Tuesday. Here's your chance to weigh
in. But first, digest this: The most hated teams in the ACC, ranked from most to
least, based on things seen, read and heard over the years.

1. Miami -- They've got the tradition, the swagger and the
attitude.

2. Florida State -- Opponents hate them because they dominated the
league and the TV ratings for so long, and their own fans hate them when they
lose. Remember the clamoring for the dismissal of Jeff Bowden? Way to show the
love.

3. Virginia Tech -- The Hokies came into the ACC and won two titles in
four years. And even when they're down, they're predicted to win. And just being
associated with Michael Vick is a public relations nightmare.

4. Clemson -- The Tigers make their own fans so frustrated they can't
see straight sometimes. And FSU fans haven't exactly looked forward to the
Bowden Bowl in recent years.

5. Virginia -- Even the Cavaliers' own fans have called for the firing
of Al Groh on numerous occasions, and those outside the program love to rip on
the preppy fans.

6. Maryland -- This is still a basketball school, and opposing fans
throughout the league have carried that venom for Gary Williams into Byrd
Stadium.

7. Boston College -- Maybe it's that smug Northeastern mentality that
can sometimes be as frosty as the weather. Or the fact these guys are Yankee
winners who took some of the spotlight away from an otherwise "southern"
conference.

8. Georgia Tech -- The Yellow Jackets have been just good enough to
ruin somebody's party, and some outsiders knock 'em for being
know-it-alls.

9. NC State -- Most of the hate here comes from No. 10. It could also
be because of Julius Hodge and Chuck Amato, two brash and outgoing
characters.

10. North Carolina -- Most of the hate here comes from No. 9. Well,
that, and the fact everyone is sick about hearing how the Tar Heels are actually
going to be good soon.

11. Wake Forest -- Good luck trying to find one bad word about Jim
Grobe. Then again, fans hate it when somebody plays by the rules AND wins.

12. Duke -- How could you feel anything but sorry for these guys? The
only reason to dislike Duke if you're an ACC fan is because their losses pull
the conference down like a lead weight. Good grief, last in even the
hate-o-meter.

Edwin Williams

According to the Baltimore Sun, University of Maryland Center Edwin Williams (Sr.) has been named to the pre-season All ACC Team (#60).

Williams has started 26 consecutive games for the Terps and has also been placed on the Rimington Trophey Watch, awarded to the Nation's top Center.

"Williams, a fifth-year senior from Washington D.C., also earned preseason all-conference honors from Athlon, Blue Ribbon Yearbook, Lindy’s and The Sporting News."