Opportunity vs. Irish is viewed as a big deal Over the last 11 years, Maryland has won more football games (77) than Notre Dame (75). There’s little doubt, however, that the Fighting Irish have received much more attention doing it.
When asked why Notre Dame football is important to so many, some Maryland players are mystified.
“Coming from a small Catholic school in Pennsylvania, I kinda understand why they’re a big deal,” R.J. Dill said. “But I don’t really get it.”
| Up next |
| Maryland vs. Notre Dame |
| When » Saturday, 7:30 p.m. |
| Where » FedEx Field |
| TV » NBC |
Perhaps it’s a question that could best be answered by their fathers.
“My dad’s a big Notre Dame fan,” linebacker Darin Drakeford said. “That’s the school he wanted to play for.”
Even though Notre Dame has not been a powerhouse in the lifetimes of the Terrapins’ players, they admit there’s a special feeling as they prepare to play the Irish. The teams meet Saturday night at FedEx Field.
“It was definitely one of the games you looked at when the schedule came out,” Drakeford said. “It was like, that is gonna be a big game for us.”
Leave it to the son of a Notre Dame graduate to understand the Golden Dome thing. Quarterback Danny O’Brien’s father was a boxer and ice hockey player at Notre Dame.
“Notre Dame’s been part of our family for a while,” O’Brien said. “That’s all I’ve known since I’ve grown up.”
Despite attending football and basketball camps in South Bend, O’Brien was never offered a scholarship by Notre Dame. On Saturday, he and the Terps (2-7) have a chance to show the Irish (6-3) they made a mistake.
Coach Randy Edsall announced Wednesday the Terps will wear the much-discussed Maryland Pride uniforms they debuted on Labor Day night when they raced to a 32-24 victory over Miami. Notre Dame will counter with new helmets emblazoned with extra-large green shamrocks.
“We just felt with another prime-time game, on NBC, and the game being here in the state of Maryland, we just felt it was appropriate to wear them again,” Edsall said. “It’s something I know our kids are excited about.”
Even though the Terps are playing 10 miles from College Park, this is a home game for Notre Dame.
“It’s definitely one of the perks of playing at Notre Dame, to see the kind of following Notre Dame draws all over the country,” quarterback Tommy Rees told reporters Wednesday. “We kind of expect the same this weekend.”
The Irish hope it goes better than their last trip east to an NFL stadium. Last year at the Meadowlands, Notre Dame was throttled by Navy 35-17.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said the game allows the Irish to extend their recruiting reach but isn’t thrilled about having to play Maryland in its home state.
“They make those decisions, and they tell me what bus to get on,” Kelly said. “I have a card that tells me what seat to sit in, and I show up.”
Kelly was asked what he expected from a Maryland team that is out of the bowl picture.
“They’re playing Notre Dame,” Kelly said.
