More than 100,000 will crowd the University of Maryland on Saturday for the school’s 150th birthday. A cake for 10,000 has becoming an engineering project.
But is it also a coming out party for the Terrapins? The Red-White football game provides the biggest crossroad of coach Ralph Friedgen’s era. Either the Terps exit the scrimmage convinced quarterback Sam Hollenbach can deliver in his senior season, running back Josh Allen’s year-long injury rehab is past and the loss of two veteran coordinators can be overcome or Maryland faces another shaky season.
Consecutive 5-6 marks can be forgiven after winning 31 games, two bowls and one ACC title in Friedgen’s first three years. However, a third straight losing season (all in the new ACC) would unravel all of Friedgen’s earlier success and likely seal the Terps’ fate as a midlevel conference team. A winning season will make everyone forget the past two years.
The Terps need to give the hardcore 5,000 or so faithful at Byrd Stadium something to savor until returning to practice in August. They must show “Fear the Turtle” needn’t be mothballed.
And Maryland must prove it can remain a contender in college football as athletic director Debbie Yow’s three-year stadium expansion plan reaches the eve of approval. The 65,000-seatfacility could receive final approval by a university panel in June contingent on Yow gaining the $15 million sponsor for field naming rights. A winning season could certainly help Yow shake the alumni money tree for another 15,000 seats.
“There’s always pressure on me,” Friedgen said. “I like winning. I’m determined to get back to a winning record. Even more, really.”
There are plenty of positives as spring practices conclude. Hollenbach becomes the Terps’ first senior passer since Scott McBrien led Maryland to a 2004 Gator Bowl victory. Allen gives the Terps a 1,000-yard runner they lacked last year while senior offensive tackle Stephon Heyer returns after missing last season with a torn knee ligament.
The big question is whether a largely young receiver corp can produce, much less offset the early departure of tight end Vernon Davis, an expected first-round pick on Saturday. If anything keeps Friedgen awake this summer, it will be unproven receivers dropping passes and busting routes.
Friedgen has largely traded his golf cart for huddles. With departed offensive coordinator Charley Taaffe still not replaced, Friedgen is once again the Terps’ signal-caller. That he enjoys being in the mix so much probably means Friedgen will continue playcalling no matter Taaffe’s successor.
The Terps spent five hours daily over three months retooling the offensive playbook earlier this year. Friedgen may be the only one who knows it, though Hollenbach is getting pretty goodat reading defenses flashed for two seconds by the team’s new high-tech projection system that feels like 3-D.
With lightweights William and Mary, Middle Tennessee and Florida International visiting College Park in September, the Terps should gain at least a 3-1 start. A 7-5 mark and bowl berth isn’t unrealistic.
“I’m excited about the season,” Friedgen said. “Sometimes you’re not. It looks like a long four-five months [but] I can’t wait for this season to start.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
