Maryland football coach Randy Edsall didn’t reveal much during his Saturday teleconference, but did say that the Terrapins did not scrimmage on Friday evening, as previously planned. Edsall didn’t say why.
He also said that offensive tackle Pete DeSouza, injured last year in a moped accident, would not be ready to play this year. “I probably don’t see that taking place for Pete this year,” Edsall said.
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Other tidbits:
Edsall said he had nothing special planned for his birthday. He turned 53 on Saturday.
“I don’t know, forty-some years, I’ve been involved in football, whether it be playing or coaching” Edsall said. “Just another day.”
Edsall said that an unidentified player is injured and could be out for the year, pending a Monday examination. Edsall said the player is not a starter. Starting guard Bennett Fulper, who suffered a knee injury at the end of practice on Wednesday and was carted off the field, is fine. “He’ll be out there practicing [Sunday],” Edsall said.
With classes starting next week, the Terps are allowed only 17 ½ hours of practice per week (instead of the usual 20), the result of penalties imposed from exceeding the allowable practice time under Ralph Friedgen. Last fall the Terps practiced an average of 21 ¼ hours, and reported the violation to the NCAA, suggesting a 2-for-1 penalty, which the NCAA accepted.
As the Labor Day night opener against Miami approaches, Edsall said the Terps routine will replicate a usual week starting Tuesday, when they will practice as if it is a regular-season Sunday.
“Wednesday will be like a Monday for us,” Edsall said. “The good thing that I like is, starting classes on Wednesday, that coincides with our normal Monday – usually a players day off. In my years of experience, if you practice the first day of classes, it’s never good.”
Among the freshmen who could play this year, Edsall identified redshirts Rashaan Moore (fullback) and Jake Wheeler (offensive tackle) as players who had made the biggest strides since the spring. Edsall said four to five freshmen “could be in the two-deep.” Edsall said the new depth chart would be out Sunday or Monday.
On season ticket sales reaching 20,000 this week: “We’re not satisfield with 20,000,” Edsall said. “It’s better than it was a year ago. What we want to do is get it to where we make it grow each and every year and make this the place where people in this region want to be on a Saturday afternoon.”
In response to a question about whether he felt pressure given that Friedgen was ACC Coach of the Year in his rookie season and went 9-4 last year, Edsall said: “I put more pressure on myself than anyone will put on me.”
True to his nature, Edsall revealed little, saying that the punting situation was sorting out, but stopping short of identifying which punter — freshman Nathan Renfro or redshirt freshman Michael Tart – is emerging.
