Towson and Morgan State get it. Maryland and Navy don?t just yet.
When Towson and Morgan State played earlier this month, it was before a crowd of 8,762 at Hughes Stadium. It was their 20th meeting all-time, and ninth in the past decade.
Towson posted a 28-21 win to extend its lead in the series, 15-5, but the game represents much more than just wins and losses.
Local bragging rights were on the line, and many local high . Also, many area high school players watched the game, with the outcome possibly playing a factor in which school they attend.
But most importantly, Towson and Morgan understand playing each other is good for the area because of the excitement a local rivalry generates.
“It?s everything,” Morgan coach Donald Hill-Eley said. “These guys see each other in the mall, they date the same girls and do everything together. But you still have to line up and play, and we?re looking forward to it.”
Meantime, Navy opened its season against lowly Temple in Philadelphia and Maryland played its first game of the season against Villanova at Byrd Stadium.
Neither game generated as much emotion as a Towson-Morgan game, but if Navy and Maryland would have played, it would have been one of the state?s biggest sporting events this year.
Navy and Maryland proved just how huge a football game between the schools was two years ago, when 67,809 fans filled M&T Bank Stadium for the schools? first meeting in 40 years.
Maryland won, 23-20, when quarterback Sam Hollenbach threw an 11-yard touchdown pass with 61 seconds remaining.
But right now, it?s uncertain whether Maryland and Navy will ever get a chance to duplicate?or surpass?the drama of that night. It appears pride and egos have gotten in the way.
Navy athletics director Chet Gladchuck said no final decision has been made regarding a Navy-Maryland rematch in 2010, the first year both schools have an open date on their schedules. Much of the uncertainty stems from last season, when Maryland decided to play Purdue in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla. instead of facing the Midshipmen in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
Gladchuck said he knows the Champs Bowl was higher on the pecking order for Atlantic Coast Conference schools. However, he believes Maryland could have gone to Charlotte if it wanted.
“We have a golden opportunity to play a postseason game right down the street with 70,000 fans on national TV and I say let?s go. [Maryland] says ?Oh no, we?re going to go poolside and hang out with Mickey [Mouse],?” said Gladchuck, alluding to Disney World being in Orlando. “That?s not what we talked about. I?m not mad at [Maryland athletics director Debbie Yow] or Maryland. Do what you think you have to do. I have no dog in their hunt. I want Debbie and Ralph to live happily ever after in football land. But in the meantime, that?s not what we talked about. We talked about doing something for the state, for the fans, for the Navy-Maryland rivalry and relationship.”
That last sentence from Gladchuck is what a Navy-Maryland game is all about. I know Maryland has nothing to gain by playing Navy. If the Terrapins win, they?re supposed to, but if they lose, they?ll hear about it all year.
But I really don?t care about that. I just want to see great football and I know Navy and Maryland can deliver. Navy coach Paul Johnson and Maryland coach Ralph Fridgen are two of the best football minds in the country, and not letting them compete against one another only hurts the fans.
Ron Snyder is a staff writer at The Examiner. He can be reached at [email protected]
