The quarterback is finally a senior. The left tackle and running back return after a year layoff. The offensive mastermind is calling plays once more.
Maryland gains several offensive playmakers after consecutive 5-6 seasons often sabotaged by an erratic offense. Quarterback Sam Hollenbach now has a year’s experience and a proven runner in Josh Allen plus protection on the left side in tackle Stephon Heyer after missing both seniors last year with knee surgeries. Coach Ralph Friedgen will pick from the 1,200-page offensive playbook from the sidelines.
The Terrapins have re-assembled the pieces so needed to return to the 2001-03 era when Friedgen opened with 31 victories, two bowl wins and one ACC title. They have an offense that can break outside and a passer who won’t lose games.
Good things could come to College Park this fall. And yet, the Terps might only reach 7-5 or 8-4 in a conference of haves and have nots. The Terps are desperate to stay with the ACC front-runners before the Maryland faithful stops filling Byrd Stadium amid stadium expansion plans. This has to be the turnaround year or the program could return to the ugly days before Friedgen’s arrival.
“I’ve had 18 straight years of winning [as a coach] and I kind of got spoiled, I guess,” said Friedgen as the Terps began practicing on Monday. “When I look at our team, I don’t see us that far away. We’ve got to get things corrected and I think this team has a hunger that they want to be good.”
The ACC is still run by Florida State, but expansion brought heavyweights Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College onto Maryland’s schedule. The quartet is too much for Maryland to consistently handle. Maybe the Terps can get up for one or two of the games, but 2-2 is the high number. Those extra losses have pushed mid-tier programs like Maryland, N.C. State and Georgia Tech onto the bowl bubble.
Maryland saw Penn State swipe the best recruits from the Terps’ backyard last winter. Another non-bowl season will only worsen it to further accelerate the downward spiral. Maryland needs to get to a bowl, any bowl, this season.
Maryland must win six games to become bowl-eligible under the new 12-game season. The Terps cherry picked three automatics in William & Mary, Middle Tennessee and Florida International. Season-ticket holders may scream over such creampuffs, but Maryland has to bank wins before facing a road schedule at five returning bowl teams and Florida State and Miami at Byrd.
“The key to our season is to win on the road and we play at some really tough places,” Friedgen said. “I think that every year in the ACC it’s how you do on the road.”
It’s still a young roster, but one that gained hard-earned experience over two losing seasons. The offensive line should be much improved, which will help Hollenbach. The Terps lost their receivers and All-American tight end Vernon Davis, but regained Allen.
Two years of hard knocks may finally earn Maryland a bowl trip. Otherwise, times will be grim in College Park.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
