Maryland faces the quintessential trap game tonight, as its opponent, Florida International, lost its season-opener, 59-0, to extend its losing streak to 13 consecutive games.
But Maryland nearly gave away last year’s meeting with the Golden Panthers, needing Christian Varner?s interception near the goal line in the final seconds to preserve a 14-10 win in Byrd Stadium.
The Terrapins also arrive in Miami?s Orange Bowl for a 7 o?clock kickoff knowing its impending showdown against No. 3 West Virginia in College Park in front of a national television audience is just five days away.
Yet Maryland?s players claim they are focused on defeating Florida International to improve to 2-0 for the second consecutive season.
“A team like that definitely scares us,” junior quarterback Jordan Steffy said. “We’re going to go out, play hard and hopefully come away with a win. They’ve got nothing to lose. They’re going to shoot all their bullets, and we’re going to have to deal with that as a team. You don’t ever want to take them for granted.”
Florida International is preparing for a very physical game against the Terrapins.
“I see a team that’s even more improved, and last year I thought they were pretty good,” said Florida International’s first-year head coach Mario Cristobal, who coached against the Terps as a member of the Miami coaching staff last season.
Maryland is expecting a much better performance from the Golden Panthers after they were embarrassed on national television by Penn State last week.
“You know they’re going to try to bounce back,” senior running back Keon Lattimore said. “Just like every week, you’ve got to prepare for this team, just like its West Virginia or anyone else.”
Maryland?s players are also focused on the weather in Miami, which is causing the team to take precautions against the heat and humidity.
“We had days when we were practicing in the 60s in August, and that’s very unusual,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “We’ve already talked to our kids to make sure they hydrate themselves during the week. We told them to cut back on the caffeine, no junk food, and you’ve got to try to eat well. We’re going to do everything we can.”
The Terps last played in Florida in December, when they beat Purdue, 34-7, in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. Maryland will also visit the Sunshine State on Nov. 17 when they travel to Tallahassee to play Florida State, but the weather will likely not play as big a factor as it will tonight.
“Florida is Florida,” Lattimore said. “Its always hot.”
