An uneven season with plenty of blown leads and too many injuries finally ends with a chance for a winning record. And for once, we’re not talking about the Redskins.
Maryland (6-6) faces Oregon State (8-4) tonight in the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco. The Terrapins are finally healthy with their offensive line together for the first time in 10 weeks. Linebacker Erin Henderson can breath without pain in what may be his farewell before leaving early for the NFL.
The Terps get a late bow to a season that included two victories over top 10 teams for the first time. One with so many last-second losses that fans seemed to lose hope over a team that largely accomplished what was expected — a .500 season.
Winning two of their last three prevented a third losing season in four years, though the bowl outcome will officially decide whether Maryland ends up a winner or loser. That makes this game somewhat meaningful.
“I’d love to finish 7-6. I just don’t look at these kids as losers. They’ve proven they’re more than that,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “I’m not happy to be 6-6, but I’m happy to go to a bowl game.
“As tough as things were, it was very rewarding to be a part of this team. How hard they worked when they could have jumped ship and point fingers. They never did that.”
Friedgen joked “I don’t think the national championship is going to be determined by this game.” And he’s right. Just another made-for-TV event to fill the holiday schedule.
But touringAlcatraz and other wonders of the Bay Area is a reward for a team that could have bagged it after losing quarterback Jordan Steffy to a concussion early in the season. They truly mirrored the Redskins penchant for agonizing losses that prevented a truly special season. After all, knocking off No. 10 Rutgers on the road and No. 8 Boston College should have vaulted them to ACC contender status instead of slumping off to the bottom of the bowl barrel.
“There were four games I thought we could have won this year we didn’t,” Friedgen said. “If we had won those games we’d have been 10-2 and who knows where we would have been with the 11th toughest schedule in the country. We’re not that far away from being really good.”
It’s the Terps fifth bowl in Friedgen’s seven years. For those spoiled by the streak, Maryland went to one postseason game in 18 years prior to his arrival.
Beating Oregon State helps Maryland in recruiting, especially out West where the Terps have little presence, while putting some spark in the offseason program. A young team can bolster its national presence so maybe next fall the pollsters might show some respect.
“This is really the beginning for next year,” Friedgen said.
MARYLAND (6-6) VS. OREGON STATE (8-4)
» Kickoff: Tonight, 8:30
» Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco
» TV/Radio: ESPN, 106.7 FM, 980 AM
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
