Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen wants a real rivalry.
The Terrapins meet Navy on Monday for the first time since 2005 — when the series resumed after a 40-year break caused by a vulgar gesture by a Maryland player toward the Navy brass.
“It’s good for the state of Maryland,” Friedgen said. “We play Virginia; that’s a rivalry. We play West Virginia; that’s a rivalry. We play Virginia Tech; that’s a rivalry. When you play somebody [Navy] that’s 25 miles away from you it turns into a rivalry. … We go to Annapolis, and I’m sure they come to College Park.”
The Crab Bowl will draw nearly 70,000 to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the in-state meeting, including 31 buses of Maryland students. Unfortunately, Maryland still won’t have an undisputed rival because Navy would rather beat Army. Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia have their own natural rivals. Even Maryland basketball’s rivalry with Duke isn’t fully reciprocated because Duke would rather beat nemesis North Carolina.
But Maryland-Navy has twice been halted over hostilities. It was ugly from the start; Navy won the first eight games by a combined score of 256-7, including 76-0 in 1913 and 62-0 in 1917. The “young Admirals” ruled the “Farmers” of Maryland Agricultural College.
Such one-sided scores led to vandalized campus statues and stolen mascots on both sides. Finally, the series was suspended in 1934 after Maryland claimed Navy cheated during the Mids’ 16-13 win. The teams wouldn’t meet again until Maryland suddenly needed an opponent for its 1950 opener when Georgetown withdrew. Byrd Stadium debuted with Maryland beating Navy 35-21.
Pranks resumed with midshipmen painting the letter “N” on Maryland buildings and football field. The Terps responded by painting the statue of Tecumseh on Navy’s campus. Still, it was only silly shenanigans until 1963, when Terps running back Darryl Hill, a former Navy plebe who became the ACC’s first black player after transferring to Maryland, was the recipient of alleged dirty hits by the Mids.
The 1964 game was penalty-filled, with the Terps wanting to avenge Hill’s treatment. Maryland linebacker Jerry Fishman was twice called for late hits on Navy quarterback Roger Staubach. Fishman also flashed his middle finger twice at Navy fans and officials, who honored the series’ contract the following year before ending the rivalry again. Fishman later owned a house near the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis and admitted repeating the gesture to passing Mids over the years.
Friedgen played in a 1964 freshman game between the schools, saying it was one of the roughest contests of his career. He wants the passion repeated and the schools meeting regularly. For now, it’s just a taste of what a real rivalry was once like.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
