The clock is counting down for the University of Maryland football team.
Since accepting its invitation on Dec. 2 to play in the Emerald Bowl later this month against Oregon State, Maryland has held six practices before breaking for fall semester exams yesterday. The team is scheduled to practice just three more times in College Park before flying to San Francisco for its bowl week.
Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said it?s good for the Terrapins (6-6) to practice as much as possible before facing the Beavers (8-4) on Dec. 28 at AT&T Park in San Francisco at 8:30 p.m. in front of a national television audience on ESPN.
“So far we?ve had five practices and they?ve been tough physical practices,” Friedgen said. “Our kids have approached it in a very positive way.”
And mistakes have played a part in the Terrapins? roller coaster season. This year?s squad is the first in school history to beat two top-10 teams in one season ? then-No. 10 Rutgers, 34-24, on Sept. 29, and then-No. 8 Boston College, 42-35, on Nov. 10. The Terrapins ended the regular season with a 37-0 thrashing of N.C. State on Nov. 24 to become bowl eligible.
But Maryland has hurt itself in close games this season, turning the ball over 15 times and averaging six penalties formore than 44 yards per game.
“One of the problems with our team is being able to finish,” Friedgen said. “We can?t just go for so many periods and then lose our focus and have a bunch of mistakes.”
EMERALD BOWL: TERRAPINS (6-6) VS. OREGON STATE BEAVERS (8-4)
» Kickoff: Dec. 28, 8:30 p.m.
» Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco
» TV/Radio: ESPN, 105.7 FM, 1300 AM
» Tickets: Available
