Ralph Friedgen said it’s due to even out shortly.
The breaks certainly haven’t gone in favor of the Terrapins’ and their head coach so far this season.
“The play that we fumbled in the backfield on the exchange might’ve gone for 25 or 30 yards. Everybody was blocked,” said Friedgen, recalling Maryland running back Lance Ball’s fourth-quarter fumble in last weekend’s loss to Georgia Tech. “Sometimes I’m wondering what I’m doing wrong. We’re just not getting a break anywhere. … For a guy that prays a lot, it shouldn’t happen, should it?”
The late collapse in Atlanta is evidence of Maryland’s struggles extending into a third consecutive season. But being competitive against Yellow Jackets playmakers Reggie Ball and Calvin Johnson could be just the kind of boost the Terrapins need when they play their second Atlantic Coast Conference game of the year this weekend at Virginia.
“Just having that confidence, just from last week, coming down to the wire, we lost that game at the last play. It was a full 60-minute game. We get some experience from that,” said Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach. “You never know, you could be up early and lose, you could be down early and win. We need to have that experience, we need to draw from that when we go down there.”
The Terps (3-2, 0-1 ACC) know they are far from out of contention. With Wake Forest starting the season 5-0, with Florida State and Miami out of the Top 25 for the first time in more than two decades and Virginia Tech likely to follow, the ACC remains as wide open as it has been in years.
“Last year Florida State ended up winning the division with three losses in the ACC,” said Maryland linebacker Erin Henderson. “We know every Saturday you have to strap it up, you never know what’s going to happen out there. I think the ACC is wide open for anybody to go out there and grab it.”
Friedgen needs more than intervention from the football gods. He needs veterans like Hollenbach to make fewer mistakes and take advantage of the opportunities. Should he falter in Charlottesville, Friedgen hinted at a shake-up.
“I’m disappointed in Sam,” said Friedgen. “I’d like for him to make a few more plays. I do see [sophomore backup quarterback] Jordan [Steffy] getting better. I’m hoping that he’ll continue to get better and practice better. The better he practices, the better chance he has of playing.”
Still, it’s the positives — improved play from wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, dangerous returns by Josh Wilson — that the Terrapins want to build on before a season-defining two-game homestand begins next weekend.
“I have seen improvement in areas. Sometimes it’s not always measured in wins and losses, but you keep the right attitude and keep working, things will work out,” said Friedgen. “That’s been my experience in my coaching career.”
Maryland (3-2, 0-1 ACC) at Virginia (2-4, 1-1)
» When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
» Where: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville
» TV: ESPN360
