In a season in which very little has gone the way Maryland envisioned, this is certain: Maryland will be ready for North Carolina State.
The regular season finale will determine whether the Terrapins (5-6 overall, 2-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) will spend next month playing in their second consecutive bowl game or planning for the 2008 season as they watch the Wolfpack (5-6 overall, 3-4 ACC) play in the postseason.
“For looking back on a season, you don?t want to look back and see you?re 5-7,” senior tight end Joey Haynos said. “You want to have a winning season.”
The Terrapins? season hinges on Saturday at noon at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.
“I certainly hope it?s not a losing season, because they deserve better than that,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “If we can win this game, having beaten the teams that we?ve beaten, hopefully we can get some players back that can help us in our bowl bid. I?ve been very proud of this team, and I think they deserve better than where they?re at right now.”
Maryland and North Carolina State were in the same situation in 2005, as both teams entered the final game of the season with five wins ? one shy of the NCAA requirement to be eligible to play in a bowl game. The Wolfpack prevailed, 20-14, and promptly accepted a bid to play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The Terrapins finished 5-6 and missed the postseason for the second consecutive year.
“It just comes down to whoever wants it more,” junior defensive end Jeremy Navarre said. “If they win, they go to a bowl. If we win, we go to a bowl. It?s really down to whoever wants to make that trip. We want to make that trip.”
The trip would likely be to either San Francisco to play in the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 28 or to Boise, Idaho, to play in the Roady?s Humanitarian Bowl on Dec. 31.
The Wolfpack is led by sophomore running back Jamelle Eugene?s 660 yards and five touchdowns, but injuries to tailbacks Toney Baker (knee surgery) and Andre Brown (fractured foot), will force the team to rely heavily on a passing game led by quarterback Daniel Evans (1,862 yards, 12 TDs, 12 INTs).
However, Friedgen is concerned with North Carolina State return man Darrell Blackman, who has one kick return touchdown and averages a team-leading 133.3 all-purpose yards per game.
“You have to stop Blackman,” Friedgen said. “He?s the best return man in the conference and one of the best in the country. He can change the game very, very easily.”
If the Terrapins can do that, players said they?ll be bowl-bound.
“A bowl game is a bowl game. We?re going to be excited to play wherever we can,” linebacker Erin Henderson said. “If we get the opportunity to go play in Boise, I know we?re going to take advantage of it.”
