As the University of Maryland football team looks ahead to a period of rest and recuperation during its bye week this weekend, rest might be in short supply. With an ugly 14-10 win over Florida International in the rear-view mirror, the Terps must now prepare for a daunting run through their Atlantic Coast Conference schedule, which starts Oct. 7 at Georgia Tech.
While Terps coach Ralph Friedgen said he is happy to be going into ACC play at 3-1, he knows his team has not enjoyed very convincing wins. They their season opener against William & Mary, 27-14, and then beat Middle Tennessee, 24-10, before getting walloped by West Virginia, 45-24.
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“We need to be better,” Friedgen said. “I think the team can be better than how we were playing. I have a tremendous belief in this team. We have to keep working.”
Friedgen didn?t schedule a full practice this week until Thursday. The Terps will practice Thursday and Friday and take off Saturday and Sunday.
Friedgen?s players took an optimistic approach to the bye week. Practicing day in and day out with few breaks wears on the team, according to linebacker Wesley Jefferson. He anticipated that the break would help the team regain focus, especially younger players.
“This bye week could not come at a better time,” Jefferson said.
Though Maryland has not been dominant in the first four games, halfway to bowl eligibility, still feels good, according to the players.
“It is big, having a chance to go to a bowl game with three wins going into ACC play,” said wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Heyward-Bey said the team has been watching a lot of film on Georgia Tech, which is3-1 heading into a big showdown Saturday at Virginia Tech.
“They blitz a lot and they are fast, so we want to run the ball and we will see what the will give us,” he said, adding that they might try to go to the air more against the Yellow Jackets.
According to Terps running back Josh Allen, Maryland needs to go into Georgia Tech confident that they?ll be able to handle the Yellow Jackets? aggressive defense.
“Everybody knows we are not playing to our potential out there,” Allen said. “If we want to reach our goals, we [have] just got to sharpen things up, minimize the errors and make plays,” Allen said.
ON THE OFF-WEEK
» The Maryland-Georgia Tech game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
» Under Friedgen, the Terps are 4-5 in games after having a week off. Maryland has faced Georgia Tech three times after a bye week and has won just one of those meetings.
