Maryland still has shot at ACC championship
Maryland has yet to beat a BCS conference team with a winning record and won’t get a chance this week at Virginia. But even in a season of unremarkable achievement, there’s much left to play for.
With a victory Saturday in Charlottesville, Maryland would be in position to capture the ACC Atlantic Division by winning its final two games, both at home, against Florida State and N.C. State.
In a season in which they were predicted to finish last in the division, the Terrapins, warts and all, could find themselves in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 4 playing in the ACC Championship game.
“When you have the record we have, all the games matter,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said.
But the fact that Maryland is alive and kicking at 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference might say more about the ACC than the Terps. Last week, when Maryland lost 26-20 to Miami, its primary competition for the division title, FSU (6-3, 4-2) and N.C. State (6-3, 3-2), also lost, bringing Clemson (5-4, 3-3) back into the division discussion.
“It keeps us still in the game,” Friedgen said of last week’s ACC Atlantic carnage. “Now we just have to win.”
Virginia (4-5) was one of the victims of the ACC’s wild Saturday. A week after toppling then-ranked Miami 24-19, the Cavaliers lost at Duke 55-48. Mike London’s rookie season in Charlottesville has been up and down.
“No one’s hanging their heads,” London said. “The guys are very upbeat, very optimistic, because that’s the way I want it. That’s the way I am. And I want them to reflect an attitude that we’re looking forward to this next game.”
Maryland lost its last three games to London’s predecessor, Al Groh. For its final home game, Virginia will honor seniors such as Marc Verica and Keith Payne. With a fresh start under London, both players emerged from Groh’s doghouse to lead the Cavaliers’ offense.
After last year’s 2-10 showing, Friedgen has had a reprieve as well, guiding the Terps to vast improvement with a freshman, Danny O’Brien, at quarterback. A first-ever appearance in the ACC Championship game would complete a stunning turnaround that few expected.
“We have everything that we went after,” Friedgen said. “Our goals [are] still available to us.”
