Run up the middle. Screen pass. Punt. Victory kneel down.
Those four plays in a fictional message from Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen on the satirical Web site DontFireAlGroh.com, apparently represent the Terrapins’ entire game plan against Virginia on Saturday night at 7. The Web site is a mock Facebook.com — or in this case, “Coachbook” — profile for embattled Virginia coach Al Groh.
Groh, who is 52-40 at Virginia and the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year, is a member of “Underachievers” network on the site. After his Cavaliers suffered a 31-3 loss to Duke last weekend to end the Blue Devils’ 25-game conference losing streak, Groh is listed as the lone member of the “ACC Coaches Who Have Lost To Duke Since 2004” network.
His job status on the hysterical site? “It’s complicated.”
But Friedgen is not convinced the Terrapins’ trip to Scott Stadium in Charlottesville will be easy.
“This Virginia team is having a tough year right now, but this is going to be a tough football game,” Friedgen said. “I think they’ve won five straight at home playing at night. They’ve won 19 of out their last 21 ACC home openers. We haven’t played real well when we’ve gone down there. It’s a tough environment, and I know that they’ll be ready to play us.”
Last season, Virginia defeated Maryland, 18-17, at Byrd Stadium.
“Last year’s game left a bitter taste in our mouths,” Maryland senior linebacker Moise Fokou said. “We are going to go out there and give it our best effort and they are going to give it their best effort. Hopefully, we’ll get it right this year and come out with a victory.”
If the Terrapins (4-1 overall, 1-0 ACC) defeat the Cavaliers (1-3, 0-1) for the fourth time in the past six years, they enter their bye week atop the ACC’s Atlantic Conference. But it would also be a crushing blow to the Cavaliers’ season and to the chances of Groh returning for a ninth season.
“This is a huge game and at this point we can’t lose right now. We have the momentum going,” Maryland senior tight end Dan Gronkowski said. “It’s a game we should win if we play like we can and it’s going to be a good feeling knowing we have a week off after to rest up and get ready for the rest of the season. But we have to take this game seriously.”
