Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen’s favorite season was probably his first in College Park. A team hoping for six wins instead won 10 and reached the Orange Bowl.
Quarterback Sam Hollenbach arrived months later and has heard that story way too often. As he runs out of the tunnel and slaps Testudo’s statue on the back for luck one last time on Saturday, the senior wants to depart with the same legendary lore. A passer who nearly left two years ago and a team no one expected to do much after two losing seasons can still win 10 games, the ACC championship and even reach the Orange Bowl.
“We have a chance to have a special season,” Hollenbach said.
No. 20 Wake Forest (9-2) at Maryland (8-3) figured to be a throwaway game when the schedule was released. Instead, Miami’s 17-14 upset of Boston College on Thursday has turned this season-ender into a playoff showdown.
The Maryland-Wake Forest winner earns the ACC Atlantic Division title and meets Coastal Division leader Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship on Dec. 2. The victor heads to the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2.
The Demon Deacons may be the only bigger Cinderella candidate in the ACC than Maryland after finishing 4-7 last season. It’s the nation’s second-biggest turnaround behind Arkansas as Wake Forest seeks to become the first ACC team to go 6-0 on the road. Avictory would give the Demon Deacons 23 wins over four years, their best stretch since 1945-48.
However, Maryland has revived the “Protect this House” motto of old with a 6-0 home mark. The students are on holiday break, but Byrd Stadium still figures to be packed. That energy should keep the Terps from letting down, knowing a bowl bid somewhere is already assured.
The Terps want the Orange Bowl, the site of Friedgen’s first season’s end when humiliated by Florida coach Steve Spurrier, who then learned what humiliation was all about when spending the next two years with the Redskins. The Terps haven’t reached a BCS bowl under Friedgen so the Orange would cap the turnabout after two straight 5-6 seasons threatened to undermine the program’s rebirth.
Even if Maryland doesn’t reach Miami, bowl reps are eyeing the Terps. The Gator, Music City, Peach and Meinkeke Car Care bowls are possible. The latter bowl in Charlotte, N.C. might be the frontrunner among the second choices by offering the highest profit potential.
For now, the Terps and their faithful are relishing a conference title chance when regional neighbors Virginia Tech and Penn State are not. West Virginia can still claim the Big East crown, but Maryland has clearly returned among the Mid-Atlantic powers.
“There so much more riding on this game,” Friedgen said.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
