Maryland sophomore quarterback Chris Turner is going back to California to play a bowl game, and while he?s there, he hopes to change a few misconceptions his teammates have about his native state.
“They think everyone surfs and we all have houses in the hills,” Turner said. “I don?t wake up and go to the beach and spend all day there, and then grab some In-N-Out Burger.”
Since the native of Simi Valley, Calif., learned on Sunday the Terrapins (6-6) were heading to San Francisco to play in the Emerald Bowl against Oregon State (8-4) on Dec. 28, Turner has been fielding ticket requests from friends and family. He estimated about 40 or 50 people have contacted him, and because each player just gets six complimentary tickets for the game, some of his teammates have generously donated their share to their quarterback.
“I?m expecting a lot of people to come ? a lot of family,” Turner said. “Bowl games are a blast. There are distractions, but you gotta balance everything. You have to play football and give it your best.”
Said Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen: “[The players] are excited about going to San Francisco. It seems pretty neat to go to an area of the country where we?ve never been and play a team where we?re not that closely identified with. The intrigue is about as great for me as it is for them.”
Turner came to Maryland from Chaminade High School in West Hills, about 400 miles south of AT&T Park in San Francisco. As a senior, Turner threw for 2,047 yards and 16 touchdowns and was named to the second team All-CIF (California Interscholastic Federation). As a junior, Turner threw for nearly 3,400 yards and 30 touchdowns behind a strong offensive line anchored by Adam Speer, who now plays for Oregon State.
“We were pretty good buddies in high school, but we don?t see each other often,” Turner said. “I talked to him the day after I found out [about the bowl game], and he?s already talking smack.”
Turner entered the season third on the depth chart, but after starter Jordan Steffy suffered a concussion and sophomore Josh Portis receiving a one-year suspension for an academic violation, Turner has emerged as the leader of the Terrapins? offense. Since replacing Steffy as the starting quarterback, Turner has completed 132-of-206 passes for 1,720 yards and 5 touchdowns, and has led Maryland to two victories over top-10 teams ? Rutgers and Boston College.
Maryland hasn?t played a Pac-10 team since 1982, when it lost to Washington, 21-20, in the Aloha Bowl. Turner, however, is very familiar with the Pac-10 and the West Coast style of football. He fits the mold of a Pac-10 quarterback ? a pocket passer with an accurate arm ? which he attributes to spending summer competing in seven-on-seven passing leagues.
“The Pac-10 is so exciting to watch,” Turner said. “I think of throwing the ball around, slinging it, and a lot of speed.”
