Like his team?s move from regular season to bowl season, Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach is in a transition period. He?s waiting for a new hat.
The senior quarterback routinely wears his Orange Bowl hat to press conferences. On Tuesday, the hat stayed in his locker.
“As soon as my Champs Bowl hat comes, that thing is going to be retired,” Hollenbach said.
It?s just another step in the Terps? change in mindset from the Atlantic Coast Conference schedule to the Champs Sports Bowl, in which the Terps (8-4) will face Purdue (8-5) Dec. 29 in Orlando, Fla.
The Terps were crushed Nov. 25, when their hopes of playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship were lost in a 38-24 home loss to Wake Forest.
“We let one get away from us,” junior tailback Keon Lattimore said. “It?s a hard pill to swallow, but like Coach [Ralph] Friedgen said after the game, we have to move on.”
After two consecutive disappointing losses to close the season, Maryland took a week off practice and returned Tuesday refreshed and ready to get back to work.
“I?m hoping there?s a renewed sense of energy,” Friedgen said. “The kids seemed excited about the bowl we?re going to.”
Any talk about the team hoping to play in another bowl game was squashed Tuesday.
“Some people are looking at it as it?s not the bowl game we wanted to go to ? but the Champs Sports Bowl is still a respectable bowl game and we?re going to be playing a very respectable team,” sophomore linebacker Erin Henderson said.
Purdue, which also ended the season with a loss, has played one more game than the Terps. Like Maryland, the Boilermakers finished their conference schedule 5-3.
After originally planning to leave for Florida on Christmas Day, the Terps will depart for on Dec. 22 to allow the players the opportunity to enjoy the entire bowl experience.
The Terps are destined for an entertainment mecca and will partake in group activities during the week leading into the game.
“It?s great to spend some time in Orlando with my teammates and have some fun,” Hollenbach said.
And maybe get a new hat or two.
Turtle talk
» Freshman receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman team. After a 41-catch, 613-yard season, Heyward-Bey earned third-team All-ACC honors and a place on the Rivals.com Freshman All-America first team.
» Sophomore linebacker Erin Henderson will miss practice time this week after having an infection removed from his left arm. Pending finalized lab results, Henderson is unsure of the extent of the infection.
