In a season of memories, Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen seeks a lasting impression.
He wants to prove that the Terrapins are truly back; that recruits can come to College Park expecting to again contend for an ACC title; that a series of heart-stopping victories weren’t a fluke.
Maybe it was the blocked field goal to preserve the Florida State victory Maryland fans will remember most. Or stealing a win over Miami. Oh, don’t forget the walk-off field goal over Clemson or stopping Virginia’s possible game-tying two-point conversion.
Losing the final two regular season games tempered those unexpected wins and Friedgen doesn’t want the slide to continue into the offseason.
“We really had a very good season,” Friedgen said. “I guess we were very close to having something special and that was my goal. To see this team mature and the games they won and how they won, hopefully they learned how to win again and battle through tough times to get a win and that’s what this team did. To end up 9-4 would be regarded as a good season for us.”
Maryland (8-4) meets Purdue (8-5) in today’s Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla., hoping to exit the season ranked in the top 25 after opening as the ACC’s Atlantic Division’s fourth-place pick. Two 5-6 seasons seem forgotten after an improbable campaign of narrow victories re-ignited Terps fans.
More than 10,000 Terps faithful are spending the holidays in the shadow of the mouse; delaying their basketball fix until January while football plays on. Beating the Boilermakers in the first meeting between the programs would further legitimize success that critics could claim came during a down year for Florida State and Miami.
“A 9-4 season compared to an 8-5 season really helps us,” senior quarterback Sam Hollenbach said. “[9-4] is a solid season. It brings a sense of pride back to the program.”
Bowls are so important for college programs. A 6-6 mark now merits postseason play so anyone decent plays an extra game. And when you don’t, recruits notice. Potential Terps quickly headed to Penn State during Maryland’s two-year slide, but the recent rebound looks to restock the roster come February’s signing period.
Fans want a reason to party at year’s end. Take a vacation, especially somewhere warm like Orlando. A BCS bowl would be even better.
Maryland fans “travel well” — meaning lots of alumni attended past bowls. It’s the prime consideration when bowls choose teams. Alumni re-enacting their frat days is big business.
“To this day I’ll see people who say they were at the Peach Bowl or Gator Bowl and had the greatest times of their lives. ‘When are we going again?’ ” Friedgen said. “I want our fans to enjoy themselves and want to go to bowl games. Let’s face it — having a good season just qualifies where you’re going. How well your fans support you tells you where you’re going to go. Is that the right way to do it? Probably not. But that’s the way it is.”
Ironically, next season might be even better. Fifteen starters return plus rising quarterback Josh Portis, whose type of elusiveness has never been seen in a Terps uniform. That is, if the Florida transfer beats out Jordan Steffy during spring workouts.
Imagine that — spring practice garnering attention for the Terps.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
