After a 27-24 win over Florida State on Oct. 28, Maryland football seniors Josh Wilson and Sam Hollenbach embraced one another on the field. After two straight losing campaigns, the Maryland senior class had righted the ship and directed the program to its first bowl game since 2003.
While they didn?t reach the ultimate goal of an Atlantic Coast Conference championship, the Terps are destined for the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 29 in Orlando, Fla.
“Going down there, it?s going to be fun and it?s just a good feeling,” Hollenbach said. “It?s something we will never forget.”
It also offers them the opportunity to forget the final two games of the regular season ? both losses ? and the dismal 5-6 campaigns in 2004 and 2005.
“Like anything, in football, you?re as good as your last performance,” Hollenbach said. “That?s how you?re judged.”
After two losing seasons earlier in their careers, the prospect of finishing with a great performance is something that fuels this class.
“It can really help us from a confidence standpoint as far as getting over those losses ? and sort of going out on a better note,” Hollenbach said.
The Terps had a crushing end to the regular season. After defying the skeptics with an 8-2 start, Maryland lost the final two games of the season and, in the process, missed out on a chance to play in the ACC title game.
December offers a culmination for Maryland?s seniors in many ways. Some will graduate shortly after taking their final classes and exams in the coming weeks. Friedgen said Tuesday that Josh Allen, J.P. Humber, Josh Wilson and Stephon Heyer are among a handful of Terps set to graduate this month.
“A lot of them are graduating. This is it in a lot of different ways,” Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen said. “It?s not only their last game ? in many cases, it?s their last class.”
