Exams end in University of Maryland classrooms Wednesday, but on the football field, there is one last test for the Terps. Before the Terps (8-4) can think about beating Purdue (8-5) in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 29, they have to regain its football focus.
That task is easier said than done, with the Terps? fragmented practice schedule stretching into bowl week and the holidays. The Terps practiced Sunday night and will hit the field again Wednesday and Thursday before traveling to Orlando Friday.
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“It is a very stressful time for all college students,” sophomore linebacker Erin Henderson said. “Especially when you have to balance sports with school work and you have to worry about what days you have to take care of school or football.”
Maryland has not played since a 38-24 loss to Wake Forest on Nov. 25. That makes for month-plus layoff before the team plays its first bowl game since 2003.
Offensive lineman Stephon Heyer will receive his degree in criminal justice Thursday. He only had one exam but still had to deal with days off from practice.
“Mentally, you are not ready to stay in focus for a game situation because you have finals and you are trying to get ready for graduation,” he said.
Heyer has been focusing on football since he finished his exam. That mental transition is something Maryland?s Ralph Friedgen, who is going into his fourth bowl as a head coach, is always concerned about at this time of year.
“Going into the game in the right frame of mind is very important,” Friedgen said.
In Friedgen?s first bowl game with the Terps, the 2002 OrangeBowl, he felt the team was not mentally prepared. They suffered a 56-23 loss to Florida.
“Practices have been good and enthusiastic and we have worked very hard, but offensively, our last practice was not as sharp as I would have hoped,” Friedgen said.
Still, Friedgen is confident that the Terps have enough time to prepare for Purdue. Sparing a day off on Christmas day, the team will work the entire week in Orlando to regain its offensive sharpness.
“Going down to Orlando [Friday], we should be able to get five days or so of good practice,” Friedgen said. “I am hoping to get some continuity.”
