Maryland linebacker Moise Fokou still doesn’t think the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference views his team favorably, even if the No. 22 Terrapins are a win away from playing for a league title and berth in the Orange Bowl.
“I think they always keep us at the end of the line,” the senior said with a smile before a recent practice. “I hope we jumped a couple of spaces now. Hopefully this weekend, getting to the top, will open up a lot of eyes and change the perspective.”
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Maryland (7-3 overall, 4-2 ACC) can clinch the ACC’s Atlantic Division on Saturday with a win over Florida State (7-3, 4-3) at Byrd Stadium, and a Wake Forest victory over Boston College. In doing so, the Terrapins can spurn the preseason prognostication they would finish fifth in the six-team division. Instead, the Terrapins would head to the conference title game on Dec. 6 in Tampa, Fla., and play for a bid to the Bowl Championship Series, earning the school about $17 million.
“It seems like [Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen] has gotten better as the season goes,” Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said.
“Things seem to fit together. He’s one of those coaches whose very sound at what he does and doesn’t beat himself. He’s got good football players, and a very solid program. I don’t see them having highs and lows. They seem to play good every Saturday.”
Jeff Jagodzinski, whose Boston College team was picked to finish fourth, said he hasn’t forgotten what he’s seen on Maryland’s game film.
“Ralph does a good job coaching those kids,” he said. “No, [their success] doesn’t surprise me.”
Now, the Terrapins are on the verge of making their first trip to the ACC championship game. Maryland won the 2001 title in Friedgen’s first season as head coach. The conference added the championship game in 2005 after the league expanded to 12 teams and split into the Coastal and Atlantic divisions.
Friedgen said the addition of Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College has made it more difficult to win an ACC title.
“I think it’s a lot tougher just because of the parity in the league,” Friedgen said. “On the Coastal side of the conference, you don’t know who’s going to win that one. Four or five teams are in contention there. It’s no different on this side. It’s a battle to see what bowl you’re going to go to, too. You can have a pretty good season and you don’t know where you’ll end up.”
ATLANTIC DIVISION SCENARIOS
Here is how each team can win the division and advance to the ACC championship game on Dec. 6 in Tampa, Fla.:
• Maryland clinches if: It defeats Florida State, and Wake Forest defeats Boston College. Or, if Maryland defeats Florida State and • • • then Boston College to close the regular season on Nov. 29.
• Florida State clinches if: It defeats Maryland, Boston College defeats Wake Forest and Maryland defeats Boston College.
• Boston College clinches if: It defeats Wake Forest, Maryland loses to Florida State and Boston College defeats Maryland.
• Wake Forrest clinches if: It defeats Boston College, Florida State defeats Maryland and Boston College defeats Maryland.
