Steve Slaton and Pat White were in the Terrapins locker room Monday night.
A poster of West Virginia?s talented duo was on the lockers of several Maryland players ? a motivational tool to remind the Terps of their primary goal tonight: stop the Mountaineers? running game.
But Maryland junior linebacker Erin Henderson, one of the players who had the image on his red locker, says he doesn?t need a boost.
“Some people need it, some people don?t,” Henderson said. “I?m one of those people who doesn?t need any more motivation than I already have.”
Apparently, neither does West Virginia.
“Ain?t no posters of nobody in our locker room,” Slaton said. “I think the whole team is going to be pumped for this game. I don?t think we need any extra motivation.”
If the posters aren?t an obvious indication, Maryland is emphasizing its role as an underdog for tonight?s game, as oddsmakers believe West Virginia will defeat the Terrapins by at least 16 points.
“We?ve always been underdogs,” Henderson said. “It?s always been the big guys against Maryland.”
The Mountaineers lead the all-time series, 22-21-2, but after tonight?s game, the teams won?t play during the regular season for the next two seasons.
“It?s always been a rivalry,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “It?s a game I?d like to continue playing.”
The Terps were dominated last year in Morgantown, W. Va., as the Mountaineers stormed to a 28-0 lead in fewer than 14 minutes and cruised to a 45-24 win. Maryland players said the past will not repeat itself at Byrd Stadium.
“That was the first big game for a lot of us last year,” junior wide receiver Danny Oquendo said. “We have a lot more experience now, and we?ll be ready to go this time.”
Dre Moore, a senior defensive lineman for Maryland, added: “Honestly, it was embarrassing. They jumped on us early. They had a couple big plays and it was embarrassing. It?s been motivational, and we have to save face this year.”
Maryland, which averaged 28.5 points in its first two games ? both against bad teams ? cannot fall behind the Mountaineers early because it?s offense has failed to score on a quality defense.
“We?ve got to hit the ground running,” Henderson said.”We came out sluggish, in awe, and it was 21-0 before the smoke cleared. Literally. We have to take care of business from the beginning.”
Thus far, Maryland?s offense has revolved around senior running back Keon Lattimore, who has 217 yards and 5 touchdowns on 38 carries. He?s averaging 108.5 yards through two games.
“He can take it a long way,” Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez said. “He?s got great speed. We recruited him out of high school, and we knew then he was going to be a great player.”
For the Terrapins, it will be integral Lattimore and fellow senior running back Lance Ball establish a running game to take the pressure off junior quarterback Jordan Steffy, who is making his first start against a ranked team.
But he won?t be the only Terrapin with jitters when the team emerges from Gossett Team House and runs onto the field.
“I think they?re excited,” Friedgen said. “They know last year was embarrassing. They?ve got pride like anybody else, I?m just hoping they?re ready to play on Thursday.”
