Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009

Terps look to disprove critics

Picked to finish fifth in their division, the Terps eye another bowl bid

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In assessing the potential of the 2009 Maryland football team, Ralph Friedgen has adopted the same approach he used during a diet that enabled him to lose 105 pounds.

It took Friedgen around nine months to drop the weight, and that’s the type of perseverance he’s going to need to get the desired results out of a squad that is without 30 seniors from last year’s 8-5 team.

“We have 58 out of our 84 scholarship kids that have three or four years eligibility. We have to be patient, we have to be positive,” Friedgen said.

The Terrapins were picked by the ACC media to finish fifth in the six-team Atlantic Division. If that happens, Maryland’s run of three straight bowl appearances probably will be over. But the Terps were projected in fifth place last year, too, yet remained in contention to play in the ACC title game with two games left.

So who’s to say the same thing can’t happen in ’09?

“Every year, I think we get ranked fifth. This year, some people ranked us even lower,” Friedgen said. “I always kind of tell everybody ‘It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish’. It’s been that way my whole life, so it’s nothing new to me. I just keep working and hopefully everything will fall into place.”

The schedule could prove helpful. After a tough opener on the road against California, the Terrapins hosts James Madison, Middle Tennessee State and Rutgers before starting ACC play at Byrd Stadium against Clemson.

Maryland returns 10 starters — six on offense and four on defense. The departures include standout receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was taken in the first round of the NFL draft by Oakland, three offensive lineman and a trio of linebackers.

That could explain why the Terrapins aren’t getting much love from those who cover the ACC.

“At first, I kind of brush it off,” senior quarterback Chris Turner said. “But it’s definitely motivation.”

Turner represents a significant measure of continuity for the Terrapins. After taking over for the injured Jordan Steffy in the second week of the 2008 season, Turner led Maryland to four wins over ranked foes.

This season he hopes to pull off a worthy encore. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder won’t have to wait long for his first challenge: The Terrapins open their season on the road against California, which should be ranked.

“I feel 100 times better. I’m confident, I’m excited, I’m eager to get out to Cal,” Turner said. “I want to go out the right way in my senior year. I’ve had a great time here and I want to end things the right way.”

Offensive coordinator James Franklin is in his seventh year at Maryland, but only the second since returning from a stint with Kansas State. Under his direction last season, the Terrapins scored at least 20 points in seven games, including a 42-point outburst in a victory against Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl.

With Turner and running back Da’Rel Scott (1,133 yards rushing) returning — and with fifth-year senior Phil Costa anchoring the line — Franklin expects the offense to be even better in 2009.

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