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MD : 26                                                                                              FIU : 10

“The Ole Orange Bowl just ain’t what she used to be…”

By Bob W.

Overall:  Yesterday was my first foray into the world of ESPN 360.  The results were mixed.  Since I headed to my in laws yesterday and was not going to be in the world of dial up in Denton, I figured, why not take the computer and see if I can watch the game on the laptop.  I messed around with it and low and behold, RIW actually accomplished a technical task he set out to do on a computer with no problems what so ever. 

As for the 360, I love the idea that you can watch a bunch of games.  The quality isn’t quite there in terms of crispness, but let’s face it, you are still looking at better picture than anything we had back in Denton Hall.  It was neat to watch two games at once, but when Maryland came on, that’s when the 360 was a little lacking.  First of all, there is no first down line.  And let me just say, the first down line is to Football what the ATM card is to the modern world.  How did we ever get by without it?  Another issue was that when your team is on 360, and only 360, you aren’t exactly getting Herbstreit and Nessler.  The announcers did all right, but you could tell at certain points they were probably wondering in their head, what does it matter what I say, there is only 5 people watching this.  But all things considered, if given the chance and lack of TV coverage, I would do the 360 again without hesitation. 

But enough computer talk, afterall computers have no place in College Football (unless it is to determine who will play for the national championship).  The Terps looked shaky, but not as shaky as the first 6 minute FIU team.  After 3 incomplete passes (2 nearly picked) and then a punt attempt snapped 10 feet over the punters head, it looked as though we were going to have a genuine laugher.  But that didn’t last.    

After Lattimore’s 2^nd touchdown put us up 16-0 it was as if the team let out a collective sigh of relief and just simply had to go through the motions to kill the last 50 minutes.  FIU however had other plans.  The Panthers of Gold seemed to collect themselves and started to play competent football.  At least I hope that is what is was, and not my text message to Bix saying the Lattimore was on pace for 16 TD’s.  Whatever the cause, the Terps all of a sudden found themselves in tough game.

Though I was getting nervous when they pulled to within 6 in the fourth quarter, the outcome was never really in doubt, but perhaps it should have been.  The Terps scored all 16 points off of FIU turnovers which means that if the Golden Panthers had handled the ball a little better, we could have been upset.  Luckily that wasn’t the case, but this game still left more question marks about this 2007 team.

One question mark that wasn’t answered was how Steffy was going to do running the offense.  This was supposed to be a game in which he got his first TD pass and build up his confidence enough so that Chris Turner would have ample mop up time to get his feet wet, but that never happened.  At points in the game where my frustration boiled over, I often found myself yelling “Throw the G.D. ball down field!”.   But for some reason Steffy never did (just a little statistic for you, 18 passes were caught, and only 8 of these were to a WR, that’s 2 completed passes to a WR a quarter!).  All his passes were screens or dump offs, I mean why did the full back have more catches than Hey Bey going into half time?  Now this could have just been Friedgen keeping it “Vanilla” for the WVU game, but FIU’s secondary was made up freshman and walk-ons.  Your telling me we couldn’t stretch it out a little?  Hell maybe stretch it out some and then we wouldn’t have Lattimore and Ball running into 9 guys at the line of scrimmage three straight plays before we punt!

One of this years questions that was answered last night, was who will be the dominant back, and I think it is now safe to say that Lattimore is going to be the man, and really, he is the man.  For the first time since Bruce Perry started the 2001 campaign with 5 straight 100 yard games, a Maryland RB has gone back to back games with over a 100 yards rushing.

Also I would like to address the special teams.  It is still early, but I’m happy with them.  As the announcer (whoever he was) said “It looks like this Balz kid is going to be punting for Maryland for the next 4 years.”.  And I’m fine with that.  Obi did miss a field goal but it was like 52 yards and he had plenty of distance, so I think he will work out just fine.  The special teams was an area of concern this spring, but once again Ray Rychleski and Al Seamonson have shown that they are up to task.

And finally, lets take this for what it is.  We could easily panic after just barely putting away FIU, but a win is a win, and you don’t think Michigan wouldn’t trade the world for a 1 point win over App State?  We are 2-0 and right where we want to be.  Rutgers did not impress me verse Navy (who killed themselves with red zone turnover) and even Marshall showed that the great Offensive Machine that is WVU can be stopped, if only for a half.  So well take this win, try to learn a few things, and that’s the way it should be.  Regardless of how pretty it was, whether it was 100-0 or 26-10 we are 2-0 and right where we want to be going into the WVU game. 

Game Highlights:  The first offensive play of the game was the highlight, Lattimore took a handoff headed to his right, ran past the line, then headed back to his left, and 40 yards later was out of bounds having heavily traveled both sidelines.  At that point I let my “upset guard” down, and I think so did the rest of the Terps. 

Game Lowlights:  The FIU 49 yard TD pass.  We shouldn’t be fooled on plays like that.  Kevin Barnes I believe was the DB back there, and luckily he redeemed himself with a INT later in the game, but watching that ball sail to the lone Panther, my heart fell into my stomach and the “Oh my god we could really lose this game” feelings took over.

MVP:  Note to self: Send fruit basket to Keon Lattimore and put on card “Thanks for making the D7 MVP choice the easiest part of writing the recap”.  Keon had 111 yards rushing and two TD’s to increase his season total to 5.   

For honorable mention, ah screw it.  I looked all over the stats and didn’t see anyone who really deserved an honorable mention.  I’ll give it to the trainer.  Despite it being probably 15 degrees more hot and 30% more humid, for some reason there weren’t nearly as many cramps as there was in the Villanova game, so whoever the trainer is, he obviously stepped up his or her game.  Good work dude! 

Random Thought-  I know it is impossible, but still a part of me wouldn’t be surprised if both Michigan and Notre Dame lose in next weeks Mich-ND match-up.   

Weather Report Card- This is a new feature I’m going to do.  I will now look at my weather forecast and see how it panned out.  Afterall, what is the point of making predictions if we aren’t held accountable for said predictions (I think Jimmy the Greek said that once).

Around the ACC:

Game of the Week

Nebraska 20   Wake 17- Not a “true” conference game, but it is nice to know that Wake actually cares what the rest of the country thinks about the ACC.  A terrible no call on pass interference sinks the Demon Deacons who fall to 0-2 on the year. 

Virgina 24  Duke 13- The Cav’s get their first win of the year, and for us Al Groh fans, there is still a glimmer of hope that he may not get fired before he comes to Maryland next month.  Cederic Peerman lead the way for the Cav’s with 137 yards rushing and 1 TD.

Oklahoma 51  Miami 13- Has anyone at ACC headquarters found the receipt for Miami?  We need to give it to the Big East and get our money back.  This isn’t the Miami we thought we were getting during expansion.  The Hurricanes continue to underachieve giving up one of their most one-sided loses in school history.  Add Norman, OK to the list of cities that now knows about the ACC’s dirty little secret from South Florida.

Clemson 49  Louisiana Monroe 26-  I got an internet forward the other day about the similarities between the Lincoln Assassination and the Kennedy Assassination and the last line said “A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland and a week before Kennedy was shot he was with Marilyn Monroe”.  Well there maybe a Monroe Louisina, but there isn’t a Monroe Maryland which makes me want to pass a law allowing people who begin stupid internet rumors to be choked by those who can prove them wrong!  Oh and Cullen Harper threw a school record 5 TD passes. 

Georgia Tech 69  Stamford 14- When GT finally got it’s 69^th point on the scoreboard do you think they were giggling on the sidelines telling each other not to score any more points?  Or maybe that’s just me with the Middle School mentality.  Tashard Choice had over 100 yards rushing in the first quarter as GT is starting to emerge as a possible power in the ACC (sorry Ari).  

Boston College 37  NC State 17- Does BC ever play any road conference games?  Well regardless they are now 2-0 in the Atlantic Division and is the team to beat.  Despite hearing all week that their team wouldn’t be able to do anything against BC, the Pack went out an committed 7 Turnovers.  That’s no small feat!  Anyway, Tom O’Brien was last seen at the Bo Jangles in Raleigh trying to order a small coffee and cream filled donut. 

Florida State 34  UAB 24-  Last I saw FSU was being taken to the woodshed by UAB, so I was glad to see they had enough pride to come back.  I don’t know about you, but if I was one of the 4 guys not named Bowden who are actually coaching the team, I’d try to get my kids to play a little better in the first half.  Just saying.  Weatherford threw for 3 TD’s and 334 yards in this one.

East Carolina 34  North Carolina 31- It’s a good thing this isn’t the Big East because UNC Football would be getting replaced by ECU Football as we speak.  Another terrible out of Conference game for one of our bottom dwellers.  During the whole expansion phase I was actually pushing to add ECU instead of BC.  That would have keep the whole “Southern” feel to the Conference, but it wasn’t meant to be.  They obviously could have competed though.

LSU 48  Virginia Tech 7-  Maybe Mississippi State isn’t so bad afterall!   What is it, everytime I cheer for VT they play like crap.  Everytime I cheer against them they look like world beaters.  I would make a lousy Tech fan.  Let’s just hope most of the East Coast went to bed before they saw this debacle.  In two games now, Tech has 24 points.