Temple Football 2005 Wrap-Up
38 7
It’s a Raining Terps!
By Bob W.
My take on the game:
Overall:
I really couldn’t feel too great about this one regardless of the outcome. You lose to Temple and lets face it, we all shut down the site and find other ways to spend our time, but if you beat them you really can’t get too excited about beating a team that lost to Bowling Green 70-7. I felt sorry for the loyal Temple fans, they want to win, they go out and cheer their best, but you just know it is not going to be enough. You can only wonder how much longer the powers at be at Lincoln Financial Field will keep allowing these outside teams to conduct live practices on their field. Speaking of which, the attendance at this thing made our Spring Game look like the Super Bowl. But enough about Temple, a Div 1 win is a Div 1 win and we need to find two more on our tough schedule to become bowl eligible so we will gladly take this one.
Game Highlights:
The game started out a little sketchy but we knew everything was going to be fine when Josh Wilson blocked Temple’s punt to start the second half. The score was only 17-7 at that point and the Terps went on to score two straight TD’s after the block. The block also helped keep Marylands average starting field position at Temples 45 which is just brutal. I for one enjoyed the punt block because lets face it, we don’t see Maryland special teams block many kicks. Of course when we had Steve Suter back there receiving them, there really wasn’t any reason to block many punts. Josh Wilson set the tone for the second half and the Terps rolled on to their third victory in a row.
Game Lowlights:
Where the hell was everybody? The announced attendance yesterday was 11,311. Are you kidding me? The Sun put it best when they estimated that there were 500 people in the stands when the game kicked off. There were a lot more Maryland fans than Temple fans, but still that wasn’t saying much. They say that Virginia Tech may bring 10,000 people to Byrd on the 20th, there is no reason why we couldn’t have had at least 5,000 Maryland fans in Philadelphia. It is an easy trip, easy ticket, and an easy game to see the Terps win. Yes the rain sucked, but who cares, it’s football for goods sake. You take the adversity and you deal with it.
Game MVP:
This is a tough one, but in a good way. No one really stuck out, everyone just seemed to go about their business and get the job done. But when it comes down to it though you have to give the MVP to Mario Merrills. It must be tough to get buried on the depth chart and then have to battle all week long to get some touches come Saturday, but that is what Super Mario did. His numbers weren’t overwhelming but he did break the plane for 3 TD’s. When Lattimore struggled early Merrills came in and made the difference in a game where the run was going to be the safest option. So Mario Merrills gets his second D-7 tailgating MVP award. Wesley Jefferson who subbed for a banged up D’Qwell Jackson led the team with 9 tackles. That’s enough to earn him the MVP honorable mention. It is nice to know our LB pipeline is operating at full efficiency.
Random Maryland Notes:
- The Terps have won three games in a row for the first time since 2003.
- There is plenty of buzz about how many fans Va Tech is bring to College Park on the 20th. Do your part to keep the Hookies out of Byrd, and if you know anyone selling tickets PLEASE do not let them sell them on ebay, or to Va Tech fans. This game is too important for that!
Around the ACC:
Louisville 69 UNC 14- Usually when UNC holds their opponents to below 70 points they are successful, but of course that is in basketball. 69 was the most points UNC has allowed since 1912! The Heels drop to 2-3 after winning two in a row.
Virginia Tech 41 Marshall 14- The Hookies came out flat, but in the end leveled the Thundering Herb by 27. Branden Ore rushed for 146 yards and a TD to lead Virginia Tech. The Hookies can now claim dominance over the entire state of West Virginia having beaten WVU and Marshall in back to back weeks.
Miami 52 Duke 7- Kyle Wright threw for 3 TD’s in a 5 minute span to help lead the Hurricanes past the Blue Devils. Duke is now 1-5 and next weekend could be eliminated from any post season appearances, not that that would shock anyone.
Florida State 41 Wake Forest 24- It was a bitter sweet win for the Seminoles who continue to hold on to the Atlantic Division lead and remain in the National Title hunt, but it cost them Matt Meinrod, their best Offensive lineman. Drew Weatherford threw for 3 TD’s and 351 yards to lead the way for FSU.
Boston College 28 Virginia 17- Quinton Porter threw for 301 yards and 1 TD to lead the Eagles over the Wahoo’s. UVA suffers it’s second straight defeat after opening up the year 3-0. BC also uses this ACC win to pull even with Maryland at 2-1 in the Atlantic Division.
NC State 17 Ga Tech 14- NC State intercepted a Georgia Tech pass in the endzone to save this one from sure defeat. The win keeps the Wolfpack from falling to 0-3 in the ACC and 1-3 overall. Coach Chuck Amato hopes that the win breathes some life into the previous sleep walking Pack.
ACC Standings:
Atlantic
FSU 3-0 5-0
BC 2-1 5-1
Maryland 2-1 4-2
NC St 1-2 2-2
Wake 1-2 2-4
Clemson 1-3 2-3
Coastal
VT 3-0 6-0
Miami 2-1 4-1
UNC 1-1 2-3
GT 1-2 3-2
Virginia 1-2 3-2
Duke 0-3 1-5