Terrapins look for elusive fast start against Delaware

By Abby Sondak
Special to The Examiner 8/27/08

Coach Ralph Friedgen’s Terrapins have struggled in season-opening games the past two seasons, which is something they can’t do if they are to defeat Delaware at Byrd Stadium on Saturday. Examiner File Photo COLLEGE PARK – It’s been seven years since Maryland’s football team started 3-0, which to Coach Ralph Friedgen, is too long.

“I would love to be able to get off to a good start — it seems like we always struggle in that area,” he said. “I think it would give us a lot of confidence, and help us reach our goals.”

The Terrapins’ first goal is defeating Delaware in the season opener for both teams at Byrd Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 3:30. Last season, Delaware reached the championship game of the Football Championship Subdivision — formerly Division I-AA — and Maryland finished 6-7 after losing to Oregon State in the Emerald Bowl.

“I think something we’ve realized the past two years is we really didn’t start out as strongly as we would have liked and you kind of want to hit the ground running,” senior linebacker Chase Bullock said. “We really want to dominate some teams and make a statement.”

In last year’s season opener against Villanova — another FCS school — Maryland led, 10-7, at halftime before pulling away in the second half for a 31-14 win. In 2006, the Terrapins defeated William & Mary, 27-14.

Delaware enters this season ranked among the top 10 nationally, including No. 8 in the preseason coaches poll and No. 9 in the Sports Network’s rankings. But the Blue Hens’ two best players — quarterback Joe Flacco, who was taken by the Ravens in the first round of the NFL Draft, and running back Omar Cuff — graduated this past spring.

“We have a really, really tough game coming up,” Friedgen said. “They have 14 players who have transferred from Division 1 schools, so they’re not going to be in awe coming in here. They’re coming in very confident, as winners — as they should be.”

The Terrapins said they are not overlooking the Blue Hens. After all, Appalachian State opened last season by defeating then-fifth-ranked Michigan in Ann Arbor en route to winning its third straight FCS title.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge,” Maryland senior offensive lineman Dane Randolph, a former standout at Wilde Lake, said. “We understand they have a good offense and good quarterbacks. We just know we have to focus in on the little things and be ready to play. It’s the same mindset you have to take every game. We’re just going to take one game at a time and focus on every opponent.”

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