Post by elp525 on Jul 8, 2011 4:30:10 GMT -5
July 7, 2011
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a series of previews on West Virginial football opponents.
Date with WVU: Saturday, Sept. 17, noon (ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU)
Site: Byrd Stadium (54,000, grass), College Park, Md.
Coach: Randy Edsall (1st year, 0-0; 13th year overall, 74-70)
Checking them out
Anyone who thinks West Virginia's decision to replace Bill Stewart after three straight nine-win seasons was unique hasn't been paying attention to the goings-on at Maryland. In December, just after WVU began the process of forcing Stewart out, Maryland outright fired Ralph Friedgen after a 9-4 season in which he won ACC coach of the year honors.
Just as was the case at West Virginia, the decision was made because of a desire to go from good to great. Friedgen's 10-year tenure started strong and ended strong, but the middle years were mediocre at best.
Maryland's answer to an upgrade? Hire Connecticut's Randy Edsall, who in 12 years in Storrs led the Huskies from Division I-A infancy to last season's Fiesta Bowl.
Edsall will, of course, begin the process with Friedgen's recruits, and that's not a bad thing right now. The Terps have 14 starters returning, including a top quarterback in 6-foot-3, 215-pound sophomore Danny O'Brien (2,438 yards passing, 22 touchdowns against only eight interceptions in 2010) and a potential 1,000-yard rusher in 5-9, 215-pound Davin Meggett (720 yards in 2010 on just 126 carries). There are some big question marks on the offensive line, and there aren't many experienced receivers around, but this doesn't figure to be a flashy offense, not with Edsall's history at UConn and that of his offensive coordinator, Gary Crowton, whose offenses at LSU the past two years were nothing explosive.
On defense, the unquestioned best player is 6-4, 220-pound senior Kenny Tate, who moves from free safety to a rover linebacker position. But he's not alone. There are seven starters back and plenty of experienced reserves. There are three starters back on the line, Tate adds to an already talented group of linebackers and there are hard-hitting young players ready to step in in the secondary, where the cornerbacks return but the safeties will be new.
All-conference candidates
Offense: QB Danny O'Brien, RB Davin Meggett
Defense: LB Kenny Tate, DT Joe Vellano, LB Demetrius Hartsfield, CB Cameron Chism
Special teams: PR Tony Logan
Notes
Maryland would seem to have a bit of an advantage over West Virginia in how the schedule breaks. Yes, the Terps have a more difficult opener, facing Miami at home on Labor Day, but they have an open week prior to playing host to the Mountaineers. WVU, after opening with Marshall, isn't likely to have to overexert itself during Maryland's off week while playing Norfolk State. If anything it could be a chance to further refine things and work on offensive timing. ... The Terps, by the way, don't play a road game until October and have eight of their first 10 games in their back yard (seven at home and a Notre Dame game at FedEx Field). ... Maryland senior Tony Logan might be the best punt returner in the country. He averaged 18.1 yards per runback a year ago and took two of them for touchdowns. ... Three of the top five crowds in Byrd Stadium history were for games involving WVU.
2011 schedule
Date Opponent 2010
Sept. 5 (Mon.) Miami* L 20-26
Sept. 17 West Virginia L 17-31
Sept. 24 Temple DNP
Oct. 1 Towson DNP
Oct. 8 at Georgia Tech* DNP
Oct. 15 Clemson* L 7-31
Oct. 22 at Fla. State* L 16-30
Oct. 29 Boston College* W 24-21
Nov. 5 Virginia* W 42-23
Nov. 12 x-vs. Notre Dame DNP
Nov. 19 at Wake Forest* W 62-14
Nov. 26 at N.C. State* W 38-31
x-Game at Landover, Md.
* Atlantic Coast Conference games
2010 record: 9-4 overall, 5-3 ACC (won 51-20 over East Carolina in Military Bowl)
Dropped: Duke (W 21-16), Florida International (W 42-28), Morgan State (W 62-3), Navy (W 17-14)
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a series of previews on West Virginial football opponents.
Date with WVU: Saturday, Sept. 17, noon (ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU)
Site: Byrd Stadium (54,000, grass), College Park, Md.
Coach: Randy Edsall (1st year, 0-0; 13th year overall, 74-70)
Checking them out
Anyone who thinks West Virginia's decision to replace Bill Stewart after three straight nine-win seasons was unique hasn't been paying attention to the goings-on at Maryland. In December, just after WVU began the process of forcing Stewart out, Maryland outright fired Ralph Friedgen after a 9-4 season in which he won ACC coach of the year honors.
Just as was the case at West Virginia, the decision was made because of a desire to go from good to great. Friedgen's 10-year tenure started strong and ended strong, but the middle years were mediocre at best.
Maryland's answer to an upgrade? Hire Connecticut's Randy Edsall, who in 12 years in Storrs led the Huskies from Division I-A infancy to last season's Fiesta Bowl.
Edsall will, of course, begin the process with Friedgen's recruits, and that's not a bad thing right now. The Terps have 14 starters returning, including a top quarterback in 6-foot-3, 215-pound sophomore Danny O'Brien (2,438 yards passing, 22 touchdowns against only eight interceptions in 2010) and a potential 1,000-yard rusher in 5-9, 215-pound Davin Meggett (720 yards in 2010 on just 126 carries). There are some big question marks on the offensive line, and there aren't many experienced receivers around, but this doesn't figure to be a flashy offense, not with Edsall's history at UConn and that of his offensive coordinator, Gary Crowton, whose offenses at LSU the past two years were nothing explosive.
On defense, the unquestioned best player is 6-4, 220-pound senior Kenny Tate, who moves from free safety to a rover linebacker position. But he's not alone. There are seven starters back and plenty of experienced reserves. There are three starters back on the line, Tate adds to an already talented group of linebackers and there are hard-hitting young players ready to step in in the secondary, where the cornerbacks return but the safeties will be new.
All-conference candidates
Offense: QB Danny O'Brien, RB Davin Meggett
Defense: LB Kenny Tate, DT Joe Vellano, LB Demetrius Hartsfield, CB Cameron Chism
Special teams: PR Tony Logan
Notes
Maryland would seem to have a bit of an advantage over West Virginia in how the schedule breaks. Yes, the Terps have a more difficult opener, facing Miami at home on Labor Day, but they have an open week prior to playing host to the Mountaineers. WVU, after opening with Marshall, isn't likely to have to overexert itself during Maryland's off week while playing Norfolk State. If anything it could be a chance to further refine things and work on offensive timing. ... The Terps, by the way, don't play a road game until October and have eight of their first 10 games in their back yard (seven at home and a Notre Dame game at FedEx Field). ... Maryland senior Tony Logan might be the best punt returner in the country. He averaged 18.1 yards per runback a year ago and took two of them for touchdowns. ... Three of the top five crowds in Byrd Stadium history were for games involving WVU.
2011 schedule
Date Opponent 2010
Sept. 5 (Mon.) Miami* L 20-26
Sept. 17 West Virginia L 17-31
Sept. 24 Temple DNP
Oct. 1 Towson DNP
Oct. 8 at Georgia Tech* DNP
Oct. 15 Clemson* L 7-31
Oct. 22 at Fla. State* L 16-30
Oct. 29 Boston College* W 24-21
Nov. 5 Virginia* W 42-23
Nov. 12 x-vs. Notre Dame DNP
Nov. 19 at Wake Forest* W 62-14
Nov. 26 at N.C. State* W 38-31
x-Game at Landover, Md.
* Atlantic Coast Conference games
2010 record: 9-4 overall, 5-3 ACC (won 51-20 over East Carolina in Military Bowl)
Dropped: Duke (W 21-16), Florida International (W 42-28), Morgan State (W 62-3), Navy (W 17-14)
