The No. 1 Terps are taking on the No. 2 North Carolina Tar Heels just miles down the road from the football team.

It’s a rainy day today for the battle of undefeated teams at Francis Henry Stadium, but luckily for the Terps (16-0, 4-0 ACC) that should make United Kingdom natives back Emma Thomas and midfielder Megan Frazer feel right at home. That should help the Terps, who must bring their best on both sides of the ball against North Carolina (15-0, 4-0 ACC). The match will decide the top seed in the ACC Tournament, and most likely the NCAA Tournament as well.

Read the preview here, and check back at halftime for an update.

Clad in their pink uniforms, and pink athletic tape for those who needed it, the Terrapin volleyball team dropped yet another ACC match, adding to their now five game losing streak. The pink uniforms were part of a breast cancer awareness fundraiser named “Dig Pink.”

Once again, the Terps (10-13, 2-8 ACC) were swept by an in-conference opponent. This time the culprit was Virginia (8-13, 3-7), who was coming off their own losing streak of three.

The five straight sweeps means the Terps have lost 15 straight sets, the worst in program history.

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Josh Portis, Chris Turner and Jordan Steffy (L-R) competed for the Terps' starting job in 2007 and 2008. Photo courtesy of examiner.com

In today’s print edition story, I wrote quite a bit about the Terps’ future at quarterback. But one thing there wasn’t space for was an analysis of the last major Terp quarterback competition.

In 2007, spring practice became the story of a quarterback controvery. At the time, the Terps were loaded at the position: Jordan Steffy, Chris Turner, Josh Portis, Jeremy Ricker, Bobby Sheahin and Jamarr Robinson all cluttered the roster.

Steffy was the only one of the group with in-game experience — though it wasn’t exactly the prettiest of displays. Turner was the unheralded second-stringer. Portis was the option quarterback who had transferred from Florida and had all the fan hype. Ricker was the four-star recruit who seemed a year or two away. Sheahin, Robinson and Smith were good runners, but clearly didn’t factor heavily into the competition.

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Here it is, folks. Straight from the horse’s e-mail, after the jump.

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Duke coach David Cutcliffe. Photo courtesy of The Chronicle.

In recent seasons, tomorrow’s game at Duke would be an easily predictable win, and not necessarily because it’s Duke (well, that helps).

It’s all based on the pattern.

The Jekyll and Hyde nature of the 2007 and 2008 teams would suggest that in a game such as this one, the Terps would rise up and play their best ball after a couple of subpar performances.

The recent homecoming loss to Virginia and loss at Wake Forest the week prior certainly qualify.

But that up-and-down, roller coaster ride of a season hasn’t happened this season. It’s just been down, with the exception of a flukey win against Clemson. (Now, that’s a Jekyll and Hyde team).

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This just in, via Maryland media relations:

Out for season:

Tyler Bowen (foot)

Nolan Carroll (leg)

Out:

Kerry Boykins (upper body)

Gary Douglas (upper body)

Bennett Fulper (upper body)

Demetrius Hartsfield (hand)

Da’Rel Scott (wrist)

Lansford Watson (lower body)

Questionable:

Lamar Young (upper body)

ajoseph@umdbk.com

During a week which started with coach Ralph Friedgen bringing up the possibility of replacing Chris Turner at quarterback with a younger option in an effort to look toward the future, now we have this, per The Baltimore Sun.

Turner’s dad, John, who is most famous for once being a member of 80’s hair band Ratt, started this thread on the popular InsideMDSports.com message board Monday. His username is “crespiboylol.”

“GET RID OF YOW…And you might have a chance of being decent in football and basketball. Shes the absolute worst and will destroy your program! TRUST ME”

The thread continues, with 17 pages of “Fire Yow” (or Yao, as has become custom to call her) banter and debate.

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