Archive for November, 2009

November 30th, 2009 | 09:13 pm

Terrapin Trail Final Power Rankings

The regular season is over and the ACC will be sending seven teams to bowl games this season. Clemson, Boston College, and Florida State from the Atlantic Division; and Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Miami, and North Carolina from the Coastal.

When all was said and done, the conference shook out much like it did last season. There was a lot of parity and unpredictability from week-to-week, and there were also a lot of solid programs. But there still aren’t any national title contenders, and never was that more evident than Saturday, when an underachieving Georgia team gashed ACC favorite Georgia Tech.

For the Terps it was a season to forget. Last week’s frustrating loss to Boston College left the program at 2-10 and in some serious turmoil heading into next season. Heads have already rolled in the conference as Virginia has already let coach Al Groh go, and there is speculation Ralph Friedgen is next.

In case you missed it, editor and power rankings contributor Aaron Kraut gave some solid reasons why “The Fridge” deserves another shot in today’s edition of The Diamondback.

He also still has Clemson at the top of his power rankings…

It’s been just as long a season here at Terrapin Trail as at the Gossett Football Team House. We even failed to show up last week, which was inexcusable. But we have enough guts to come back with a strong finale.

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November 30th, 2009 | 03:54 pm

All-ACC Football teams announced

Terp junior linebacker Alex Wujciak was named to the All-ACC first team, while sophomore Torrey Smith was named to the conference’s second team twice, serving as both a wide receiver and return specialist.

Wujciak was named All-ACC second team last season. He finished with a team-high 131 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown, the first Terp to do so since Erin Henderson in 2006.

Smith finished with 61 receptions for 824 yards and five touchdowns. He also averaged 25.7 yards per kick return, taking two for touchdowns. His 182.92 all-purpose yards per game was good for fifth-best in the country.

For the full teams: http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113009aaf.html

ajoseph@umdbk.com

November 30th, 2009 | 10:03 am

PODCAST: Boston College recap

It’s been a long season. With a 2-10 record it appears coach Ralph Friedgen’s job is in at least some danger heading into a bowless December.

Beat writers Adi Joseph and Greg Schimmel, and columnist Eric Detweiler discuss that issue and some others in one of the final editions of “Emptying The Fridge” here.

We’re hoping to do a big wrap-up show soon, time to be announced. We’ll keep you updated.

November 29th, 2009 | 08:31 pm

One Step Over the Line

During a television timeout in the second half of Wednesday’s Terp men’s basketball loss to Wisconsin, Testudo, one of two mascots to attend the Maui Invitational, stepped to the free throw line at the Lahaina Civic Center.

While the teams huddled, the mascot mimicked taking a free throw and then celebrated as if his feigned shot had gone in. The student playing everyone’s favorite turtle probably didn’t mean his action to comment on his team’s struggles, but it was relevant enough.

Among the myriad of areas the Terps are coming up short in right now, free throw shooting seemed to be one of the least explainable.

In a pair of losses at the Maui Invitational last week, the Terps shot a disappointing 56 percent (27-for-48) from the charity stripe.

After his team scuffled at the line against Cincinnati, coach Gary Williams struggled to explain the Terps’ problem.

In his opening remarks after losing the next day to Wisconsin, Williams brought up the contrast between the Badgers’ hot three-point shooting and his team’s continued free throw deficiencies. 

“That combination of things in a game like that isn’t good,” Williams said.

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November 29th, 2009 | 01:59 pm

Kizer likely to start

Sophomore center Lynetta Kizer, who is averaging 14.3 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game, is out on Comcast Center’s floor warming up with the rest of the Terps as they prepare to take on Drexel today. She is also listed as a probable starter in today’s media guide.

The reigning ACC rookie of the year is the leading scorer for the Terps this year, and the only returning starter from last year’s ACC championship squad.

Kizer went down with 1:21 remaining in the first half of Friday’s matchup against Howard, with a sprained ankle. She returned in the second half with her foot in a boot.

Her presence on the floor can only benefit the Terps (5-1), who are looking to win their third game in a span of six days.

UPDATE: Today’s starting five: Kim Rodgers, Diandra Tchatchourang, Tianna Hawkins, Lori Bjork, Anjale Barret

Kizer is on the bench.

UPDATE 2: Kizer entered the game with 16:11 remaining in the half, and right away hit a jumper for 2.

jengelke@umdbk.com

November 28th, 2009 | 09:48 pm

Friedgen, players discuss the future…

No matter the result of Saturday’s season finale against Boston College (the Terps lost 19-17), the question for postgame availability was obvious.

Will Ralph Friedgen remain the coach of this team next season?

It’s quite possible nobody knows the answer, not even AD Debbie Yow or other top-level administrators charged with making the final call. Friedgen will meet with Yow first. He said he wants to discuss some ideas he has for improvement “both from an offensive and defensive standpoint.”

It’s hard to predict if that means assistant coaching changes, a different offensive philosophy, both or neither.

Friedgen said he wants to be here next season, and as has often been the case during this difficult year, he got emotional. For evidence of that, check out the video below:

Aaron Kraut is The Diamondback’s sports editor. He can be reached at akrautdbk@gmail.com.

November 28th, 2009 | 06:39 pm

Final: Boston College 19 Terps 17

Much like the Terps’ entire season, the last quarter of the year was sloppy, kind of boring, and ultimately dissatisfying.

The Terps never really did anything to make it look like they might come back, and they have now completed the first 10-loss season in the history of the program.

The Terps finish 2009 2-10, 1-7 in the ACC, and on a 7-game losing streak.

Jamarr Robinson found Torrey Smith for a 28-yard touchdown pass with 1:34 to play, but by then it was too little, too late for the Terps.

Before the late, essentially meaningless touchdown, the highlights of the quarter were three turnovers on downs on failed 4th-and-1 attempts.

The Terps got stuffed from the BC 37 when Davin Meggett tried to convert about a minute into the quarter.

Then Eagle running back Montel Harris didn’t make it from the Terps’ 26.

Finally, Robinson came back in at quarterback for the Terps and tried a QB keeper with less than five minutes to go from the Terps’ 29 that had no chance after a tremendous play by an Eagle defensive lineman.

Eagle kicker Steve Aponavicius put  it out of reach with a 42-yard field goal four plays later to make it 19-10 BC with 3:59 left.

And so ends our online game coverage of the 2009 Terrapin football team. Check the paper Monday for the game story and again later in the week for the season recap.

Whether he stays or goes, we will have all the postseason Ralph Friedgen news as it develops over the coming weeks.

Hope you enjoyed it. Too bad the Terps just weren’t good this year.

It is officially basketball season.

Greg Schimmel is The Diamondback’s Terrapin Football Beat Writer. He can be reached at schimmeldbk@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter at http://twitter.com/Greg_Schimmel.

November 28th, 2009 | 05:50 pm

End of Third Quarter: Boston College 16 Terps 10

Nobody scored and not much happened.

A long, disjointed, sloppy, penalty-ridden drive by Boston College chewed up about half of the quarter, and ended in a missed 30-yard field goal attempt by Steve Aponavicius.

It was Aponavicius’ first miss on either a field goal or an extra point attempt all season.

When the Terp offense finally got on the field, Chris Turner was back in at quarterback.

The Terps gained two first downs on a 15-yard run by Da’Rel Scott and an 11-yard screen pass to Adrian Cannon but then stalled and had to punt.

The Eagles went three-and-out on their next possession and the Terps were driving as the quarter ends.

The last quarter of the season will start with the Terps facing a 2nd-and-11 from the Eagles’ 47.

Greg Schimmel is The Diamondback’s Terrapin Football Beat Writer. He can be reached at schimmeldbk@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter at http://twitter.com/Greg_Schimmel.

November 28th, 2009 | 04:59 pm

Halftime: Boston College 16 Terps 10

With starting quarterback Chris Turner wearing a heavy coat on the sideline, Jamarr Robinson led the Terps 69 yards in 9 plays on their first touchdown drive of the game.

Da’Rel Scott scored on a 6-yard run through the right side of the line to tie the game at 10-10 after the extra point with 11:43 left in the half.

The teams then exchanged punts, and a personal foul penalty on Terp safety Antwine Perez for a late hit helped along the Eagles’ next drive which ended with a 36-yard field goal by Steve Aponavicius to make it 13-10 BC with 3:43 left in the half.

Aponavicius added a 23-yarder as time expired to make it 16-10 at the half.

One half is all that’s left of the 2009 season. The Terps will need to come from behind to avoid record-setting loss No. 10.

Greg Schimmel is The Diamondback’s Terrapin Football Beat Writer. He can be reached at schimmeldbk@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter at http://twitter.com/Greg_Schimmel.

November 28th, 2009 | 04:16 pm

End of First Quarter: Boston College 10 Terps 3

Chris Turner got the start at quarterback, his first action since he sprained his MCL against N.C. State on Nov. 7

Turner looked sharp on the Terps’ first drive, leading the offense deep into Eagle territory and setting up a 32-yard field goal by Nick Ferrara with 11:57 left in the quarter that made it 3-0 Terps.

It was the first time the Terps scored the first points of a game since Sept. 19 against Middle Tennessee.

The teams then traded punts, and a shanked one by Ferrara gave the Eagles the ball at their own 41. Eagle quarterback Dave Shinskie found wide receiver Colin Lammond for a 66-yard catch and run for a touchdown on 3rd-and-17.

Lammond ran right by Terp cornerback Anthony Wiseman after making the catch and streaked down the sideline for the score to give BC a 7-3 lead with 6:55 left in the quarter.

Eagle kicker Steve Aponavicius added an 18-yard field goal with 55 seconds left in the quarter to make it 10-3. Terp safety Terrell Skinner made a nice tackle to stop Eagle running back Montel Harris from finding the endzone the play before on third-and-goal from the 1.

Backup quarterback Jamarr Robinson entered the game for the Terps’ last drive of the quarter and handed the ball off twice. Turner has his helmet off and is wearing a heavy coat.

Greg Schimmel is The Diamondback’s Terrapin Football Beat Writer. He can be reached at schimmeldbk@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter at http://twitter.com/Greg_Schimmel.