After stunning Cal 35-27, Ralph Friedgen stressed the need for consistency from his team both this Saturday against Eastern Michigan and in the practices leading up to it. Friedgen said his team practices much like it played against the Golden Bears – very well until the end. In order to get his team pumped up for the last 20 minutes of practice, Friedgen told his players he was going to do “something special.”
“I may break out the music. They like music,” he said.
The Terps will be without a number of regular contributors against the Eagles, including safety Terrell Skinner and possibly running back Da’Rel Scott, who is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury. The injuries, along with the fatigue showed by the defense in the closing minutes of Saturday’s victory, has Friedgen considering using players he had originally planned to redshirt.
The players echoed their coach’s emphasis on consistency, and promised that their past problems with it are just that – in the past. They also weren’t shy about expressing their admiration, and in some cases disgust, with cornerback Kevin Barnes and his hit on Cal running back Jahvid Best, who subsequently lost his Gatorade for all to see on national TV.
“Right after the game I watched it, and twice a day since,” wide receiver Danny Oquendo said. “It gets a little more sickening every time.”
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