Today marks what will be a historic presidential election, but who cares!?! It’s also the Terrapin football team’s media luncheon!
Coach Ralph Friedgen addressed a number of issues, including his weekly analysis of the upcoming opponent. Regarding Virginia Tech, the Fridge said his team is preparing as if quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor, Sean Glennon and Troy Holt might all play Thursday night. Taylor and Glennon both suffered left ankle sprains against Florida State on Oct. 25 and are listed as questionable.
Friedgen also said that due to a myriad of factors, including it’s status as the “only show in town,” Blacksburg, Va., is one of the toughest places to play in the ACC. The Hokies are 14-3 when playing in ESPN Thursday night games.
Friedgen and Hokies coach Frank Beamer have a close relationship that began over thirty years ago. Both were graduate assistants with the Terps in 1972, and went on to become assistant coaches at The Citadel from 1973-1978. Friedgen was also Beamer’s offensive coordinator in 1981 when Beamer was coaching Murray State. Today, Friedgen recalled an exchange he and Beamer had (sort of) after his 2003 hip relacement surgery when Virginia Tech was looking to join the ACC along with Miami.
“I don’t know if you guys know this story,” Freidgen ominously began. “I was getting my hip replaced, and we were in the ACC meetings, and I caught some infection. I was in bad shape. I looked at my vital signs and my blood pressure was 70/40 [i.e. very low] and I didn’t know if I was going to cash out or not.
I got a call in my room and it was Frank and he wanted to know what I could do for him to help him get into the ACC. I told my wife to tell him, ‘I have to deal with other issues right now than whether you get into the ACC.’ I think he got upset a little at that, but I don’t know if he realized what I was going through.”
Friedgen will have to resort to winning this Thursday in order to “upset” Beamer again.
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I think the spotlight and the fact that VT is recently a top ACC team will help to keep our team motivated; which seems to be Turner’s main issue. That said, I think they’re pretty weak right now with their quarterback issues, and if we can get some special teams going, they’ve been significantly weak there despite Beamer’s efforts. And I always hope Navarre has the stats to reward his beastly efforts