The Terps edged Navy 23-20 in 2005. Photo credit: WNST.net
The Terrapin football team released its 2010 schedule today, a slate that includes two intriguing nonconference contests and the usual ACC foes, plus Coastal Division opponents Duke and Miami.
Some initial thoughts after the jump:
The Navy game, the first time the two teams will meet since 2005, is not scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 4, but instead for Monday, Sept. 6. — Labor Day.
The game will be at M&T Bank Field in Baltimore, and broadcast on ESPN. One would have to think Navy is the more attractive team to the network after the Terps’ poor 2009 campaign. The Midshipmen went 10-4 last season, won the Texas Bowl and had Ohio State on the ropes in Columbus in their season opener.
The Athletics Department has set aside 3,000 student tickets for the Navy game. Those tickets will be complimentary. A little fewer than 3,000 students picked up tickets for the 2005 game.
The Terps will also renew their series with West Virginia when they travel to Morgantown on Sept. 18. The other nonconference games are Morgan State and Florida International. (More on Morgan State and football scheduling tomorrow on Diamondbackonline.com.)
In their first three ACC games, always a critical period, the Terps have Duke at home, at Clemson and at Boston College, a pretty fair stretch.
In 2011 scheduling news, the Terps are attempting to put together a game with Notre Dame. It’s been previously reported that the game would take place at FedEx Field. The Terps have an open date because MAC opponent Bowling Green backed out of a scheduled game.
Athletics Director Debbie Yow said today that no Notre Dame plans have been finalized, and the two schools were still going through the negotiation process, one which she described as commonplace when it comes to football scheduling.
Aaron Kraut is The Diamondback’s sports editor. E-mail him at akrautdbk@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter.