Eric Prisbell
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 16, 2004; 12:00 PM
The University of Maryland kicks off their college football season! This weekend, the Terrapins will play against West Virginia. The Terps may have to face West Virginia running back Kay-Jay Harris who suffered a hamstring injury but may play in Saturday's game. The anticipation of the match between the border rivals run high for the Mountaineers. Maryland has won four games in three years all by more than 10 points.
Share your thoughts about how the team looks. Post staff writer Eric Prisbell, who covers Maryland football, was online Thursday, Sept. 16, at Noon ET to take your questions and comments.
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. _____________
Eric Prisbell: Hello, everyone. I hope there are a lot of Mountaineer fans on here, too. This is one of the biggest games of the season and I hope the weather cooperates. I own two coonskin caps - one authentic, one replica - and I'm debating whether to bring them to Morgantown. I respect the Morgantown fans and think this will ge a great game. Sign up for the free newsletter if you want extra Terps coverage. Ok, let's get started.
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Frederick, Md.:
How are the Maryland players approaching this game with WVU? Do they realize that the Mounties have circled this game on their calendars since the Gator Bowl? Are they more wary due to WVU's lofty ranking or are they oozing with confidence after last year's dual-thrashing of the Mounties?
Eric Prisbell: Maryland is ready for this game. Players are poised. Ralph has been pleased with how practice has been going. Maryland has to be happy with how Joel Statham played against Temple. Well, all the starters seemed to play well. I just got off the phone with someone close to the West Virginia program who all but predicted a WVU blowout. Looks like Kay-Jay Harris will play. I'm eager to see them. If Maryland wins, it can have a great season. If WVU wins, it can go undefeated. This is a huge game.
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Terp In JoePa Land:
Eric... my heart is telling me the Terps can win on Saturday. And I suppose they can. But I'm buying into the WVU hype, and also still concerned about the offense because it ain't like Temple is a real estimate of where they're at, right? Is this the year we lose to those hicks to the west?
Eric Prisbell: I really think it will come down to the WVU running game. Watch WVU's offensive line. If the Mountaineers can rely on the run on a rainy day, they could roll. I say it's a six-point game, but I'm not saying which team will win. I think it can go either way. I wouldn't have said that before Maryland played Temple. Let me throw this out there: Why is Rich Rodriguez playing up this underdog stuff - which I wrote about today? How can a team that is ranked seventh ... playing before a hostile home crowd ... handing the ball to one of the best backs in the country ... be an underdog? I asked Rasheed Marshall if he believes what his coach has said and he said yes. As for me, I don't buy it.
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W.Va. U Alum:
Is Kay Jay Harris' hamstring injury considered serious enough to impact his performance?
Enjoy your Mo'town visit! A good place to grab a bite to eat is the Boston Beanery on High Street. Enjoy.
Eric Prisbell: I've talked to a handful of well-informed people around the WVU program and would be shocked if Harris didn't play. Don't be surprised if Colson starts, though. I've been hearing about these "Beat Maryland" T-shirts that some of the WVU fans made up in the offseason...Does anyone know what I'm talking about?? I've spent far too many hours this week trying to track one down, trust me. T-shirt-gate, a major investigative project...The Maryland defense has its eye on Harris. I can't wait for that matchup...Thanks for the food tip. I may check it out, if only to stay dry.
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Chevy Chase, Md.:
Hey, Eric,
What kind of effect is this weather going to have on the teams Saturday?
Eric Prisbell: I think the weather will impact the game in several ways. First off, Mountaineer fans will need one hand to hold an umbrella. So they only have one hand to throw the projectile. Joke. Only a joke. I'm just kidding. Special teams will be huge and Maryland has a solid punter and one of the best kickers in the nation, so that will help. Special teams and the WVU running game, I think, will determine the winner. Statham needs to play smart in bad weather, obviously.
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Rosslyn, Va.:
Why is the injury status of Josh Allen being more closely guarded than the location of Vice-President Cheney?? Come on Fridge, is he going to play or not? And you gotta love that 6 1/2 line for the game- is Vegas saying that there's a 40 swing between the two teams since the Gator Bowl? I don't think so. That type of misjudged line could even lure William Bennett back to the betting pool...
Eric Prisbell: I'll say it here: I picked West Virginia before the season as the nation's No. 1 most overrated team. Unlike many West Virginia fans, I had to watch the entire Gator Bowl game. I had no pick-up with a couch in the back -- as some did -- to take me back up I-95. It was ugly. After a performance like that, I'm not sure how they earned a No. 10 - or whatever - national preseason ranking. Just because they'll probably get a BCS berth out of the Big Least doesn't mean they are USC. If they win this weekend, I'll believe in them ... as for Allen, can you blame Fridge? If Allen has a sore elbow, or knee or back, telling the media could cause WVU to pinpoint that body part. Allen is fine, as far as I know. This isn't a game to sit out and rest ... Vegas? Last time I was in Vegas was for the AAU camps in July with 7,364 kids, including some of the top 6-year-olds in America in hoops.
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Silver Spring, MD:
Harris + Bad Hammy + lots of rain = 8 carries tops = MD close victory. Any poroblem with that math?
Eric Prisbell: If Harris only has eight carries, Maryland wins, but not in a close victory. Harris is key.
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Silver Spring, MD:
I think WVU thinks it is an underdog because they know their #7 ranking is garbage. They woudn't be ranked in the top 15 if they didn't have an incredibly easy schedule. Their ranking is a direct reflection of them being the best team in the worst BCS conference, it is a farce, they know it, and it will be exposed on Saturday.
Eric Prisbell: Hey, hey, they do play Rutgers, right? Mighty Rutgers, which lost to I-AA New Hampshire at home...when it let a freshman throw for 852 yards! Sorry, frustration there.
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Silver Spring, MD:
The lead up to this game is eerily similar tot he game 2 years ago in Morgantown. The result, 28 1st quater points for the Terps and a blowout. I just can't see WVU running on Marylands defense, it just doesnt happen. Does Robinson have it in him to make the game close??
Eric Prisbell: Maryland's line has some inexperience at the tackle positions, though. And, again, I like WVU's offensive line. Ok, I'll say it: West Virginia should win this game. If they can't beat Maryland this year, well, the streak could last for a while then. But I would not be surprised at all if Maryland won.
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Silver Spring, MD:
Will it be Shawn Merriman or DQwell Jackson that knock Kay Jay Harris out of the game on Saturday? I think the sight of Merriman chasing you down would be enough to pop a hammy......
Eric Prisbell: On the list of things you don't want in life, No. 312 is Shawne Merriman chasing you down...He's a beast.
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Still in JoePa land:
If it's all likely to broil down to the running game, do the Terps have the D-line to get it done? Since some six month old poker tournament was more important for Comcast to show than the last two games (days old replays? come on) I haven't exactly gotten a good look at them.
BTW, this weekend one Fox Sports affiliate will carry Wazzu vs. the worst team in college, Idaho live this Saturday. But Comcast can't show the games any earlier than two or three days after the fact? YOU GUYS STINK COMCAST!;
Eric Prisbell: Poker is big now...the WVU-Terps game is on ESPN2 at noon...I caught the Northern Illinois game on replay a while back...Idaho is among the worst teams and, equally important, a slightly overrated state ... Where are all the West Virginia fans??
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Suitland, Md:
I'll never forget attending the WV-MD game in Morgantown 2 years ago. Up 35-0 early in the 2nd quarter, we 1000 or so Terps fans screaming our heads off in the corner of the end zone, and 60000 Mountaineer fans staring in shock-and-awe at what is transpiring down on the field. Or the Gator Bowl in January where a similar scenerio occurred. There's nothing like being in a stadium where I'm outnumbered 60-1 and my team wins.
By-the-way, please take this from a fan who has witnessed numerous WV-MD games both here & there: Mountaineer fans are among the most obnoxious anywhere. Especially the drunk ones.
Eric Prisbell: I've been to Morgantown a handful of times for games. Yes, it's wild ... Here's an underrated hostile crowd, albeit for basketball: UTEP.
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Silver Spring, MD:
Where was Vernon Davis last weekend? I think he could be huge for Maryland this game, what an athlete.....
Eric Prisbell: Davis is supposed to be a big part of the offense in a lot of ways this season. He had a great first game, but wasn't effective against Temple, for whatever reason. I expect him to be a larger part of the offense this week, even if he's blocking a lot. Look for Allen to play a large role, too ... Great question.
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Hyattsville, Md:
Hi. I think Ralph is a great at preparing his teams to play. The longer he has to prepare the better thus the rout in the bowl game last year. How about the West Virginia coach is this a "win or else" rear for him?
Eric Prisbell: A win-or-else year for Rodriguez? No, no. He's done great, but just can't beat Maryland. Again, this WVU team is weird. It takes a lot of heat for maybe being overrated and for being unable to beat the Terps. But, should they win here, this team could be undefeated in December. Imagine WVU playing USC in the Orange Bowl??
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Towson, MD:
Looks like it will be a rainy, windy day in Morgantown--does this help either team? Seems like it should make the WV RB less effective (hamstring injury on wet astroturf?) but also negate some of Md's advantage in the kicking game. What are your thoughts on this?
Eric Prisbell: You could make arguments a few ways on this, and yours was a good point. I think WVU will rely on the run more in bad weather and it is a great running team. I give WVU a slight edge if it's raining hard and Harris is healthy.
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Alexandria, Va:
In your opinion, why hasn't John Bunting been as successful at his alma mater North Carolina as Groh and Friedgen have been at theirs, UVA and UMD?
Eric Prisbell: All I keep hearing about UNC is how bad its defense is and has been ... But Bunting said over and over yesterday that he is confident the team can play much better. I think UNC has the resources to be successful, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is very competitive in two years. I'll leave it at that.
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Hyattsville, Md:
Ok. All things being equal who dp you want for your coach Ralph or Rodriguez?
Eric Prisbell: Excellent question! Hey, trust me on this, I'm exactly a reporter who has been considered a homer in my career ...so when I say Ralph has continued to impress me in the way he manages practice, puts together an offense, etc., I mean it. I take Ralph.
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Silver Spring, MD:
WVU being ranked in the top 10 is exactly what is wrong with college football. People forget the problem with the BCS is the polls not the computers, and now the polls are 67% of the equation. Until we see a playoff system, the polls should be completely abolished, computers and numbers and SOS do not lie, they are not influenced by tradition or expectations. When will people realize this?
Eric Prisbell: I totally agree. The polls are screwed up in a lot of ways. Fresno, Boise and Utah probably should be higher. No question.
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Silver Spring, MD:
West Virginia is an average team in a watered down conference. If you count the Tire Bowl when they got poleaxed by Virginia by 26, that's six losses in a row to the ACC, and Virginia hasn't won ten games since Welsh left. Maryland beats WVA like a rented mule on moving day. No contest.
Eric Prisbell: A rented mule? I'm not touching that subject. I'll leave it at that.
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Oakton, VA:
Whoever scores first wins the game... agree? If West Virginia can get on top early, they will wear on MD's d line and run it all day with Harris. But if MD gets on top, I don't think West Virginia has the offense to come from behind.
Eric Prisbell: Not sure. I kinda see this one going back and forth. Again, 26-20. A good game. If WVU gets behind again, I could see them folding like before, though.
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Suitland, Md:
Taking repeaters already? All of the MD fans must be working. And all of the WV fans must be...doing whatever it is they do in the back 40.
Eric Prisbell: Funny man ... Save some material for Saturday.
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Eric Prisbell: Thanks everyone. I was expecting more WVU fans spewing insults today. I guess I'll have to wait until Saturday. Ok, time for me to write some stories. Take care. See everyone before the epic Duke game.
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I think, and this is only my opinion from talking to everyone, that Rodriguez wanted his team to shut up this week. No cocky chatter that would wind up motivating the Terps. I saw some quotes from a confident Harris, but everyone I talked to seemed very, almost overly, respectful toward Maryland, which I found interesting. I'm doing Morgantown radio tomorrow night and will probably bring that point up.
Prediction: 26-20, not saying which team wins...
When the Miners pack the place, they are as wild as any hoop fans ... A Fresno State football home crowd can get a little hostile, too. A screwdriver was allegedly thrown from the stands, if my memory serves me right, a few years ago.