It was not easy for Maryland (1-2) to dig itself into a 31-0 halftime deficit without committing one first-half turnover. It took dropped passes, errant throws to open receivers, a roughing-the-kicker penalty and their first blocked punt since 1999. It took a defense that made DeMatha graduate Chester Stewart look like a flawless quarterback and an offense that lacked any semblance of rhythm or balance.
“What happened today was unacceptable and really embarrassing,” said Edsall, Maryland’s first-year coach.
After the game, Edsall struck a measured tone but said that he did not get his message across to players about the expected physicality of the game. He said his team played with “no life, no energy” and called his team’s tackling “awful,” adding, “Tackling is heart.”
“As a coach this is hard to say, but it came down to the will,” Edsall said. “Their will was a lot stronger than our will today.”
The Terrapins have not looked this feeble in all facets at least since a 31-0 loss at Virginia in 2008. On Saturday, their leading rusher was backup quarterback C.J. Brown. Their time of possession (18 minutes 59 seconds) was their lowest since 2002. They were bludgeoned by Temple running back Bernard Pierce, who scored a program-record five touchdowns, and surgically dissected by Stewart, who completed all nine of his pass attempts despite entering the game without a reputation as a particularly skilled passer.
Having suspended receivers Ronnie Tyler and Quintin McCree on the field would not have changed the decisive nature of this outcome. Temple, not so long ago a college football punch line, dumped 28 points on Maryland before the Terrapins even crossed midfield. Much of the announced crowd of 39,102 serenaded the home team with boos. Only a smattering of shell-shocked fans remained for all four ghastly quarters.
“It just happened so fast,” Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien said. “It was like you blink your eyes and you’re in a bad dream.”
Andrew Gonnella, the starting left guard and co-captain, said his team has “lost credibility” and called it a “team failure,” the worst loss he has experienced in his life. Joe Vellano, a defensive lineman and co-captain, said that defensive players were often in the right spot but played “stupid” at times.
The issues are numerous and varied. Vellano said the early deficit caused players to “double-think stuff” and that players need to commit to more film study. Gonnella said the offense would like to play at a faster tempo and that more attention needs to be paid to details.
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