University of Maryland Football

Terrapin Sports

The University of Maryland kicks off their college football season! In the season-opening game, the Terrapins beat Northern Illinois, 23-20, at Byrd Stadium. Despite the victory, Coach Ralph Friedgen described the team's play "a mess" with miscues and poor communication. This Saturday, the Terps will play against Temple.

Share your thoughts about how the team looks. Post staff writer Eric Prisbell, who covers Maryland football, was online Friday, Sept. 10, 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.

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Eric Prisbell: Hello, all. Thanks for joining me in today's chat. I know a lot of fans already are thinking ahead to the West Virginia game, but Maryland does have another game Saturday against Temple. Before we start, I just want to remind everyone to sign up for the free daily newsletter to get Maryland info that you can't find in the paper. Ok, let's get started, I see lots of questions.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Hey Eric, do you think that Statham's first game was primarily jitters, not fully comprehending/understanding Friedgen's playbook, or something else? Obviously the NIU defense did their part, but four fumbles?

Eric Prisbell: That's something a lot of people close to the program are thinking about. Joel has told me it was jitters and I have no reason not to believe him at this point. He played really well in practice all week, but I think he'll be tested - as much as Temple can test someone - against the Owls' blitzing defense. I want to see how Joel performs in Morgantown next week, though.

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Naval Station Rota, Spain: If your quarterback has another game like last week against Temple will you stay with him?

Eric Prisbell: Good morning, Spain. I wasn't sure how many Terps fans lived over there. By the way, the free newsletter also can be delivered overseas via email. Regarding the quarterback, Ralph has said he is committed to Joel at this point and even with a so-so effort against Temple, I think Joel will still be the man if the team wins. That said, Steffy has played well all summer.

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Central Pennsylvania: Eric, having seen the magic of sorts that Fridge has had both with Shawn Hill and Scott McBrien, I'm completely willing to be patient with Statham's early struggles, and honestly feel by November he'll just fine as a starting QB. That said, is Friedgen and the offensive staff going to be as patient with him as they were with McBrien? Or does the presence of improving backups like Mitch and Steffy mean Statham has a shorter leash this time around?

Eric Prisbell: That's an excellent point, Central Pa. But I do think Ralph and Co. will be just as patient with Statham as they were with McBrien. I think once Statham plays in front of a hostile crowd (Morgantown) I think we'll have a better feel for what he'll be able to do this season. One more point I should add is that Maryland was a play away from scoring a touchdown with 5 minutes to go and making the score 30-10 against Northern Illinois, which would have been a blowout. And Joel still won the game.

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Silver Spring, Md: Good morning,
What was the deal with the last 30 seconds of the NIU game. It had to be a delay of the game or just pure stupidity for them not to move into position and attempt a field goal. I was sitting real low and just seemed that everybody was just standing around for those last seconds. Any insight??

Eric Prisbell: Well, I've thought about that myself because Northern Illinois, even with a rookie kicker, was in good position to tie the game or even have a chance to win the game. Maryland was very fortunate because twice it had 10 men on the field during the final Huskie drive. On the one play, I forget the specifics, it looked like the Northern Illinois player, after he caught the ball, was very close to going out of bounds. That would have stopped the clock. It also looked like the officials were slow in spotting the ball. But, then again, I think NIU could have spiked the ball to stop the clock. Heck of a game, though.

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South Beach USA: How many games will this team win?

Eric Prisbell: I was thinking 7-4 before the season and will stick to it. Those road games at West Virginia, Clemson, Virginia and V-Tech will be tough. Then there is a home game against Florida State. When you have a team with 36 players with four years of eligibility, a 7-4 season, I think, would be a success. That said, if Joel really develops, I could certainly see Maryland challenging for top three in the conference.

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Frederick Md: When will the Terp's defense get some national attention. They really play a great team defense.

Eric Prisbell: Good point. I think Maryland's defense has been underrated the past couple of years. I'll tell you what, if Maryland is able to contain Florida State's vaunted offense, what is supposed to be a vaunted offense, then it will get some national hype.

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Woodstock, Md.: Eric,

Do you have an insights into why Derrick Williams dropped the Terps from the list of colleges he is considering? Interesting that his Dad worked so long at U. MD but was laid off...

Eric Prisbell: I have no insight into his decision other than what was printed in our paper today. I know a lot of Maryland fans were pretty upset and expressed their frustration on a message board. But, from all accounts, the Terps' recruiting class will be strong, as it was last season, and hopefully Derrick will be happy with his decision.

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Baltimore, Md.: Eric,
What's your gut feeling? If D'Qwell continues to have a monster year, will he leave after his junior season?

Eric Prisbell: Earlier this season, Ralph said that D'Qwell has E.J. Henderson potential. If Jackson and Merriman both have the seasons they expect to have, I could see both being in position to think about the NFL draft. I have talked to both, though, and they both say they wish to concentrate on the season right now. Merriman even said he wanted to stay four years and get his degree, etc.

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Alexandria, Va.: Maryland's defense looked great last week. The offense/QB will have to improve 100% to be competetive in the ACC. My question, with the last two QB's (Hill/McBrien) why does it take 2-4 games for the QB's to learn the system.

Also of note, as a season ticket holder near the end zone, MD officials create a backup with booths set up blocking traffic (beginning of the game) what a mess, the booths were gone by halftime.

Eric Prisbell: Traffic could be rough if you go to the game at the wrong time. I know that for sure.

As for the offense, I think the fact that the playbook is four inches thick and 1,200 pages may contribute to a slow learning curve.

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Beautiful Silver Spring, Md.: Watching the offensive debacle that was Saturday's game against Northern Illinois, I found myself wondering: Is there any hope that we can keep Gary Blackney around for a while longer? Eventually someone is going to notice that while these Fridge-led Maryland teams have been fun to watch on offense, they've really dominated on the defensive side of the football (except against FSU, but this is the year!;). I can't imagine that Fridge would try to stand in Blackney's way if another school tried to lure him away from College Park.

Have there been any rumors along these lines? Has Gary developed a special affinity with Fridge that might induce him to stay?

Eric Prisbell: Oh, I definitely think there is a chemistry that has been built among Blackney, Taaffe and Ralph. These three make up one of the most experienced coaching trios in the country and, I think, that's a big reason why they have had three straight 10-win seasons.

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Fairfax, Va.: Why is MD scheduling UCONN for a home and home in 2010? Is the fridge having trouble getting some more interesting matchups? UCONN is only a slightly better than average 1AA school.

Eric Prisbell: I beg to differ on that. Right now, I think UConn is a team on the verge of a bowl game in the big east, much like Rutgers. But by 2010, I think UConn will be even better, so it may not be an easy nonconference game by that point. Speaking of UConn, Rudy Gay, I think, will be the best freshman hoopster in the country this season.

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Washington, D.C.: I read where UVa's Ahmad Brooks might go to the NFL after this season. Do you think there are any Terps that could fall in the same category?

Eric Prisbell: Yeah, I'd keep an eye on Merriman and jackson, because they are both superb. But, as I said before, both have told me they are concentrating on the season right now.

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Rockville, Md.: What do you expect from Maryland in 2004? I mean do I see they like they are ready for BCS...They way the play against NIU the past weekend look like it was very sloppy game for Terps! They could do better than that. Do you really see the MARYLAND TERRPIAN in the BCS this year? GO TERPS!!!!!

Eric Prisbell: Anything is possible, but I think something like the Tangerine Bowl would be good for this young team. I know Maryland usually plays much better later in the season, but those road games toward season's end are quite tough.

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Washington, D.C.: If Statham is so-so do you think Friedgen would ever consider rotating quarterbacks?
Who do you like this week between Fla State and Miami this weekend?

Eric Prisbell: While Steffy is more accurate than Statham, Friedgen said, Jordan also remains a work in progress. He's improved his footwork but still needs to refine his game, which he will. I think he is still 18. That said, Joel is the man for now.

I like Rix and FSU tonight.

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Maryland: How often are you with the Terps? 3-4 hours a day?

Eric Prisbell: Good question. I've been with the Terps this summer a lot more than I've been with my girlfriend, I'll say that.

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Fort Wayne, Ind.: What ever happen to the players of our one & only No. 1 Team of 1952/3-54?
Berney Faloney. Little & Big MO ,Hannulack
Jack Scarbath
Nick Nolan
Felton
Stan Jhons(?)
Etc.
I was attending U.of Md in that time a foreign student from my country Nicaragua.

Eric Prisbell: I'd have to do some research on that one.

I will say that I recently spotted an Internet reporter wearing a throwback Terps jersey from that era, pretty cool. Not the guy wearing the jersey, but the jersey itself.

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Arlington, Va.: Maryland has been overrated for a few years, now. I think UVA was on point regarding Maryland getting picked for bowls over the Cavs when the the Terps plays weak out of conference schedules. I don't blame the Cavs for scheduling Temple after that. Does last week's barely-there win over Northern Illinois make a bigger statement about the Terps or Northern Illinois. I know you can't avoid the Maryland and Va. Tech bias of suburban DC, but there didn't seem to be a lot for Maryland to hang it's hat on from last week's game.

Eric Prisbell: I see your point. What Maryland can hang its hat on is that it won the game. One and Ohhhhh, if you will.

Again, the test is in Morgantown.

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Terp in New Jersey: Will Maryland ever reach the plateau of FSU and Miami in the Friedgen era? It's year 3 of Ralph's plan and with his players for his offensive system and Blackney's defensive scheme - is this the most critical year of that plan? And can you see the ESPN Gameday crew hosting a Sat. AM show on the beautiful campus of UM, esp. if the Terps can go undefeated or have 1-loss coming into the FSU Oct. 30? Just wondering... Go Terps!;

Eric Prisbell: If both teams are undefeated, I could see the GameDay crew in college park for the FSU game. That would be cool. Ralph has told me that he needs depth and more depth to be able to really compete with Miami and FSU. A couple more recruiting classes.

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Baltimore, Md.: Eric,
The loss of Derrick Williams is no doubt a blow to Maryland's recruiting class and hits close to home when we lose a player from right down the road. How much credence do you give to Mr. Williams' statement that his termination from the University of Maryland had nothing to do with Derrick's decision not to come to Maryland, especially in light of the fact that the parents seem to be particularly involved in Derrick's recruiting?

Eric Prisbell: I have no reason not to believe the dad.

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Frederick, Md.: Why wasn't the Maryland game broadcast on TV? I cannot contemplate the decision not to air a home-opener sellout. Who was in charge of ths decision?

Eric Prisbell: Not sure. But the game was replayed soon after and I got to see that crazy ending again, when Kelley was screaming and there was so much chaos on the final drive.

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Maryland Burbs: I live in Gaithersburg and the MD/NIU game was not on. Why?

Eric Prisbell: Again, not sure. Maybe because Michael "The Burner" Turner was not playing. Just kidding. That said, have you ever seen a team with more players who have nicknames?

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Eric Prisbell: Okay, everyone, that's about it. Time to prepare for the Temple game. I'll leave with three final words: Newsletter, newsletter, newsletter. See you all next Friday -- from Morgantown -- and thanks again.

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