Terps' Randolph Tagged to Start

A few years ago, Dane Randolph called his mother on the phone. He wasn't happy.

The high school defensive end wanted to tell his mom that Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen had just moved him to offensive tackle. The move would mean a better opportunity for playing time, but Randolph -- then a true freshman -- only grudgingly accepted the change.

"I didn't enjoy it," Randolph said. "But he was right. He was telling the truth."

Friedgen tabbed Randolph yesterday as the likely starter at right tackle when Maryland plays William & Mary during Saturday's season opener.

Randolph (Wilde Lake), a 6-foot-5, 285-pound sophomore, performed well during spring practice and earned praise from coaches while he held down the tackle spot during Jared Gaither's two-week suspension in camp.

Friedgen said last week that Gaither, a 6-9, 350-pounder who emerged as a star last year, would have to earn his starting spot again, opening the door for Randolph.

"I came into camp with the mentality that I would get the starting job," Randolph said. "And whether Jared was there or not, I worked as hard as I could to fight for it."

Gaither still seems to be favored to eventually reclaim the starting job, though Randolph said it won't be without a fight.

"I'm going to hang on to it as long as I can. I know I can keep it," Randolph said. "I'm going to make Jared work hard if he wants to get it."

A few days ago, Randolph called his mother again.

"I'm going to be in the whole game now instead of that last quarter," he told his mom, who along with nine other friends and family members will watch from the stands as Randolph makes his first career start.

No Side Effects for Steffy

Backup quarterback Jordan Steffy looked comfortable while throwing the football yesterday, just three days after spraining the middle finger of his right (throwing) hand at the start of practice on Saturday.

With his hand taped up, Steffy threw a touchdown pass during a competitive goal-line drill yesterday. He was also accurate at Monday's practice, his first day back. "It's playable," he said. . . .

Crews worked throughout the day changing stadium signage to reflect a $20 million naming-rights deal announced last week. Road signs bearing the football venue's new name, Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium, were already up around the Capital Beltway late last week. . . .

Friedgen said Maryland's primary kicker against William & Mary could be a "game-time decision." Incumbent Dan Ennis rebounded last week, pulling even with Obi Egekeze. "It's been very, very close," Friedgen said. . . .

Starting cornerback Josh Wilson is practicing at 100 percent after sitting out most of last week because of a sprained right foot. Coaches sat Wilson, afraid that the injury could worsen.

Cavs Lose a Receiver

Backup wide receiver Bud Davis has withdrawn from Virginia for personal reasons and will no longer play on the football team, leaving an already thinned rotation further depleted as the Cavaliers prepare for their opening game at Pittsburgh on Saturday evening.

Deyon Williams, Virginia's best receiver, missed nearly all of the preseason after having surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot, and Davis had lost a competition to sophomore Kevin Ogletree to be the starter in Williams's stead.

Davis's decision to leave was not related to playing time, Virginia Coach Al Groh said.

"This has been an issue Bud's been dealing with for a while," Groh said.

Still, Davis's untimely departure surprised teammates.

"Definitely, it was a big shock to me," said Fontel Mines, the starting receiver opposite Ogletree. "I just went over and told the guys somebody has to step up, and that's what football is all about. Nobody gets recruited to sit on the bench."

Replacing Davis on the depth chart is junior Mike Robertson, who has played in three games and is yet to catch a pass. Mines compared Robertson, who redshirted after walking on as a freshman in 2003, to quarterback Christian Olsen in that he's an experienced player in Virginia's system but has yet to receive much game action.

"You can always trust him to be in the right spot," Mines said. . . .

Senior Tony Franklin, Virginia's leading returning tackler with 5.5 per game, was listed as the backup at strong safety to sophomore Byron Glaspy.

"I didn't know that," Glaspy said. "Last year at this time, I was trying to make the travel squad."

Hokies Set on Kick Teams

Virginia Tech has its special teams aces in order. Receivers Josh Morgan and Eddie Royal (Westfield) and cornerback Victor Harris will team to return kickoffs and punts, and Jared Develli will kick off. Senior Brandon Pace, Virginia Tech's place kicker, will also handle some of the kickoffs this season, Hokies Coach Frank Beamer said. If Pace is to make the NFL, he'll need to prove he can kick off, and Beamer wants to allow Pace to show his talent. . . .

Beamer said freshman Kam Chancellor will be the first backup at cornerback, basically ensuring he'll see some playing time. Freshman Sergio Render will start at guard, while any other freshmen likely would play special teams, if at all. Freshman defensive tackle John Graves, who had impressed in camp, will redshirt, Beamer said.

Carig reported from College Park; Kilgore reported from Charlottesville.