No Longer the Men in Black, Terps Are Healthy in Time to Go Bowling

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 24 -- The kickers and punters kept to themselves on a corner of the field, killing time while their teammates sweated through another typical practice. Trainers milled about, helping one player before going to the next. A crane holding a video camera high above the ground captured all the action.

The Maryland Terrapins practiced like normal on Monday, even though they worked on a junior college's borrowed home field more than 2,800 miles from home. But on this sun-splashed morning, there was one noteworthy difference in this workout.

During Maryland's injury-riddled season, the black jerseys worn by players to distinguish them as too hurt to be tackled had become as much a fixture at practices as the trainers, the cranes and the bored kickers.

On Monday, there were no black jerseys to be seen.

After this season of ravaging injuries the Terrapins, who will face Oregon State in the Emerald Bowl on Friday, may be the healthiest they've been since the team broke training camp.

"We've got all of our key pieces back," Terrapins defensive lineman Dre Moore said. "Everybody who was hurt is practicing. It's a good feeling to see those guys back."

That's not to say that the familiar injury bug hasn't bothered the Terrapins somewhat.

Reserve wide receiver LaQuan Williams is dealing with the effects of a knee injury he suffered during the latter part of the season while backup defensive back Nolan Carroll has been limited with a hamstring injury. Coach Ralph Friedgen listed both as questionable for the game.

The latest casualty came during Monday's practice, when starting tight end Jason Goode suffered an ankle injury. Friedgen was unsure of the severity. Starting cornerback Isaiah Gardner, who played in all 12 games despite suffering myriad injuries including a separated shoulder, practiced wearing a cast protecting the wrist he broke against North Carolina State. Starting linebacker Adrian Moten also wore a cast over a broken hand he suffered during the Terrapins' final practice in College Park before traveling west.

But the injuries didn't keep Gardner or Moten out of practice, an encouraging sign for the Terrapins.

Inside linebacker Erin Henderson looked more comfortable than he has in weeks. Henderson missed just one game this season despite playing through several injuries; he hardly practiced during the second half of the season.

Perhaps the most encouraging signs came from starting guard Jaimie Thomas, who took critical steps in his bid to return from a fractured fibula and accompanying ligament damage. Thomas took the most reps he has had in practice since he was cleared to work last week.

"He looks pretty good in practice right now," said fellow guard Andrew Crummey, who bounced back from a less-severe form of the same injury to play in the Terrapins' regular season finale at North Carolina State.

Friedgen said Thomas, who suffered the injury Oct. 20 against Virginia, could play between a quarter and a half, depending on his progress this week. Just an appearance in the game would be a victory for Thomas, who said his bid to play would be a success even if he were available for just emergency duty.

"He's still not 100 percent and he still has trouble moving laterally," Friedgen said. "But overall he's better than I thought. I think he will play some, but I don't think he'll play a lot."

Even if Thomas doesn't return at full strength, just his presence could give the Terrapins the same kind of boost they enjoyed against North Carolina State when Crummey returned to action after missing seven weeks.

"I do sense a confidence back in the team," Crummey said.

Terrapins Notes: Maryland players visited nearby Alcatraz Island on Monday afternoon as one of the bowl events the team will participate in this week. . . . The Terrapins will hold a walk-through today before breaking for Christmas.