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Every Underdog Has Its Day
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For all the problems Maryland had in fending off division I-AA Delaware in its season opener, the Terrapins also benefit from being a well-known, if not highly regarded, program in a well-known, if not highly regarded, football conference.
Middle Tennessee Coach Rick Stockstill knows all about the advantages that reputation can provide. From 1989 to 2002, Stockstill served in a variety of offensive coaching roles at Clemson, where he learned firsthand the difference between ACC players and those who perform in, say, the Sun Belt Conference, in which Middle Tennessee competes.
In no area is the talent gap more apparent than along the trenches.
"Our defensive line looks like wide receivers compared to [Maryland's] offensive line," said Stockstill, whose team will play the Terrapins tomorrow.
Stockstill said he has 71 players on scholarship this season, 14 less than the NCAA limit of 85. However, because of injuries, just 65 players will suit up against Maryland. During the Blue Raiders' season-opening 31-17 loss to Troy, Stockstill rotated in only 18 players on offense and 20 on defense.
So while Delaware -- a program with 20 division I-A transfers on its roster -- was able to keep up with the Terrapins, Stockstill knows his squad will find that task much more challenging.
"We understand, because of who we are on the food chain process, that we're the little fish," he said. "If we ever beat an ACC team, there would be a lot of national news about it, but we try not to worry about things like that."
However, the temptation to hope beyond reasonable expectation swells every time a team such as Bowling Green takes down a program such as Pittsburgh. Coaches said they must resist that temptation to better prepare their teams for the reality they will face come the following Saturday.
Lamb shares Gill's wishful thinking. Just as Pittsburgh is the decided favorite against Buffalo, Virginia Tech holds heavy odds over Lamb's Paladins. While Virginia Tech's opening loss did not create any sort of advantage for Furman, it did bolster a valuable mentality.
"If we can keep it close in the second and third quarters, all the pressure will be on Virginia Tech," Lamb said, "because we have nothing to lose."
