Senior Moments

'Never Lost Confidence'

Obi Egekeze never flinched. He missed his first five field goal attempts this season, including three off the uprights or crossbar, prompting Friedgen to stage an open competition in practice in mid-September.

"A couple players probably lost faith in him," Fokou said. "He was that close to losing the job. They were checking out new kickers in practice."

Running out of patience, Friedgen was talking more about the second- and third-string place kickers, but Egekeze maintained confidence by listening to reinforcement from teammates and several prominent kickers across the country, including former Terrapins standout Nick Novak. In practice, he focused on details, including keeping his eyes down to see his foot contact the football.

Since that tryout week, he has made 14 of 16 field goal attempts, including two game-winning field goals, both in rainy conditions, in the past month.

"I never lost confidence," Egekeze said. "My teammates, friends and coaches stuck by me."

'We're Better Than This'

On a sunny, late September afternoon, Jeremy Navarre walked into Memorial Stadium's visitors' locker room steamed and embarrassed. Clemson had built a seemingly insurmountable 17-6 lead against the Terrapins, and the Tigers appeared on their way to a rout.

While coordinators feverishly looked for solutions in different rooms, Navarre, who usually leads through his performance rather than his words, felt his moment had come. He recalled a former teammate, D'Qwell Jackson, making an emphatic plea to the team years ago, and Navarre knew teammates would listen if he spoke.

Navarre stood, yelled, cursed and told players, "Let's wake up! We're better than this!"