Virginia-Maryland rivalry one of ACC’s best

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Published: October 1, 2008

Scattershooting around the ACC, while noting that the Maryland vs. Virginia rivalry has developed into one of the league’s best over the past couple of seasons…

With down-to-the-wire endings the past two seasons, Maryland coming back from a 20-0 halftime deficit two years ago to win in Charlottesville, and Mikell Simpson leading Virginia to a dramatic 17-16 win in College Park last season, who could ask for more?

The Terps, who have won four straight games against ranked foes for the first time since 1952, will bring a physical and gritty style of play to Scott Stadium on Saturday night.

That’s how Maryland came back and upset Clemson in Death Valley last weekend after trailing at the half and hanging in during the second.

“It was more or less they grinded it out with their will,” said Terps coach Ralph Friedgen. “We kept making mistakes but Clemson did, too. They kept getting penalties and helped us. It was really who is going to make the least amount of mistakes in the second half. It was a weird game.”

Quarterback Chris Turner has been a big part of Maryland’s 4-1 start (the only loss came at Middle Tennessee State). Turner hasn’t been spectacular but he has avoided the glaring errors that drove Friedgen bananas last season.

“Last year, Chris wouldn’t have two straight good games,” said Maryland defensive tackle Jeremy Navarre. “Now he’s going for three. He’s the key to this team, he really is. If he plays the whole year like this, then look out for us. We’re going to surprise a lot of people.”

The Terps already have, bouncing back from the trap game loss at MTSU and upsetting No. 23 California, then going to Clemson to beat the favored Tigers.

Still, Friedgen isn’t totally happy with his team, particularly the running game. He has expressed concern with his offensive line, the fact that offense has committed a lot of penalties and dropped passes.

At Clemson, the Terps managed only 47 yards rushing on 28 carries, when you take out wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey’s 76-yard reverse, the only time he managed to touch the ball in the game.

Virginia fans will remember Turner as the quarterback that Chris Long sacked for a key safety in last season’s game.

When current UVa linebacker Clint Sintim told reporters on Tuesday that Long, who now plays for the St. Louis Rams, would be back in town for Saturday night’s game, Sintim couldn’t resist.

“I don’t think Turner wants to see any more of Chris Long,” Sintim said.

If only Long could suit up for the Cavaliers.

Tigers rag

In the wake of the upset home loss to Maryland, Clemson fans are at their boiling point.

Considered a near lock to win the ACC title this season, Clemson is 3-2, but two of those wins came against The Citadel and South Carolina State. Tiger fans are livid.

They booed coach Tommy Bowden off the field after the Maryland game and they’re already talking about how much it would cost to buy out his contract, which was extended last December. By the way, that buyout is $4 million, a figure that shrinks to a mere $3.5 after Dec. 1 — a payout that would be owed in equal semi-annual payments over the remaining years of the contract, which runs through 2014.

Bowden makes $1.8 million annually.

“You self destruct on offense, you can’t beat a good team doing that,” Bowden said after the Maryland game.

The Terps outgained the Tigers 260-93 yards in the first half and Clemson managed only 112 yards in the second half, while committing three crucial penalties that killed drives and a fourth-and-one failed at the Tigers’ 40-yard line.

Meanwhile, it appears that Clemson tailback C.J. Spiller is smarting from a foot injury that is most evident when he plants. He could use a week off to recuperate.

Who’s got Riley?

Virginia still can’t believe that it left noted Duke wide receiver Eron Riley uncovered in last week’s game, leading to a 30-yard touchdown that helped swing the momentum in the Blue Devils’ favor.

When UVa cornerback Vic Hall moved closer to the line of scrimmage in order to pick up the defensive call, Riley noticed immediately and tried not to give it away that he was wide open.

“I didn’t want to yell at Thad [Lewis], but I was kind of snapping and jumping and all,” said Riley, hoping not to gain Hall’s attention at the same time.

Lewis did see Riley, but had to nudge the Duke center to snap the ball before the coaching staff called the play from the sideline. Duke lines up in a no-huddle offense, but often looks to the sideline for the call.

“I was actually kind of tongue-tied, trying to tell our center to snap it,” Lewis said. “I just said, ‘Down, set, hut.’”

Stat of the Week

Georgia Tech star offensive tackle Andrew Gardner is one of just four players in the country who has started 43 consecutive college football games. Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim has started 41 in a row.

Quote of the Week

Dumped Virginia quarterback Pete Lalich, explained to Oregon reporters how he ended up at Oregon State, where he enrolled in classes on Monday.

Lalich said that he was looking for quarter system schools where he could transfer and showed a list of potential programs he was interested in. Lalich said Groh circled Oregon State.

“I know the coach [Mike Riley] there, and I think it’s a good system for you,” Lalich said Groh told him. “If I were you, that’s where I would go.”

Sleepless in C’ville

Groh was asked at his weekly press conference how difficult it is for him that Virginia has gotten off to a slow start.

“I’m speaking for all the coaches, myself included,” Groh said. “Every week there’s a tremendous amount put into this ... every week between 90 and 100 hours just to have the sense of satisfaction that comes from the accomplishment of the team playing well.

“For anybody involved who puts in that amount of time, and if you don’t get any reward for it, that’s a difficult end of the week,” Groh said. “That’s a difficult end of the week even if you won the previous eight games.”

Hokies on a roll

Virginia fans have to wonder why that five of their close wins last season were described merely as luck, yet Virginia Tech has won its last three games by a combined 11 points and everyone talks about how brilliant those wins were.

Hmmm.

Give the Hokies credit for playing good football and taking advantage of opponents’ mistakes, but shouldn’t UVa have gotten the same credit a year ago?

One reason Tech is winning is that its players adapted the same attitude as UVa’s last season: never give up, never stop playing.

“What would rattle this team?” said Hokies star Victor “Macho” Harris. “Nothing. I don’t care if we come out 34-zip or something like that in the first quarter. This team won’t get rattled.”

Reminiscent of Virginia’s Chris Long a year ago.

The picks

Last week: 4-4. To date: 31-13. This week: Georgia Tech 27, Duke 20; North Carolina 24, UConn 21; Virginia Tech 35, Western Kentucky 14; N.C. State 19, Boston College 13; Florida State 20, Miami 17; Maryland 30, Virginia 20.