Terp Talk

    The talk is over, it’s time for Jordan Steffey to step up to the plate and connect on Satyrday.  Coach Friedgen and Coach Franklin have stuck their necks way out on the line for Jordan, now let’s see how he responds. Ex-Terp Shawne “Lights Out” Merriman has decided to play with the knee surgery in what I believe is a very unwise decision. The Ravens QB mess has worsened with the realization that Kyle Boller may be out for the year. I am sure Ozzie is scouring the rosters for a QB as I write. The Falcons are in town tonight as ex Raven Chris Redman is battling 1st round pick Matt Ryan for the starting job.  Expect to see a lot of Joe Flacco tonight.

     The Terrapins bball schedule was released yesterday and highlighting the season are the 2 home and aways series with Duke and Carolina. Maryland is the only ACC team to see the big guys 4 times.  A December 7 rematch with GW, along with 2 games against the Big Ten highlight the non-conference schedule.

    Tune in tonight as guest cohost, Dino combine with me to present Terrapins bowl bound, the new theme of the season.  We will also review the Men’s basketball schedule that was just released on Tuesday.  Email any questions to bruce@terptelk.com. Call in the show if you wish at 410-481-1300.

    Joe Walters lead his Rochester Rattlers to their first MLL lacrosse championsjip beating Jesse Schwartzman and his Denver Outlaws 16-6.

    Ex-Terp Jared Gaither returned to the Baltimore Ravens practice field yesterday.  Jared is penciled in as starting lft tackle, a position made famous by future Hall of Famer, Jonathan Ogden. Gaither was originally picked by the Ravens in the 2007 supplemental draft.  DJ Strawberry was traded by Phoenix today to the Houston Rockets.  Wednesday on Terp Talk Dino will be in for a Terrapin football show, including a call in from Dave Glenn, an ACC expert and owner of accsports.com.  If you are looking for a brief synopsis of the Terps so you can more easily enjoy the games, listen in.

    There are the 3 guys who have ferociously battled for the starting berth. From left to right :Starter Jordan Steffey. then Chris Turner , then Josh Portis. My take on the QB situation is as follows, though based on last year’s performance I believe Turner may be the guy who will play most of the snaps this year. Of course most fans who are screaming for Turner haven’t been to one practice.The Terps seem to have 3 competent QB’s unlike the Ravens who don’t have one.

    Finally basketball gym rats like myself believe order has been restored in the world bball scene as the USA led by Kobe held on to an 11 point win against a physically superior Spanish team.  As the game got tight in the 2nd half, the USA turned to Kobe and the 3 time NBA champion responded like the champ he is by taking over the offense.

         Freshman sensation Lydia Hastings scored twice to lead the Lady Terps to an opening home game win vs George Mason.  Jordan Steffey continued his fine preseason today , completing 40 yard bombs to Heyward-Bey and Williams.  Former Terp running back, Lance Ball was able to score against the Ravens in the exhibition game tonight.

     The Ravens’ offense continues to sputter no matter who is at the helm. Rookie Joe Flacco went 18-37 with 1 TD in a somewhat impressive rookie performance but the Ravens were thoroughly outplayed by St Louis. Flacco displayed some poise but could only sustain 1 drive. Yamon Figurs contiues to impress for the Ravens.  It’s 2:15 AM and the Redeem team is about to begin its final game of the 3 year program, the Gold Medal game against Spain —USA 105  Spain 80 look for Kobe to lead the way tonight.

    Big time collegiate golf comes to the area in 2 weeks as the University of Maryland will host an 18 team field at the River marsh Golf Course at the Hyatt Chesapeake Bay Resort. Teams participating include Arkansas, California (Pa.), College of Charleston, Georgia Southern, Georgetown, Kent State, Maryland, Navy, NC State, Old Dominion, Rhode Island, St. John’s, North Carolina, UNC Greensboro, Texas State, Virginia, VCU, William & Mary. The event begins with 36 holes on Saturday and wraps up with 18 holes on Sunday.

    The first of two “Breakfast with the Fridge” occurs next Friday.  The eighth-year head coach will visit with Terp fans this coming Friday, one day prior to the team’s season opener vs. Delaware  at the Inn & Conference Center (click here for directions) on the University of Maryland campus. Admission is free. The event begins at 7:00 a.m. with a continental breakfast. Friedgen will address the crowd from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

     The Olympics come to an end early Sunday morning.  Key events remaining for the USA include Women’s Bball vs Australia-Sat Morning at 10AM, Men’s and Women’s Volleyball final and of course the 2:30 AM Sunday Gold Medal game between the Redeem team and Spain.  No mercy will be exhibited by the USA basketballers, so look for another crushing win after a so so performance against the Ginobli less Argentina team.  

    All eyes will be on Troy Smith Saturday night as he gets the nod over Kyle.  The O’s host the Yanks again Saturday night as our ace, Jeremy Guthrie, takes the mound

      Soccer Star Omar Gonzalez and All American Wrestler Hudson Taylor led a school record placement on the ACC Honor Roll. Maryland trailed only Boston College, Duke and North Carolina on the just published list. riner

     On the Olympic front the USA pulled away Thursday in the medal count leading China 99-83 at 2 AM Friday morning. Manu Ginobli and Argentina provide the next test for the Redeem Team Friday morning at 10:15 AM. The USA easily handled Argentina in the last Olympics and will coast to a 20 point decision into the Gold Medal game. The USA ladies shut down Russian point guard Becky Hammond and eased into the gold medal game on Saturday vs Australia.  Despite a medal sweep in the 400 m men’s race, the USA seems to have lost its Track and Field dominance. Have you ever seen a more unhappy silver medal winner then Jeremy Wariner? It’s not like he barely lost the gold!!!

      The quarterback controversy continues with the Ravens as Troy Smith gets the starting nod Saturday night.  It would be great to see Smith or Boller have a decent performance.  Yankee nation invades Baltimore this weekend for a 3 game series.  

    Terp Talk moves to Wednesday August 27 next week, being preempted on Thursday by the Ravens game.   

    That was a huge sigh of relief heard from College park tonight as Chris Turner, currently the jilted starting QB from last year has decided to stay at Maryland, continue working hard and patiently wait for his turn to come. Coach Friedgen Had this to say about the whole controversy.

     Tune into mileone Terp Talk tonight as we will have Danny Matta, CEO of Great Seats, and Terrapin times Mike Fecula in the studio tonight.  Mike covers the non revenue sports at College Park.  He will report tonight on the upcoming soccer season, as Maryland is one of the favorites to go all the way.  Listen in on the web at www.espn1300.com. Call in any questions to 1-888-843-1300.

     The O’s romped over Boston last night 11-6 as Chris Walters picked up his 2nd big league win. The US is clinging to a 2  medal count and the total lead. 

     It was bound to happen. After not being selected as starting QB, Chris Turner is rumored to be considering transferring. According to the Washington Post,  backup quarterback Chris Turner was expected to mull over his options with his family late last night and decide by this morning whether he would remain at Maryland or transfer, said a source close to the situation.  Turner, who practiced Monday and yesterday, has not been available to comment since Friedgen announced his decision Monday morning, but a source close to the situation said the player was expected to have an extensive discussion about his situation with his family.  When James Franklin, Maryland’s offensive coordinator, was asked if he had any sense whether Turner might transfer, he responded: “What I can tell you is that I am really excited about the University of Maryland football program, the direction we’re headed, our offense, and that’s what I’m focusing on.”  ”Just because I don’t think it was going to be good no matter how I went with it,” Friedgen said. “I think a lot of those kids, they are all great kids, they work their butts off and I believe in them tremendously as people. I want to see them be successes in life. This whole thing is a preparation for that.”

    This morning at 8AM the Redeem Team looks to advance to the medal round by having to defeat Australia, the one team that kept it close with Kobe and his mates.  No problem USA by 25.The O’s lost again to the Red Sox 7-2 at Fenway south better known as Oriole Park.  

     Inside Lacrosse rated the incoming freshmen men’s class #3 in the nation. The Lady Terps incoming freashmen were Ranked #6.

    In a stunning surprise move, Coach Ralph Friedgen has chosen Senior QB Jordan Steffey to take over the helm of the Terrapin offense. ”It was a hard decision,” Friedgen said. “[The coaching staff] talked about it for a long time last night. We looked at every statistic that we kept, from pass completions, yards per catch, yards after catch, interceptions, percentage of drives scoring, good practices and bad practices. We even consulted with some of the players. Really when you look at all the data, Jordan Steffy has earned the spot. He was ahead in almost every category.” What makes it so surprising to me is that Chris Turner has an extremely successful season (in my opinion) last year.  However, in fairness to Coach Friedgen, he kept repeating that the position was up for grabs and the best performer would win the role–and it turned out to be Steffey.  

        I went to the O’s game and if you closed your eyes and listened to the crowd you would swear you were in Boston.  There were 40,000 in attendance, maybe 22000 more then usual for Monday night, so its easy to tell where the extra folks came from.  The O’s lost 6-3.  Terrell Suggs signed with the Ravens on Monday and appeared at his camp for the first time. As a designated franchise player, Suggs will “only ” receive 8.5 million this year. Unbelievable.  The Ravens QB controversy continues Boller vs Troy Smith–flip a coin.

     Thursday night on Terp Talk, Danny Matta, CEO of Great Seats will be in the studio to co-host.  Danny is a fascinating guy who knows the local ticket story from a to z. Dino will also be in the studio.