COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Ralph Friedgen was talking about his resurgent Maryland football team this week when someone asked him to describe his memories of last year's game against Virginia Tech.
"Do I have to? You really know how to hurt a guy, don't you?" Friedgen replied. "It wasn't one of the better days of my life."
The 55-6 bashing was the most lopsided loss Friedgen has suffered as a head coach. The Hokies led 14-0 after four minutes, and increased the margin to 41-3 by halftime as they rolled to an embarrassingly easy Atlantic Coast Conference victory.
Friedgen and the Terrapins get a chance for redemption Thursday night when they host the third-ranked Hokies (6-0, 3-0) at Byrd Stadium.
Maryland (4-2, 2-1) can extend its winning streak to four games and gain a first-place tie in the Atlantic Division with a victory. But their main source of motivation is gaining a measure of revenge for the humbling 49-point defeat, which occurred in prime time in front of a national television audience.
"If that doesn't get the hair on the back of your neck up, then you've got Kool-Aid floating in your veins," Maryland defensive coordinator Gary Blackney said.
Terrapins quarterback Sam Hollenbach entered the game as a replacement for starter Joel Statham, who went 8-for-17 with three interceptions. Hollenbach is a starter now, and can't wait for the chance to erase memories of that quiet, miserable flight back from Blacksburg.
"You don't even say anything after a game like that," he said. "Obviously, there's a little bit of a special place in the back of our minds for these guys. First of all, them being a top-five team. And then, what happened last year, it's just a little extra motivation."
The Hokies took advantage of several Terrapins miscues. Maryland committed five turnovers, including four in the pivotal first half, and was penalized 11 times for 89 yards.
"We were able to get them in some bad situations and we were able to capitalize on it," Virginia Tech defensive end Darryl Tapp said.
"We deserved to get beat the way we did," Friedgen acknowledged.
Maybe so, but the Hokies figure the Terrapins are salivating over the prospect of a payback.
"If it was Virginia Tech, man, we would be so hyped for that game we would sure enough be ready," Hokies right guard Jason Murphy said. "It's not going to be a surprise when we get up there and see that those guys are hyped and ready to play."
Said Tapp: "I'd have had this game circled since summertime if I was Maryland. That wasn't Maryland on the field last year. I feel they're going to come out with a large chip on their shoulder, ready to go."
The Terrapins can't expect to win with emotion alone. Virginia Tech has more experience and size, an outstanding quarterback in Marcus Vick and a plus-12 turnover ratio. If Maryland is to pull off an upset, then it must avoid the giveaways that turned last year's game into a rout.
"That team is like sharks feeding for a turnover," Friedgen said.
"To have a chance versus these guys, you have to play mistake-free football," Hollenbach said. "We have to limit our mental mistakes, limit our penalties, win the turnover battle, that kind of thing."
If the Terrapins can avoid making it easy for Virginia Tech - a task that proved too formidable a year ago - then they have a shot at making a game of it.
"I think it's got the makings of a heck of a Thursday night football game," Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "I think they're better. They talk about they're back in the title hunt, and they are. They control their own destiny."
A victory would put Maryland in first place. A win would keep the Hokies in the hunt to play in the national championship game.
"They're playing for a lot," Beamer said. "We're playing for a lot."
"Do I have to? You really know how to hurt a guy, don't you?" Friedgen replied. "It wasn't one of the better days of my life."
The 55-6 bashing was the most lopsided loss Friedgen has suffered as a head coach. The Hokies led 14-0 after four minutes, and increased the margin to 41-3 by halftime as they rolled to an embarrassingly easy Atlantic Coast Conference victory.
Friedgen and the Terrapins get a chance for redemption Thursday night when they host the third-ranked Hokies (6-0, 3-0) at Byrd Stadium.
Maryland (4-2, 2-1) can extend its winning streak to four games and gain a first-place tie in the Atlantic Division with a victory. But their main source of motivation is gaining a measure of revenge for the humbling 49-point defeat, which occurred in prime time in front of a national television audience.
"If that doesn't get the hair on the back of your neck up, then you've got Kool-Aid floating in your veins," Maryland defensive coordinator Gary Blackney said.
Terrapins quarterback Sam Hollenbach entered the game as a replacement for starter Joel Statham, who went 8-for-17 with three interceptions. Hollenbach is a starter now, and can't wait for the chance to erase memories of that quiet, miserable flight back from Blacksburg.
"You don't even say anything after a game like that," he said. "Obviously, there's a little bit of a special place in the back of our minds for these guys. First of all, them being a top-five team. And then, what happened last year, it's just a little extra motivation."
The Hokies took advantage of several Terrapins miscues. Maryland committed five turnovers, including four in the pivotal first half, and was penalized 11 times for 89 yards.
"We were able to get them in some bad situations and we were able to capitalize on it," Virginia Tech defensive end Darryl Tapp said.
"We deserved to get beat the way we did," Friedgen acknowledged.
Maybe so, but the Hokies figure the Terrapins are salivating over the prospect of a payback.
"If it was Virginia Tech, man, we would be so hyped for that game we would sure enough be ready," Hokies right guard Jason Murphy said. "It's not going to be a surprise when we get up there and see that those guys are hyped and ready to play."
Said Tapp: "I'd have had this game circled since summertime if I was Maryland. That wasn't Maryland on the field last year. I feel they're going to come out with a large chip on their shoulder, ready to go."
The Terrapins can't expect to win with emotion alone. Virginia Tech has more experience and size, an outstanding quarterback in Marcus Vick and a plus-12 turnover ratio. If Maryland is to pull off an upset, then it must avoid the giveaways that turned last year's game into a rout.
"That team is like sharks feeding for a turnover," Friedgen said.
"To have a chance versus these guys, you have to play mistake-free football," Hollenbach said. "We have to limit our mental mistakes, limit our penalties, win the turnover battle, that kind of thing."
If the Terrapins can avoid making it easy for Virginia Tech - a task that proved too formidable a year ago - then they have a shot at making a game of it.
"I think it's got the makings of a heck of a Thursday night football game," Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "I think they're better. They talk about they're back in the title hunt, and they are. They control their own destiny."
A victory would put Maryland in first place. A win would keep the Hokies in the hunt to play in the national championship game.
"They're playing for a lot," Beamer said. "We're playing for a lot."
