Loss to Va. dims hopes for a bowl game
It seems long ago that Maryland quarterback Chris Turner appeared at the Atlantic Coast Conference's preseason media conference and said of the Terrapins: "We're easily a 10-win team."
It was late July, the weather was warm and muggy, and Turner and other top ACC players had mixed media interviews with a round of golf at a resort in Greensboro, N.C. "We're not here to just win eight games and go to an average bowl," the senior quarterback had said.
Twelve weeks later, Turner's Terrapins are 2-5 (1-2 ACC) and trying to regain some of that preseason swagger - that positive self-image - that characterized summer practices.
On Saturday, the Terps play a rejuvenated Duke team (1-1, 3-3) that beat North Carolina State, 49-28, in its last outing. After that, the Terps will have four more games to try to right their season.
"It's very tough. We're trying to find new reasons to play - some new inspiration," Turner said after the Terps committed four turnovers in a 20-9 loss to Virginia that dealt another blow to their long-shot prospects of playing in a postseason bowl.
Like his teammates, Turner was trying to remain upbeat. But the contrast to his sunny preseason mood was striking.
After the Virginia game, Turner was all in black - sweats and top - as he was interviewed in the Gossett Football Team House. Outside, there was a cold rain. The quarterback pulled a black stocking cap low over his forehead as if seeking refuge and spoke softly. "It's not the way I wanted my senior season to go," he said.
Turner has completed 141 of 244 passes (57.8 percent) this season with nine touchdown passes and eight interceptions. His statistics rank him fourth in ACC passing. His young offensive line has struggled to open holes for a listless running game, making Turner's job harder.
Maryland is averaging 2.9 yards per carry and 100.7 rushing yards per game. Its opponents are averaging 4.1 and 158.3.
Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen has indicated that he might soon insert backup quarterback Jamarr Robinson, a redshirt sophomore - and perhaps true freshman quarterback Danny O'Brien - to provide them game experience. "It's not a reflection on Chris," Friedgen said. "We're not winning, and we need to make some plans for the future."
Turner's teammates say they are trying to keep their quarterback - and themselves - up.
"I definitely feel bad for him because I know how hard he works," said wide receiver Adrian Cannon, a redshirt junior. "I'm just going to keep fighting for him."
Cannon said he approached Turner during the Virginia game after the quarterback threw a pass that was deflected near the line of scrimmage into the hands of defensive end Nate Collins. It was returned for the touchdown that put the Cavaliers ahead for good in the third quarter.
"I went to him and was like, 'You'll be fine.' The game of football is a roller-coaster game," Cannon said. "You've got to have a short memory."
Maryland is last in the ACC in turnover margin at minus-13. The Terps have lost 12 fumbles, most in the conference.
Friedgen said he worries that his team could become frustrated. He said "human nature" is such that players can get down when the "fruits of their labor" aren't rewarded with wins.
This is one of Maryland's youngest teams in years. Fifty-eight of Maryland's 85 scholarship players have at least three years of eligibility remaining,
"Maybe they're trying too hard, I don't know," Friedgen said. "They're disappointed when they turn the ball over.
"I feel bad not only for us, but for them. I want them to be successful. I want them to reap the benefits and the reward for their effort."
Said Turner: "Every game, we come out and we're fired up and we believe we can win. We've got to keep doing it."
As motivation, Friedgen said he frequently reminds his players how tightly bunched the teams are in the ACC's Atlantic Division.
Division leader Boston College (3-2 ACC) has as many conference losses as the Terps. Wake Forest and Clemson are next at 2-2, followed by Maryland. The winners of the Atlantic and Coastal divisions will play Dec. 5 for the conference championship.
"It's funny," said linebacker Adrian Moten, a redshirt junior who is eighth in the ACC in tackles for loss (1.14 per game). "Everybody in the ACC has two losses. We're still kind of mingling at the top. We're not going to give up."
It seems long ago that Maryland quarterback Chris Turner appeared at the Atlantic Coast Conference's preseason media conference and said of the Terrapins: "We're easily a 10-win team."
It was late July, the weather was warm and muggy, and Turner and other top ACC players had mixed media interviews with a round of golf at a resort in Greensboro, N.C. "We're not here to just win eight games and go to an average bowl," the senior quarterback had said.
Twelve weeks later, Turner's Terrapins are 2-5 (1-2 ACC) and trying to regain some of that preseason swagger - that positive self-image - that characterized summer practices.
On Saturday, the Terps play a rejuvenated Duke team (1-1, 3-3) that beat North Carolina State, 49-28, in its last outing. After that, the Terps will have four more games to try to right their season.
"It's very tough. We're trying to find new reasons to play - some new inspiration," Turner said after the Terps committed four turnovers in a 20-9 loss to Virginia that dealt another blow to their long-shot prospects of playing in a postseason bowl.
Like his teammates, Turner was trying to remain upbeat. But the contrast to his sunny preseason mood was striking.
After the Virginia game, Turner was all in black - sweats and top - as he was interviewed in the Gossett Football Team House. Outside, there was a cold rain. The quarterback pulled a black stocking cap low over his forehead as if seeking refuge and spoke softly. "It's not the way I wanted my senior season to go," he said.
Turner has completed 141 of 244 passes (57.8 percent) this season with nine touchdown passes and eight interceptions. His statistics rank him fourth in ACC passing. His young offensive line has struggled to open holes for a listless running game, making Turner's job harder.
Maryland is averaging 2.9 yards per carry and 100.7 rushing yards per game. Its opponents are averaging 4.1 and 158.3.
Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen has indicated that he might soon insert backup quarterback Jamarr Robinson, a redshirt sophomore - and perhaps true freshman quarterback Danny O'Brien - to provide them game experience. "It's not a reflection on Chris," Friedgen said. "We're not winning, and we need to make some plans for the future."
Turner's teammates say they are trying to keep their quarterback - and themselves - up.
"I definitely feel bad for him because I know how hard he works," said wide receiver Adrian Cannon, a redshirt junior. "I'm just going to keep fighting for him."
Cannon said he approached Turner during the Virginia game after the quarterback threw a pass that was deflected near the line of scrimmage into the hands of defensive end Nate Collins. It was returned for the touchdown that put the Cavaliers ahead for good in the third quarter.
"I went to him and was like, 'You'll be fine.' The game of football is a roller-coaster game," Cannon said. "You've got to have a short memory."
Maryland is last in the ACC in turnover margin at minus-13. The Terps have lost 12 fumbles, most in the conference.
Friedgen said he worries that his team could become frustrated. He said "human nature" is such that players can get down when the "fruits of their labor" aren't rewarded with wins.
This is one of Maryland's youngest teams in years. Fifty-eight of Maryland's 85 scholarship players have at least three years of eligibility remaining,
"Maybe they're trying too hard, I don't know," Friedgen said. "They're disappointed when they turn the ball over.
"I feel bad not only for us, but for them. I want them to be successful. I want them to reap the benefits and the reward for their effort."
Said Turner: "Every game, we come out and we're fired up and we believe we can win. We've got to keep doing it."
As motivation, Friedgen said he frequently reminds his players how tightly bunched the teams are in the ACC's Atlantic Division.
Division leader Boston College (3-2 ACC) has as many conference losses as the Terps. Wake Forest and Clemson are next at 2-2, followed by Maryland. The winners of the Atlantic and Coastal divisions will play Dec. 5 for the conference championship.
"It's funny," said linebacker Adrian Moten, a redshirt junior who is eighth in the ACC in tackles for loss (1.14 per game). "Everybody in the ACC has two losses. We're still kind of mingling at the top. We're not going to give up."
