Maryland’s 18 senior starters have won 34 regular-season games, two bowl games and one ACC championship. But now, with their final month looking dismal, the Terrapins’ only remaining milestone goal is beating Florida State.
The No. 5 Seminoles (6-1, 4-1 ACC) are 14-0 against Maryland (3-4, 1-3) entering today’s game at Byrd Stadium. The Terps haven’t come within 13 points since Florida State joined the conference in 1992.
The Terps thought they might upset the Seminoles last year when they led 10-0 before allowing 35 unanswered points. They were tied late in 2001 before turnovers produced a 52-31 defeat.
Maryland is a long shot to reach a bowl for the fourth straight year, but a win over the Seminoles would complete the careers of many seniors.
“You don’t ever want to say there’s a team you couldn’t beat,” receiver Steve Suter said. “A win over Florida State would erase our [current] misfortune.”
Strangely, this was a low-key week of preparation for the Terps, who are usually feverish before playing the Seminoles. They danced at midfield before the opening kickoff last season to taunt their rivals. This time, they’re saving the passion for the game.
“One thing we’re trying to control is a lot of talking and hoopla,” cornerback Domonique Foxworth said. “Every year we have a lot of big talking and don’t come through. This year it’s more about execution than being riled up.”
Florida State is the first of three straight ranked opponents for Maryland, which needs a 3-1 finish to reach the postseason. Maybe that’s why players consider Florida State an in-season bowl without the holiday expectations.
“Play just like we’re playing in our back yard,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “Just go out and enjoy yourself, enjoy the moment. I think we’re getting better. It’s just [a question of] how much better.”
Florida State is the perfect opponent for this week. After a 10-7 loss at Clemson last Saturday on a late controversial call that ACC officials later admitted was wrong, Maryland’s roster includes few players who remember when the Terps lost regularly to Florida State by margins like 59-7 in 2000. Learning to compete when year-end goals seem lost is a new experience. Maryland hopes its first upset of a top-10 teams since 1990 would spark a late run.
“If we come away with a win this week, it will change a lot of things about our season,” defensive end Shawne Merriman said. “You kind of wonder if everybody’s ready to play these guys. I think we are.”
Said Schmitt: “I know the odds are against us to win three out of four, but there’s a lot of guys that are still willing to stick it out for another month.”
But will the fans? Plenty of tickets are available on the Internet after a recent home loss saw less than 1,000 Terps fans remain for the final minutes. Maybe three years of record success has spoiled followers after a 21-1 home mark before two straight defeats.
“I hope two home losses doesn’t drive them away, or we have some real fair-weather fans,” Schmitt said. “I trust the fans will come back. The basketball team struggled last year, and they came back for them. I’ll play these guys in an empty stadium. We’ll play in a parking lot if we have to.”
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