Turner brings new life to Terps

On one side of the country Saturday, Maryland quarterback Chris Turner came off the bench to lead Maryland to a comeback victory at Rutgers.

On the opposite coast just north of Los Angeles, his father realized the value of his pay-per-view investment.

“It’s the best $20 I ever spent,” John Turner said of seeing his son’s second-half heroics.

Plenty more people could fork over money to see a glimpse of the sophomore this week. Turner, almost an afterthought in a camp battle also featuring Jordan Steffy and Josh Portis, helped the Terrapins rally to their first road victory over a top-10 team since 1990.

In the process, he riveted the attention of fans and teammates alike and could make his first career start for the Terrapins (3-2, 0-1 ACC) if Steffy’s concussion keeps him from playing tomorrow against Georgia Tech (3-2, 1-2).

“He was real calm in the huddle,” said tackle Scott Burley, one of Turner’s roommates. “He would say, ‘Guys, are you ready to score again? Are you ready to run the ball on these guys?’ And we’re like, ‘Yeah, let’s do that.’ ”

It was a glimpse into the Californian’s easy-going personality, which surfaces in various ways. He wore a faded In-N-Out Burger T-shirt into a media session this week, and he has rotated his blond hair — currently curly and a bit poofy — through dreadlocks, cornrows and a military-style buzz cut since arriving at Maryland.

There are the visual comparisons to the title character in “Napoleon Dynamite” and Sunshine from “Remember the Titans,” not to mention the bonus nickname of Booty developed by teammates. There’s even some offbeat family history; John Turner was the original drummer for the band Ratt.

But being a character only carries so much cachet. Coolly completing 14 of 20 passes for 149 yards in his first extended playing time since high school in 2004 means a bit more.

“It’s a blast,” Turner said. “I feel the team rallying around me. Everybody tells me all the time, ‘Chris, we have tons of faith in you.’ ”

And for good reason. Turner showed he could play to his strengths against Rutgers, keeping the Scarlet Knights honest with his downfield throws while deftly slinging passes just before pressure enveloped him in the backfield.

It was similar plays in scrimmages — but often not practices — that earned praise from Maryland’s staff last spring. While Portis, who was suspended for the season last month for a violation of the school’s code of academic integrity, and Steffy dominated the discussion for the open quarterback job, Turner simply plied his trade.

“I think he sat back and he watched that,” Burley said. “I don’t know if it got to him a little bit. He never let any of us know. He never showed it, either. He always went out there and practiced and got his reps and tried to make the most of it. Now that he’s up here with the first team taking first-team reps, it’s like we’re not missing a beat.”

That was never guaranteed because of his practice performance. Coach Ralph Friedgen mused early last month, “He’s out there by Pluto sometimes,” and chuckled this week when Turner couldn’t complete a 5-yard route he usually struggles with.

Turner’s reply? That he will hit it in a game, a reply simultaneously cool and cocksure.

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