Research questions can be fun. And time-consuming. And also beyond the powers of my library.
When all three converge, well, that makes for an interesting blog entry.
SEE RELATED:
Loyal reader Slatter wanted to know if Maryland had ever had a 1,000-yard rusher and another 500-yard rusher in a single season. And it was easy to narrow down the possibilities to seven seasons, since the Terrapins have only had seven 1,000-yard rushers.
But tracking down data for four of them (between 1978 and 1982) was tough. So with the help of Matt Bixenstine in Maryland’s media relations office (much appreciation to Matt for the assist), I can tell you Maryland has never had the 1,000-500 double.
Here’s the list of all the seasons with 1,000-yard rusher and the Terps’ No. 2 runner each year:
| Year |
No. 1 rusher
|
Yards |
No. 2 rusher
|
Yards |
| 1978 |
Steve Atkins
|
1,261 |
Alvin Maddox
|
392 |
| 1979 |
Charlie Wysocki
|
1,140 |
Wayne Wingfield
|
360 |
| 1980 |
Charlie Wysocki
|
1,359 |
Wayne Wingfield
|
214 |
| 1982 |
Willie Joyner
|
1,039
|
John Nash
|
451 |
| 1999 |
LaMont Jordan
|
1,632 |
Calvin McCall
|
256 |
| 2001 |
Bruce Perry
|
1,242 |
Marc Riley
|
338 |
2002
|
Chris Downs
|
1,154 |
Josh Allen
|
405 |
One relatively near-miss was in 2003, when Josh Allen (922) and Bruce Perry (713) rolled up solid seasons over a 14-game schedule.
No doubt what prompted this was the work of Da’Rel Scott and Davin Meggett to date. Scott has 718 yards through seven games, Meggett 266 in eight games of work.
Assuming Scott can play through his shoulder injury (no guarantee) and both rushers maintain their exact pace over the next five games (I’m assuming a bowl game but not an ACC title game at this juncture), Scott will wind up with 1,231 yards and Meggett with 432 yards.
That’s close. But it still wouldn’t make them the first members of Maryland’s 1,000-500 club.
– Patrick Stevens
