THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The Maryland football team will play seven home games in 2006, including visits from perennial powers Florida State and Miami, as part of a 12-game schedule announced yesterday.
Florida State, the defending ACC champions, will visit Byrd Stadium on Oct.28, while Miami will make its trip Nov.11.
The Terrapins, who are coming off consecutive 5-6 seasons, also will face N.C. State and Wake Forest at home. Maryland will make road trips to Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Virginia.
But the Terps’ most notable nonconference game is a visit to West Virginia on Sept. 16. The Mountaineers went 11-1 last season, including a 31-19 victory at Maryland, and won the Big East before toppling Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
Maryland’s three nonconference home opponents aren’t as impressive. The Terps open with Division I-AA William & Mary (5-6 last season) on Sept.2 before meeting Middle Tennessee State, which moved to Division I-A in 1999 and went 4-7 last season, the next week.
Florida International, a school that played football for the first time in 2002 and will complete a transition from Division I-AA to Division I-A this season, also will visit Byrd in September.
Meanwhile, reigning Coastal Division champion Virginia Tech has eight home dates in its 12 games. The Hokies play host to Northeastern, Cincinnati, Southern Mississippi and Kent State outside the ACC. Their rematch with Miami, the team that handed them their first loss after an 8-0 start in 2005, will be at the Orange Bowl on Nov. 4.
The Hokies and Virginia each have two Thursday night games. Virginia Tech is at Boston College on Oct. 12 and entertains Clemson on Oct. 26; the Cavaliers are at Georgia Tech on Sept. 21 and play host to North Carolina on Oct. 19.
The Cavaliers’ nonconference schedule includes visits to Pittsburgh and East Carolina. Wyoming and Western Michigan will visit Scott Stadium in September. Virginia’s final three games might be its most challenging — at Florida State on Nov. 4, Miami at home two weeks later and at Virginia Tech on Nov. 25.
— Patrick Stevens
