Team Record (6-5, 3-5)
09/03 – Buffalo, WIN! (31-10) – Once again, we open the season with a win against an inferior opponent. As the team and the fans sleepwalk through another opener, is the portent of something new, or just the same old song and dance?
09/10 – @Charlotte, WIN! (56-21) – We are once again an offensive juggernaut against an offensive defense. After 10 minutes of trading scores, the defense finally decided to play and we coasted from there…
09/17 – SMU, WIN! (34-27) – The Terps finish the September scrimmage season undefeated by managing to defeat a good team despite getting called for 15 penalties for 141 yards (more yards than Iowa can usually muster on offense for crying out loud). But, A win is a win. Next week: Into the Roman Coliseum Michigan Stadium against Top 10 Michigan like lambs headed to slaughter?
09/24 – @Michigan, LOSS (27-34) – The Terps actually looked … like a competitive football team. What is going on here? Whatever Coach Locks did to fix the penalty problem worked (one penalty the whole game). But mistakes, starting with the opening kickoff and defensive what-were-you-thinkings? at key moments prevented the upset. Still, the Terps’ performance provides hope … and that might be an awful thing.
10/01 – Michigan State, WIN! (27-13) – The word used through the SUIB crew for this game was “Chadisfying”. It wasn’t super flashy, but it was a good solid win with another great second half performance by the defense. If we could just get the officiating to stop taking directions from their Chicago overlords, we might actually start blowing out a team. Meanwhile, the Terps can’t get overconfident with the unpredictable Purdon’t coming to town next week…
10/08 – Purdue, LOSS (29-31) – Despite being favored for the second week in a row, the Terps were edged out in a hard fought contest against a surging Purdue team. On the one hand, it was a good close game. On the other, the Terps continue to have issues with those yellow flags – and it doesn’t help that the B1G overlords seem fit to add a couple out of spite. The pressure builds as difficult games are on the horizon.
10/15 – @Indiana, WIN! (38-33) – Extremely weird game. Sometimes we looked dominating, sometimes inept. And there’s the penalties … what gives?!?!? But a win is a win! Except that our reputation as ACLU may have bit us – Taulia went down with a knee injury and was carted off the field. We don’t know the extent of the injury, but expect the worst, because this is Maryland.
10/22 – Northwestern WIN! (31-24) – Win pretty or win ugly, just win baby! Playing without starting QB Taulia Tagovailoa, Billy Edwards Jr. filled in admirably and the ground game got going in the second half. The Terps are bowl eligible so early in the season we Terp fans are running out of things to get cynical about … but don’t worry, there is still plenty of room to fret ahead!
10/29 – BYE (bye)
11/05 – @Wisconsin – LOSS (10-23) – While the Terps have vanquished the “October Maryland” syndrome, the “November Maryland” appears to be in full force. The Terps were completely ineffective offensively, with Taulia clearly uncomfortable in the pocket.
11/12 – @StatePenn – LOSS (0-30) – “November Maryland” continued as StatePenn punched the Terps in the mouth and the Terps reacted by pulling into their shell. There really isn’t much more to say.
11/19 – Ohio State – LOSS (30-42) – Inexplicably, the Terps came to life against the Death Star – if they had played like that the previous two weeks they may have broken the curse. Instead, another close game against OSU in College Park, but a loss is a loss.
11/26 – Rutgers – WIN! (37-0) – The Terps get their first B1G shutout against the hapless Scarlett Knights and their first shutout against a conference opponent since beating Wake Forest 27-0 in 2008. Now the Terps await their bowl destination…
Bowl Game!!!