My, how things have changed since the last time Maryland and Navy met back in 2005. And no, I’m not talking about the introduction of a crab-encrusted trophy to the winner.

Back then, Ralph Friedgen was entering his fifth year as head coach of the Maryland Terrapins after taking his alma mater to three prestigious bowls, including the Orange Bowl during his very first season. Named Coach of the Year in 2001 after capturing the ACC Championship, The Fridge restored glory to a football program that, before his arrival, had not seen postseason action for 16 years.

Meanwhile, up in Annapolis, Midshipmen head coach Paul Johnson was slowly making a name for himself with a creative triple-option offense that would wreak havoc on opposing defenses across the country. He was able to turn around a 2-10 team back in 2002 and take the Mids to an Emerald Bowl victory the very next season. Navy hasn’t missed a bowl berth since.

When the two teams finally faced one another in the Crab Bowl Classic up in Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium after a 41 year hiatus in the rivalry, the Mids were commanding throughout the majority of the game. It wasn’t until Terps running back Lance Ball had the play of the day, with less than two minutes remaining (and on fourth-and-7 no less), picked up 20 yards that setup a game-winning touchdown for Maryland with a minute to spare that the game was settled.

The Terps left Charm City as the victors that day, but it was the Mids who would once again go bowling at the end of the season.

Flash forward five years later, and it’s an entirely different landscape.