by DCist contributor Brett Gellman
While most fans in the area, if not the country, will be watching the marquee ACC matchup of Virginia Tech vs. Miami, two struggling programs will take the field in College Park when Maryland (1-2, 0-0 ACC) faces Rutgers (2-1, 0-1 Big East) in the Terps’ final non-conference game of the season.
The Terrapins are reeling from a stunning home loss to none other than Middle Tennessee State for the second consecutive year. It was Maryland’s worst home loss in 12 years, as the team had not fallen to a non-BCS conference opponent at Byrd Stadium since an upset by Ohio in 1997. Turnovers (four to be precise), penalties, and a Blue Raider spread offense spelled trouble for the Maryland defense from the start and allowed Middle Tennessee to escape Byrd with a 32-31 victory, thanks to a last second field goal. Key injuries for the Terps also played a role, forcing head coach Ralph Friedgen to insert inexperienced players into the game.
All that said, if Maryland has any hope of salvaging its season from a dreadful start, it all begins this Saturday against the Scarlet Knights.
