Maryland game....

[chandler101]

First, let me say welcome to Byrd stadium for those attending in person. Safe travels and enjoy the game. Thought I would drop by and provide a few tidbits about Maryland.

1. If you like to drink beer at the game, Maryland just approved beer sales this year and there are 8 local brewery choices. I think $8 a beer. If beer is not it for you, the Cheesy Crab is also a must try. Pretzel with Maryland crab cake. Large enough for 4.

2. Parking is by permit only. Personally, I like Regents garage. A short walk to Byrd stadium and you come in on the visitor side which will be closest to your seats. Also, they do a good job of flowing traffic.

3. Noon game so not much time for bars but lots open 6 hours before game. 6 am.

4. TerpTown, if you have kids, pretty cool area for meeting other teams, autograpsh, TerpAlley and face paints

5. From Regents, you can walk to Xfinnity Center, Maryland is preseason top 5 this year and will probably have open scrimmage. Also, the Natty trophy is there.

6. Metro comes in from D.C. so certainly easiest and they run buses to stadium.

7. Offense. Our OL is a strength. We have two blue chip red freshmen tackles (Prince/Gray) who will be mixed in as well. Both are 328 and were 4/5 star recruits. Both redshirted last year and were hurt in the fall. Prince played a few series last week and Gray was cleared for practice this week. If they play, our OL average size jumps petty quick. Both RB's are experienced and WR's are talented. A big issue right now is our QB. The fans all thought Caleb Rowe would win the job (gunslinger) yet RE is going with Hills for now. His arm is weak, thus I don't expect to see him into the 2nd half with BG. If we struggle early, you will see Caleb by 2nd quarter. Either way, there is a big emphasis on running the ball this year and it showed last week.

8. Defense. This will be an interesting storyline Saturday. Our strength is our back four. All 4 were highly rated, all 4 are seniors and juniors and we go deep with 2 db's who started last year now playing 2nd on depth charts. From watching your game, certainly your passing game is the strength. I have no idea what to expect. Our lb's are not our strength but we have 2 DE's who will be playing on Sunday's. They are about 255/260 and fast off the edge. Our DT's are average.

9. ST's. Our FG kicker won the Lou award last year and is money. Our KR/PR is money as well. Small at 5'7 but is simply a great return guy. Yes, he killed Richmond last week but he also killed VT, WVU and others in the past.

All in all, we are 8 points favorites which feels right but I could see this game going right down to the 4th and last possession.

Hope you don't mind, but I may stick around this week and interact with the board......just more fun to know the opponents.

By the way.....Temple crushed PSU....lol.

[volinohio]

classy post!!!! These are great guys here. They let some of us vol fans hang here last week and it made watching the game even better knowing that they are just like us; They want to know what the team has and what it doesn't. I have now become a closet BG fan and will watch every game I can. I can tell you this, the BG offense is fun fun fun to watch!!! you better tell your Dbacks to get lots of rest and fluids, or BG will make your head spin throwing the ball!!!

[factman]

Makes sense that your OL is a strength, as your coach, Greg Studrawa, is a BG grad, letterman, and prior coach, grew up only a few miles from BG, and is held in very high regard by those of us that have been around the Falcon football program a long time. GREAT guy!

Thanks for the informative post. Where can we buy parking passes or would you take the Metro to the stadium from Bethesda, where we are staying?

[chandler101]

Yeah, Coach Strudawa is fantastic. We were lucky to hire him last year. Our OL recruiting has gone straight north since he joined. We've got another good class this year and I don't expect any of the 5 recruited last year to see the field. Edsall and Strudawa are making it a priority to redshirt. Both Prince/Gray could have gone last but they redshirted. If you don't drive, but take the metro, get there early enough and swing by Bentley's for breakfast. If you pay attention to Scott Van Pelt of ESPN, he's always talking about going to Bentley's. CP is not the greatest of towns but the campus is beautiful. Enjoy walking around before game time. Also, you can make your way to Cole Field House, which UnderArmour is getting ready to renovate into a 155 million practice facility, medical center and school of entrepreneurship

The link below should answer many of your questions.
http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml ... =207272014" target="_blank

Here is the metro link.
http://www.wmata.com/" target="_blank

[Falcon Commander]

Welcome to our Board Chandler101!

And thanks for all the good info.....I will be doing some of that Cheesy Crab

[MarkL]

My wife and I will be going. We go to church in College Park so if we decide against a brunch tailgate we might just park at the church and walk. This will be our first MD game and her first game at a Big Ten stadium.

[BGSU33]

I've been to Maryland numerous times and have seen a lot of games at Byrd Stadium when I was at UVa, both for football and lacrosse. Also spent a lot of time at Ludwig for soccer and Bob "Turtle" Smith (Shipley when I was last there) for baseball. I was also at the final game at Cole Fieldhouse for the Virginia-Maryland basketball game. XFINITY (was Comcast when I was last in it) is real nice and I love the way the student section really has a nice pitch the way it rises up, but I still miss old Cole for hoops. That was a unique place to play and the place rocked, and those old barns are few and far between nowadays. I still like sticking my head in there when back on campus. Would loved to have seen Len Bias play there. Still can't believe that happened after all these years. Every time I walk by Washington Hall it makes me sad. Helluva player!!!

[chandler101]

oh man, you brought up Lenny. Worst day of my life. One of those days you will always remember where and when.....Byrd is really not a BIG stadium, has a long ways to go before we can call it one. First the new indoor facilities and then maybe a stadium upgrade.

[Falcon137]

Few questions....

Which metro line runs to College Park? Green line?

When taking the metro from DC, how far a walk is it to the bars? Is it best to take a shuttle to the stadium then walk from there?

[MarkL]

College Park is the second farthest north stop on the green line. It's a 10-15 minute walk from the metro station to campus. I'm not big on College Park bars but there are several on 1 all walking distance from the stadium.

We've got a busy day then. I think we'll be just driving to the game then driving to our next stop for the day, no tailgating this time.

[chandler101]

Bethesda to CP is roughly 30 minutes. Red line to Green line. I would either walk to the bars or take the bus in the morning, then walking to the game. You can walk across campus in 15-20 minutes.

[Flipper]

When I think of Maryland I think of Randy White and that basketball team you had in the 70's that was ranked in the top five and didn't make the NCAA tournament

Welcome aboard Chandler..looking forward to tbe game

[chandler101]

http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml ... =208125975" target="_blank

Here is our depth chart for those like myself who like to see the 2 deep. Couple tidbits. Our LT and LG are both former walkons. Both are on schollie now but came via the preferred walkon method. Our back up FB is a former 3* qb recruit who came in like 5th in the elite 11 qb on TV. Goes to show that kids develop differently once they get into college and you really need to wait 3 years before you know the true value of your recruiting class.

[BGSU33]

oh man, you brought up Lenny. Worst day of my life. One of those days you will always remember where and when.....Byrd is really not a BIG stadium, has a long ways to go before we can call it one. First the new indoor facilities and then maybe a stadium upgrade.

The first the I saw/went to Byrd Stadium an image from my youth popped into my mind (and this isn't a dig on the stadium, simply an observation). It reminded me of the beginning of the cartoon the Flintstones when Fred is sitting in his car at the drive-in and they bring that huge slab of ribs or whatever it is to his car and it tips over on its side. That's what I kept waiting for Byrd to do, tip over on its side (didn't really expect it, but you get my point). So to add to your point, Byrd is actually really big - just on one side. You sure do get a nice "Byrd's-eye view" up there and a nice view of DC on a good day. But yes, as you mentioned, the rest of the stadium is not nearly as big but they have done some nice additions/renovations over the years to it.

[jpfalcon09]

This should be a good test for both teams. Maryland will want to ground and pound to keep the BG offense off the field as long as possible and try to wear down the Falcon D. On the flip side, Maryland is deep at secondary and may pose a stiffer challenge to MJ than what the Vols did. There's also the added benefit of having film to watch on how to slow the Falcon offense down.

Also, welcome to the board chandler! Appreciate your insight on the Terps.