San Francisco Treat-GAMETIME

Hey Everybody and WELCOME to the 2007 Emerald Bowl. It's me, Sam Duvall, Gregg Sussman and Norm Carter on the "call". ESPN has exclusive rights to broadcast this game, and for the first time in WMUC history, that applies to us as well, even though we are non-commercial. Thoughts on that to come at a later date...

This should be exciting. According to Kirk Herbstreit on ESPN, it should be interesting to see if Maryland can compete with with Oregon State. Oregon State comes in at 8-4, Maryland at 6-6. We'll see ya then.

Kickoff: Less than 40 mins

5:33: Alright, time for kickoff. Neyisha Go, 17, sang the National Anthem--one of the better renditions I remember. Well done Neyisha. In more important news, I just sat in the Giants dugout.

5:35: OSU wins toss and defers, Terps will start with the ball (bearing a turnover on the kickoff)...

5:37: BC wins 24-21 over Michigan State just moments before we get underway here. Terps in White jerseys on White pants. OSU is in all black with weird orange shoulder stuff. Kevin plan just shuddered on the sideline.

5:38: Remember what I said about the turnover on the kickoff? Da'Rel Scott just fumbled it. He got it back and we're underway at the 20.

5:39: First play is a 5 yard pass to Jason Goode.  Fridge said earlier in the week he would be a big part of the game plan.

5:40: First down to Goode. Guess Fridge was right. This followed by a deep pass down the sideline to Isaiah Williams. Open receiver, under thrown, missed. Feels like Steffy to Williams in the early weeks of the season.

5:43: Just a thought. Both teams are on the same sideline, and that was one of the big story lines coming into the game. It looks weird and it was actually of concern to both coaches. I'll tell, ya, this place is NUTS (Emereald nuts to be exact).

5:46: 1st and Goal at the 10 after a 28 yard pass to Williams. Should've been at least two flags on the play.

5:47: Touchdown Terps! 9 yard pass to Williams (Isaiah, LaQuan didn't dress). Obe puts through the extra point. Good drive for Turner and the Terps. Turner went 6 for 7 for 78 yards. Talk about marching down the field. The rush wasn't a huge impact but it opened up the pass, and Turner did a good job of mixing up his receivers, throwing to Ball, Haynos, Goode, Williams, and Heyward-Bey.

5:48: The team that has scored first in the Emerald Bowl has won 4 of the last 5 times. This tidbit coming from Gary Williams--he's the press box public announcer, not the basketball coach.  Let us tell you, his voice is unreal. It's soothing at the least, and as it was put in Anchorman, "He had a voice that could make a wolverine purr."

5:52: Lyle Moevao starts the game at QB for the Beavers. He's 3-0. Two straight play fakes that looked ugly--good sign for the Terps.

5:53: Time to punt for the Beavers. The roughing the kicker should change that though. 15 yards, automatic first down. Mike Riley, the OSU coach, called the Terps "well coached" and a "sound team". You can't see it, but I'm laughing because I love irony.

5:56: New QB for OSU. It's Sean Canfield, he's the guy that's started most of the season. Less than a drive, maybe the shortest outing ever for a starting QB?

5:57: Canfield leads OSU to their first first down of the game that wasn't gift-wrapped by the Terps. None of the yards came through the air, and there will be plenty of that for the Beavers tonight...there has been all year-2,360 yards on season.

5:59: Almost a fantastic catch by Gabe Miller in the endzone. I doubt Friedgen feels badly though, if almost counted, this blog would be coming from a BCS bowl, not a baseball stadium.

6:00: James Rogers with the TD reception--14 yards. Not sure why the Terps didn't guard him in the endzone, it looked like a zone defense out of the playbook from the 2nd half of the Wake Forest game.

6:02: "Pizza Orgasmica" is a proud sponsor of the Emerald Bowl. I promise. Just ask the jumbotron. So, where does that leave us. Nuts Bowl, Pizza Orgasmica, and the Beavers. Insert joke here.

6:05: By the way, feel free to post responses.

6:05: Weird things about this field...The back of the endzone labeled "Maryland" is the warning track, which is not really dirt, it's plastic--whatc your footing. There is only one sideline. There are bleachers in right field. It's a baseball stadium. There is a huge Coke bottle behind the stands (it's a slide, I think I'm going during halftime).

6:07: Gregg just told me that I can't go on the slide because of the height requirement. He's already leaving the stadium.

6:11: Moevao is back in the game. This trend of platooning quarterbacks is becoming more popular throughout the country...although it is kind of strange that a team who features the run does it.

6:12: Nice point by Sussman: The Terps could be platooning next year. I agree. They do have a new offensive coordinator coming in, James Franklin, and who knows what he wants to do. Portis and Turner are both viable options. (No, I didn't forget anyone.)

6:15: OSU has outscored their opponents 127-16 in the first quarter this season. Shane C, thanks for the post. You're correct, 5 rushes for 8 yards isn't much of a start. Don't expect it to get much better, OSU is one of the top rush defenses in the country...They've only given up 899 yards on the ground all season, that's 74.9 a game.

6:18: Remember that huge touchdown catch by Heyward-Bey last season against Miami? That just happened again. Great throw by Turner, 63 yard touchdown (3rd longest in Emerald Bowl history). This is the only way the Terps will beat the Beavers--the pass. They can't run on OSU, so it'll be up to the arm of Turner. The speed of HeyBey will help, it always does.

6:25: Brilliant play by Dave Philistin to rock Yvenson Bernard (the stud running back for OSU) a good two seconds after the play. When I say brilliant I mean awful. And very lucky that they didn't get flagged for the late hit.

6:26: Solid first quarter for the Terps. OSU gave up 16 points all year in the first quarter, and the Terps have 14 now. Hey ACC football!!!!

6:30: Trey Covington with the nice sack. One has to ask where that's been all season...Better late than never I guess. No one in Emerald Bowl has multiple sacks in a game (or fumble recoveries or interceptions for that matter). If the Terps can achieve this it could make the game a lot easier.

6:32: As I say that, OSU fumbles the ball and the Terps get it! Philistin it is...So, they are well on their way to both feats. That's the fourth fumble in Emerald Bowl history. The Terps are playing very inspired football which is very inspiring to me. Note*they Terps are notoriously good starters and bad finishers.

6:34: Fumble on the Terps. Perfect. Good thing Dorian Smith was offsides for the Beavers. Lattimore fumbled it and he's still down, looks hurt. It was his shoulder. He is right in front of the penalty box between the two benches.

6:36: This just in from G-Will (my favorite part of the Bowl Experience thus far). He serenaded us with the fact that HeyBey's 63 yard TD is the 2nd longest in Terrapin bowl history. The longest was in 1973--Louis Carter to Walter White in the 1973 Peach Bowl.

6:37: Sussman and Norm just went down to the field to get an update on Lattimore...I'll let you know...Another killer penalty--offsides on OSU gives the Terps a first down. So, we are 2.5 mins into the 2nd quarter and we have a roughing the kicker for a first down, an offsides to negate a fumble, and an offsides to give a first down. High quality stuff.

6:41: I'll start this post where I ended the last one...High quality stuff. An interception that is followed by the best run back I've ever seen. But he stepped out of bounds so it doesn't matter. Next play, OSU fumbles it and the Terps get it back. 3 turnovers in 2 minutes and 2 seconds. High quality stuff.

6:43: That's the first time in history a team has ever recovered two fumbles in an Emerald Bowl (if you count Scott getting his own fumble to start the game its 3!! Hooray!).

6:44: Sam Duvall: Maryland has now run the ball 10 times for a total of 4 yards. That's not exactly efficient. In other news, I just got a text message from Sussman and Norm--Lattimore just came jogging back from the locker room...Not sure if that mean's he is good to go or what exactly happened, but we'll let you know.

6:46: Just a reminder: These Nuts are Nuts about Pizza Orgasmica.

6:48: Shane C rocking the comment board. I do attribute the sloppiness to not playing in a month (the Terps played last on Nov. 24 and OSU on Dec. 1). Also, though, its a wet field from the recent rain, and these are two very active defenses. The teams have been practicing all winter, so they can't blame too much of it on anything but themselves.

6:50: Timeout Oregon State-this is a big play. Terps get a stop here, and they can march down to be up by two scores at the half.

6:51: Good pressure there by Muhtadi and Covington to force the field goal from 47 yards. First kick of the game, this is from dead on. It's short off the cross bar--this is a crazy game, NUTS perhaps...I apologize for that joke. The Beavers are 17 of 19 on the regular season. Now the Terps can really get work done.

6:53: Keon is back...3 yard rush. So that takes the Terps back to -1 rushing yards on the night. That's not how you win games.

6:54: Big interception by Brian Peyton. Talk about killing an big opportunity. That could really come back to hurt the Terps. They got a huge stop and let it lead to nothing but yet another turnover. Talk about two teams that don't look like they should be in a bowl game...

6:59: Another brilliant turnover. Interception by Moises Fokou in the endzone...his first of the year. I'm going to go back into the Giants dugout (because it's really cool to me) and I'll come back when one of these teams decides they are interested in winning the game.

7:01: Nice tidbit by Duvall: this game is one turnover short of the all-time Emerald Bowl record of 6. Woop woop. Either its raining or the entire Terps fan section is putting on matching plastic t-shirts because they think it'll be cool to look like the team. Just a guess, but the rain will really cut down on the turnovers...right?

7:03: True story...Lance Ball just ran the ball and I legit wondered why Turner took a knee; awesome running game.

7:04: Same play, same receiver, almost the same outcome (interception). Thought process of continuing to throw to him with multiple drops, anyone?

7:06: It's a legitimate cause for concern that this is the exact kind of team that wears the Terps down throughout the game, as they are showing right here in this two minute drill (which involves runs by the way). By the fourth quarter this defense is going to be exhausted and if they are up by one score or less, I like OSU's odds.

7:09: "Lyle Moevao was injured with 13:56 left in the second quarter and hasn't returned yet." G-Will even made that stupidity of a sentence sound sweet.

7:10: Touchdown run of 2 yards by Bernard. He wasn't a definite starter, and now he is tearing the Terps up. That was set up by the barrage of turnovers about five minutes ago. There is no reason the Terps shouldn't be up by at least 2 scores right now. Raise your hand if you are shocked. 

7:12: Norm just informed me that G-Will is his hero. I think that's a bit extreme, but to each his own. And, G does have a 2nd half to win me over. I like his odds over the Terps.

7:14: Halftime, and to tell you the truth, I think you have to be pleased with the Terps. The question then becomes, what does that tell you? A team has two turnovers, 10 rushing yards and has wasted a number of opportunities-they are allowing OSU to stay in the game. But, they aren't down by 2 scores, so you can't be upset. I'm going to the bathroom.

7:22: Halftime musings...I was noticeably excited for what I consider one of the best traditions in sports--both schools bands playing at halftime of a bowl game. Unfortunately, OSU didn't bring their band-some high school band is playing right now, not sure who and I'm not going to lie to you and say that I have any interest in finding out.

Other thoughts:

-This game is brutally ugly, and would be tough to watch if it wasn't funny seeing Division I teams make this many turnovers.

-There is this homeless guy down at Fisherman's Wharf that makes any trip to San Francisco worth the money. He created these bushes that he sits behind and he waits for people to walk by. Then, he jumps out from behind the bush and scares the crap out of them. Norm, Sussman, Andy Zuckerman (D-Back writer) and Adam Frie (D-Back photog) stood there and watched him do this for 15 minutes straight-twice.

-Zuckerman pointed out to me just now that the Terps had six first downs in the 2nd quarter, and they ran on five of them. Even though the Terps only have nine yards on the ground total, some things will never change. P.S. Why hasn't Ralph been mentioned in any of these coaching searches??  hahahahahahahahaha.

-Duvall: "The band and the fans are wearing the same ponchos." Nick: "Yes." Duvall: "Interesting." That's my roommate.

-We have discovered my second favorite beer while here in San Francisco. My first favorite is Kokanee, which you can only get in Idaho (yes I have been there). But, my second favorite is now Alaskan Amber. It's great-if you find it, send it to me. Please and thank you.

-This is one of the most insanely expensive cities in the world. Hi Mom and Dad!!

-This is a really ugly game.

-Alcatraz visits are sold out until Wednesday, and as Sussman was told by the ticket agent, there are no scalpers outside of the ticket building. Good question though.

-Trey Covington has an Emerald Bowl record with three sacks tonight. If he played half as well all season as he is tonight, the Terps would be in Charlotte right now.

-Someone is dressed up as a nut on the sideline. That person has a friend dressed up as a container of nuts. They look dumb. I took a picture with them.

-Ralph takes up just short of the entire jumbotron. I'm just sayin... Does anyone else think that before his birth, Mama and Papa Fridge said "we're about to do big things!"? I hope so.

2ND HALF

7:39: OSU starts with the ball. ESPN just flashed on the screen that Maryland had ONE TOTAL YARD in the 2nd quarter. That's amazing to me. It's more amazing that they are still in this game, and it further proves my previous point about them being great starters and bad finishers.

7:40: If this rain keeps up, the game is going to come down to running the ball. The Terps have 9 rushing yards. The Beavers have 133. Any questions?

7:43: The Terps had 23 sacks coming into the game and they have four tonight. What are the possible reasons that they are getting pumped up for a game that is approaching meaninglessness (word?) game more-so than the rest of the season? Yes, it is a viable question--is this game meaningless?

7:47: As the Terps go into negative rushing yards, their offense continues to go completely stagnant. They are living off their 163 yard, 2 touchdown first quarter. For example, they had one yard in the second quarter, and just lost 20 yards on this drive, WITHOUT any penalties.

7:48: Sam thinks the endzone that says Maryland in red with the black background looks good and that they should start doing it in College Park. It's a tie game. It's a bowl game. This is what he thinks.

7:51: Oregon State girls are categorically attractive. Just ask the Jumbotron. Or me.

7:52: The Terps just got another sack, this is number five (season high). It'll knock OSU out of field goal range. The biggest thing about these sacks is that the offense has essentially handed the game over to the defense with their melody of three-and-outs. Hope for overtime and a short field.

7:54: The Terps are in the shadow of the Coke bottle. I just figured I'd say it now that I have the chance.

7:55: You can really tell right now how pro-OSU this crowd is. Both groups of fans are impressive though. It's a 10 hour drive from Corvallis (according to the nice man on the cable car yesterday) and a six hour flight from College Park. Emerald Officials (The Big Nuts, if you will) expected 4,000 Terps fans and got around 6,000...The rest of the approx. 32,000 are in bright orange. Hats off to both groups.

7:59: The Terps were on the 5 yard-line with a broken play clock. A delay of game and an illegal procedure later it was 3rd down from the two. Where did Jason Goode go?

8:00: Another huge penalty against OSU. The punt gave them the ball on the 45 yard line, and instead they gave the Terps their longest play in the 2nd half (good stat from Sussman). These penalties are not excusable with a month off.

8:01: Another run for no apparent reason on first down. It got the Terps back to 0 yards rushing. (Season low: 88, Emerald Bowl all-time low: 101 by Virigina Tech in the Inaugural Emerald Bowl of 2002).

8:03: Yeah, the Terps did just throw to Adam Goldberg, the place-kick holder. He has been in a game as a WR already in the season, but this was the first attempted pass to him. Says a lot about Emani Lee-Odai's performance.

8:05: Sam just pointed out to me that Testudo has the same poncho on as everyone else. That's all.

8:09: Lucky break for OSU right there on the touchdown...But, you make your own luck, a great punt return followed by a big run by Benson set that up. All of a sudden the Terps offense needs yards. If you ask me, Goode and Heyward-Bey are needed over the middle.

8:13: Play action for the Terps!!!!!! Longest play of the game since the first quarter for them. This is what they need to do. Play actions have worked all year for the team, and it's going to have to be how they end the season. Without it they don't have a prayer. The only question is: Will OSU fall for it when the run clearly isn't working for the Terps.

8:16: Attendance tonight is 32,517 which is the second largest in Emerald Bowl history. Last year, between Florida State and UCLA drew just over 40,000, but the opinion in the press box is that this is more impressive because of the weather and the profiles of the teams.

8:21: Thanks to John Willmott for just reminding me that I was posting in Arizona time, not California-it's all fixed now.

8:22: Yes, Obe just missed a 32 yard field goal. It wasn't blocked, it wasn't a bad snap, he just pulled the kick left. That really can't be happening in this part of the season or this part of a game. Especially when the offense had just put together a good drive for the first time since the fourth quarter. This still doesn't look like either team wants to win the game.

8:24: Terps get a break there when Canfield throws the ball to no one in particular. Seriously, no one wants to win this game.

8:27: During this TV timeout a couple thoughts:

-Benson's 153 yards rushing sets the an Emerald Bowl record (lots of those tonight).

-As opposed to what Chris Spielman is saying, it is Heyward-Bey, not Beyward-Hey.

-I'm a huge Barry Bonds fan...I grew up loving him, and him being one of an entire league of people taking steroids is no reason for me to ditch him. On this trip I bought a jersey t-shirt of his that was marked down 50% and I sat in his dugout. I officially don't care about the outcome of this game...because I'm an unbiased journalist.

8:30: Turner just ran, and that raised a question for the OSU writers in front of us: "why don't they bring Steffy in to run?" All of the Maryland writers laughed.

8:32: Heyward-Bey just moved into 9th all time for receiving yards at Maryland with 1,480.

8:33: Fear not, none of those blocks were legal.

8:34: Where is Erin Henderson with his patented interception over the middle. They'll need a third and long throwing situation for him to run one back...That appears to be the best shot at the Terps scoring.

8:36: There was the opportunity. Screen pass though. Mike Riley is a smart one...

8:39: Another big penalty against OSU. It puts the Terps in good field possession so they have the opportunity to actually score.

8:40: That pass should've been caught by Isaiah Williams. This month off has really hurt his progression in this senior season, not exactly a plus.

8:41: Good decision to punt here. The nice punt is just icing on the cake. This way, you play the field possession game, and hope the defense continues to hold OSU. If you go for it and fail, you give them the ball in great field position for a field goal.

8:42: Alright, well the whole season (kind of) comes down to this. Granted it doesn't really matter, 7-6 looks a whole heck of a lot better than 6-7. Each side of the team needs to do their job. Defensively they need one hold, and offensively they need one score. I'm saying it now, you go for two. Why the heck not??? I know its not the right football decision, but it'd be fun, and this is really all for money and entertainment, right? Yes--if it wasn't this would be the playoffs.

8:45: Question-for either team, would this be their biggest win of the season? I understand it's the "postseason," but I'd say no. The Terps beat Rutgers and BC when both were in the Top 10, and OSU beat Cal (#2) and Oregon (rivals and #18). More reason to not play for a tie. That's my opinion, post yours.

8:48: 3rd and 3, end around for 9 yards...Only in this game. Not exactly a choice time for the Terps defense to slow down, but they are clearly worn down, a step slower and tackling with their arms, not their legs. See my 7:06 blog.

8:49: Smart play there by Rogers, keep the clock running as much as possible by staying in bounds, what the heck, give him the first down, and that'll just about do it for the Terps.

8:51: Another question--the Terps are on the brink of a losing season...their 3rd in 4 years. I realize they are in a bowl game, but is Ralph approaching the hot seat yet?

8:53: With that rush, OSU has 273 yards rushing on the game, which is the team record for rushing yards in an Emerald Bowl. Now Rogers has 114 yards, that's a career high.

8:55: While we have a moment, it's worth mentioning that Ray Rychleski is leaving UMD for South Carolina after the season.  He's one of the top special teams coaches in the country, and will undoubtedly be missed. All of a sudden you'll start seeing special teams having a much bigger impact on the Terps' games, and not exactly for the better.

8:57: Alright, we're headed down for post-game interviews, follow up stuff to come momentarily.

All and all, its a fitting end to a bad season for the Terps.