The game started out great for the Terps. Three first quarter possessions resulted in two touchdown passes for Maryland QB Chris Turner. One of those was a beautiful 63 yarder to WR Darrius Heyward-Bey. The other was a 9 yard strike to WR Isaiah Williams.
After taking an early lead against the favored Beavers, the Terps never scored again. Oregon State tied the game late in the first half, went ahead late in the third quarter and won the Emerald Bowl 21-14 over Maryland.
The Terps finish the 2007 season with a 6-7 record and they finished with a losing record for the third time in the past four years. No doubt the seat is a little hot for Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen.
Maryland's rushing attack of Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore were held to a combined 21yards on 17 carries. As a team, Maryland finished with 19 yards on 25 carries as Oregon State showed why they were the second rated team in the nation against the run giving up a paltry 75 yards per game.
Meanwhile, the Terps didn't have an answer for RB's Yvenson Bernard and freshman James Rodgers. Bernard, who had missed Oregon State's regular-season finale after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, rushed for 177 yards on 38 carries and scored one touchdown. Rodgers rushed for a career high 115 yards and caught 5 passes for 40 yards, scoring the Beavers first touchdown on a 14 yard pass and then recovered a fumble by Bernard in the end zone for what proved to be the game winning score.
So now the Terps look forward to Winter workouts and some questions to answer for next season.
Chris Turner's play at QB was an unexpected surprise. He was number three on the depth chart before this season began and he will go into Spring practice as the number one QB. But what are the Terps going to do when promising QB Josh Portis has his eligibility reinstated?
Friedgen, who has been calling his own plays the past two seasons, has finally hired an Offensive Coordinator as James Franklin returns to the Terps coaching staff.
Junior LB Erin Henderson is expected to turn pro. If Henderson departs, Maryland will return five starters on defense. Nine starters will return on offense.
This season Maryland had their highs and their lows. Sometimes they had them in the same game. Last night was one of those games.
This was an interesting season to say the least. Injuries to several key players opened the door for a lot of newcomers like QB Chris Turner and Offensive Linemen Bruce Campbell and Paul Pinegar. There was inconsistency but this team did not quit at any point in the season. I hope those who check into this site enjoyed the coverage of the 2007 Maryland Terrapins Football team. I had a lot of fun cheering them on from Section 19 at Byrd Stadium and look forward to doing it again next year.
Post Game Notes
Post Game Quotes
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Here come the changes...
Maryland wide receivers coach Bryan Bossard will not be retained for the 2008 season, coach Ralph Friedgen announced today.
“We appreciate Bryan’s efforts, but we need to move in a different direction at that position,” Friedgen said. “We wish Bryan luck in his future endeavors.”
Bossard, 40, coached the Terps’ wideouts for the past three seasons.
Prior to his time with Maryland, Bossard spent three seasons (2002-04) as the wide receivers coach at Delaware, his alma mater.
Friedgen will immediately begin a search to find Bossard’s replacement.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – University of Maryland linebacker Erin Henderson will forego his final year of eligibility and enter the 2008 NFL Draft, Coach Ralph Friedgen announced Wednesday.
Henderson and the Terps ended their season Friday in the Emerald Bowl.
“After discussing the matter with my family in recent days, we felt like the time was right to take the next step in my playing career,” Henderson said. “It was a difficult decision because I enjoyed my days at Maryland and playing in the college environment. I will certainly miss my teammates and coaches, but will always be a Terp.”
Henderson was a Butkus Award semifinalist this past season and was tapped an All-American by four different media outlets.
“Erin has made a tremendous contribution to our program, both on and off the field,” Friedgen said. “We wish him the best in the NFL.“
Henderson totaled 133 tackles on the season, including 11 tackles for loss. He also caused one fumble and recovered four others. He ranked eighth nationally and first in the Atlantic Coast Conference at the conclusion of the regular season.
A native of Aberdeen, Md., Henderson was a first-team All-ACC choice in 2007 after earning second-team honors last year. He missed the 2005 season with a knee injury. He had 16 double-digit tackle games and 247 stops in his two years in uniform.
Prior to the 2007 season, he was named to the Playboy Preseason All-America team and was on the watch list for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award. He was a third team All-America choice by Rivals.com and an honorable-mention selection by SI.com, Pro Football Weekly and College Football News.
Despite the loss of Henderson, the Terps are scheduled to have 14 starters back next season, including nine on offense. In addition, a number of offensive and defensive reserves received extended playing time in 2007 as the Terps had 16 members of the two-deep miss at least one game due to injury.
The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 26-27.
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