2008 Woodie Awards
For second straight year, MT to face an ACC opponent
Casey Bowman
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Sports
The MT Blue Raider football team, for the second consecutive year, will host a BCS caliber program from the ACC within the friendly confines of Floyd Stadium.
Last year it was Virginia, and now MT will welcome the Terrapins of Maryland this Saturday.
This will be the third meeting between the two programs. Most recently, MT fell to the Terrapins at College Park in a closely contested game, 24-10. Maryland holds a 2-0 advantage in the overall series.
MT (0-1) will look to erase the memory of their season opening loss to the Troy Trojans, but Head Coach Rick Stockstill says his team doesn't feel any added pressure going into Saturday's contest, even though a win would arguably be the programs biggest since their arrival in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
"To me there is not," Stockstill said at Tuesday's press conference. "We want to beat Maryland at home Saturday and we wanted to beat them two years ago on the road. We don't spend a lot of time talking about Maryland because, to me, it's about us. We have to work and focus on improving as individuals and as a team. It would be nice to win at home but we are not putting any more emphasis on this game or added pressure on the players because I don't think that's how you approach it with your players."
Pressure aside, if the Blue Raiders are to compete with Maryland, they will do so with a depleted lineup that has an abundance of injury issues.
Linebackers Lonnie Clemons and Andrew Harrington are both doubtful for Saturday's contest. Defensive back Rod Issac is also doubtful.
Maryland will bring in a talented core of wide receivers into Murfreesboro Saturday, including standout junior Darrius Heyward-Bey, who caught 4 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in Maryland's week one victory over Delaware. Heyward-Bey also accounted for the Terps only other touchdown with a 12-yard scamper.
While the defense seems to be somewhat beat up for the Raiders, it is the offensive line that has taken the worst beating of all so far.
Last year it was Virginia, and now MT will welcome the Terrapins of Maryland this Saturday.
This will be the third meeting between the two programs. Most recently, MT fell to the Terrapins at College Park in a closely contested game, 24-10. Maryland holds a 2-0 advantage in the overall series.
MT (0-1) will look to erase the memory of their season opening loss to the Troy Trojans, but Head Coach Rick Stockstill says his team doesn't feel any added pressure going into Saturday's contest, even though a win would arguably be the programs biggest since their arrival in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
"To me there is not," Stockstill said at Tuesday's press conference. "We want to beat Maryland at home Saturday and we wanted to beat them two years ago on the road. We don't spend a lot of time talking about Maryland because, to me, it's about us. We have to work and focus on improving as individuals and as a team. It would be nice to win at home but we are not putting any more emphasis on this game or added pressure on the players because I don't think that's how you approach it with your players."
Pressure aside, if the Blue Raiders are to compete with Maryland, they will do so with a depleted lineup that has an abundance of injury issues.
Linebackers Lonnie Clemons and Andrew Harrington are both doubtful for Saturday's contest. Defensive back Rod Issac is also doubtful.
Maryland will bring in a talented core of wide receivers into Murfreesboro Saturday, including standout junior Darrius Heyward-Bey, who caught 4 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in Maryland's week one victory over Delaware. Heyward-Bey also accounted for the Terps only other touchdown with a 12-yard scamper.
While the defense seems to be somewhat beat up for the Raiders, it is the offensive line that has taken the worst beating of all so far.
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