Bowl Week Underway for the Terps


Courtesy Maryland Athletics
OAKLAND, Calif.After arriving in San Francisco Wednesday evening, the Maryland football team hit the field for its first practice in the Bay Area at Laney College Thursday afternoon in preparation for its matchup with Stanford in the Foster Farms Bowl on Tuesday.

In an effort to keep the team on a normal routine, Thursday’s practice resembled a normal Tuesday game-week practice for head coach Randy Edsall’s squad.

“It is a normal Tuesday practice for us,” said Edsall. “That is one of the reasons we can out when we did. We came out yesterday to get acclimated so we could get right into our weekly routine. This will be a normal Tuesday for us, and tomorrow will be a normal Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and so on. It puts us right into game mode. We already put the game plan in back home and practiced that. Now we are going to do the same thing here. We hope there is a lot of retention, they are sharp, they are crisp and we can go out and get things done we need to get done to prepare for a very talented and tough opponent in Stanford.”

Tuesday’s practice opened with special teams work specifically kickoff return before moving into some individual work. Practice closed with four team sessions, a bout of 7-v-7 and extra point and field goal work.

At the conclusion of practice, former Terp Jon Condo, currently with the Oakland Raiders addressed the team along with former Morgan State, Baltimore Colts and Raiders star Raymond Chester. Each player shared a few words of wisdom as the Terps prepare for the Cardinal.

Maryland returns to the practice field Thursday morning before heading downtown for the Foster Farms Bowl press conference and a trip Alcatraz in the afternoon.

Maryland and Stanford are set for a 10:05 p.m. ET kick off Tuesday from Levi’s Stadium.

Maryland and Stanford are set to kick off from Levi's Stadium on Dec. 30 at 10 p.m. ET
Courtesy Maryland Athletics
Maryland and Stanford are set to kick off from Levi's Stadium on Dec. 30 at 10 p.m. ET

Terps Head to Bay Area for Showdown with Stanford

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland is set to meet Stanford for the first time in program history in the Foster Farms Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Kickoff is set for 10:05 p.m. ET on Dec. 30. It is Maryland’s second bowl berth in as many seasons and its 26th all-time.
This is Maryland’s second appearance in San Francisco’s annual bowl game. The Terps traveled to the Bay Area in 2007 when the bowl was known as the Emerald Bowl. Maryland fell to Oregon State, 21-14.
Maryland has played some of its best football away from home. The Terps have won five road games this season, the most in the Big Ten, and the highest total for a Maryland team since 1984. The Terps have won seven of their last nine games away from home.
Live Coverage
Maryland's matchup with Stanford in the Foster Farms Bowl will be broadcast live on ESPN and streamed live on WatchESPN at 10 p.m. ET. Dave Flemming (pbp), Greg McElroy (color) and Shelley Smith (sideline) will call the action. The game can also be heard on the Maryland Sports Radio Network with Johnny Holliday (pbp), Tim Strachan (color) and Scott McBrien (sideline) on the call. The game can also be heard on ESPN Radio and SiriusXM channel 84. For a listing of ESPN Radio affiliates in your area, click here.
MARYLAND SEASON AWARDS
Head coach Randy Edsall handed out the 2014 team awards Monday afternoon. Here is a list of this year's recipients.
The George C. Cook Memorial Award (Presented to the senior student-athlete that maintains the highest GPA) - C.J. Brown and Nathan Renfro (virtual tie)
The George Boutselis Memorial Award (Presented to the student-athlete who both lettered in football while attaining the highest GPA on the team) - P.J. Gallo
Public Service Award - Sal Conaboy
Dr. John E. Faber Iron Man Award - Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil
The A.V. Williams Award (Presented to the student-athlete that best displays outstanding and conspicuous sportsmanship) - Cole Farrand
The Alvin L. Aubinoe Unsung Hero Trophy (Presented to the student-athlete that best displays the true meaning of teamwork) - Michael Tart
The James M. Tatum Memorial Award (Lineman of the Year) - Darius Kilgo
Special Team Player of the Year - Brad Craddock
Defensive Player of the Year - Andre Monroe
Offensive Player of the Year - C.J. Brown
The Ray Krouse Memorial Award (Team MVP) - William Likely
Dexter McDougle Ultimate Team Player Award - Jeremiah Johnson
TERPS BY THE NUMBERS
1 - Kicker Brad Craddock became Maryland’s first-ever Lou Groza Award winner when he was presented the honor at the 2014 Home Depot College Football Awards. Craddock has made 18-of-19 field goal attempts this season.
2 - Defensive back William Likely has taken two of his six interceptions back for touchdowns. His two interception returns for touchdowns are tied for first amongst FBS teams. In addition, Likely, as a sophomore, has already tied the career record at Maryland.
4 - Wide receiver Stefon Diggs is only the fourth Terrapin wideout all-time to have at least two 50-catch seasons. Diggs has 52 catches this season after totaling 54 as a freshman in 2012. He joins Jermaine Lewis (1992-95), Geroy Simon (1993-96) and Torrey Smith (2008-10) as the only receivers in school history to accomplish the feat.
6 - Against Michigan (11/22), defensive back William Likely picked off his sixth pass. That total led the Big Ten and is tied for seventh in the FBS. The sophomore has returned his six interceptions for 170 yards, a single-season school record and the second-highest total nationally.
8 - Maryland placed eight players on the 2014 All-Big Ten team, the most players to earn all-conference honors in the Randy Edsall era. Kicker Brad Craddock and defensive back William Likely led the group. Craddock and Likely earned first-team honors from the coaches and media.
17 - The number of years since Maryland last had two 100-yard rushers in the same game. Brandon Ross and C.J. Brown rushed for 108 and 107 yards, respectively, against Rutgers (11/29). LaMont Jordan (135) and Brian Underwood (114) accomplished the feat at Temple on Sept. 27, 1997.
24 - The number of career sacks for defensive lineman Andre Monroe. The senior lineman is a half of sack shy of becoming Maryland’s all-time sack leader. Monroe currently is tied with Mike Corvino (1979-1982) for the career record.
94.7 - The percentage of field goals made by Brad Craddock this season. It is a Maryland single-season record and currently leads the nation. For his career, Craddock has converted 81.7 percent of his field goal tries, which is a program record and the 17th-highest average among active FBS kickers.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
Quarterback C.J. Brown recorded his ninth career 100-yard rushing performance in the regular-season finale against Rutgers. Brown rushed 107 yards and a touchdown, and passed for 195 yards and two scores. For his career, Brown is now responsible for 57 touchdowns and is Maryland’s all-time record holder. Brown currently has 6,898 total offensive yards for his career, which ranks second all-time. Brown is within striking distance of becoming only the second player in Maryland history to eclipse 7,000 total offensive yards for his career and passing Scott Milanovich (7,111) for the all-time mark.
  • Brown increased his career passing total to 5,167 yards against Rutgers and is only the sixth quarterback in school history to eclipse the 5,000-yard plateau. He currently ranks fifth in school history. In addition, with 1,731 career rushing yards, Brown is one of 10 active FBS players to pass for 5,000 or more yards and rush for 1,000 or more yards in a career.
  • Brown ranks fourth in school history in completions with 422. Milanovich holds the program record with 650. 
  • Brown has nine career 100-yard rushing performances. It is the most all-time for a Terrapin quarterback and is the fourth-highest total in program history. LaMont Jordan holds the program record with 18 from 1997-2000. In addition, Brown’s total ranks fourth nationally among active FBS quarterbacks.
  • Brown has accounted for 6,898 yards of total offense in his career. He ranks second on Maryland’s all-time list and 22nd nationally among active FBS players.
On The Offense
ALL-PURPOSE DIGGS

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs leads the team in receptions (52) and receiving yards (654). Diggs hit season highs in catches (9) and receiving yards (130) against Iowa (10/18). Diggs ranks second among active FBS career leaders in all-purpose yards per game averaging 147.52 yards.
  • Diggs has eight career 100-yard receiving games, which ranks second in school history. Jermaine Lewis (1992-95) holds the record with 15.
  • His 3,983 career all-purpose yards is the 24th-highest active total nationally.
  • He is tied for third in Maryland history with Darrius Heyward-Bey (2006-08) with 2,036 career receiving yards.
  • Diggs is averaging 5.8 receptions per game and 72.7 receiving yards per game, which ranks second and fourth in the Big Ten, respectively.
POUND THE ROCK
Running back Wes Brown has been the chosen short-yardage back for the Terps late in the season.
  • Brown leads all running backs with five touchdowns.
  • Four of his five touchdowns have come from one-yard out.
  • Over the last two games, Brown is averaging 4.1 ypc.
On The Defense
LOCK IT DOWN
  • Sophomore defensive back William Likely led the Big Ten in interceptions (6) and tied for second in passes defensed (14).
  • His six interceptions are the tied for the seventh-highest single-season total in school history and are the most for a Maryland player since Tony Jackson in 2001.
  • Likely has returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns, which is tied for the highest total in the nation. He is also tied with six other players for the most in Maryland history, and is tied for the second-highest single-season total in Big Ten history.
  • His 14 passes defensed are the most for a Maryland player since Curome Cox had 14 in 2002. Domonique Foxworth had 22 the same season.
GET TO THE QUARTERBACK

Senior Andre Monroe is Maryland’s active career leader in sacks. The product of Upper Marlboro, Md., has 24 career sacks including a team-high 9.5 this season.
  • Monroe’s 24 sacks are tied for the school record with Mike Corvino (1979-1982).
  • His 36.5 career tackles for loss rank fourth all-time at Maryland.
  • With 9.5 sacks this season, Monroe has matched his total from last season and is 3.5 sacks shy of tying the single-season school record held by Mark Duda (1982) and Bruce Palmer (1978).
On The SPECIAL TEAMS
IT'S GOOD

Junior kicker Brad Craddock, the 2014 Lou Groza Award recipient, has made 49 career field goals and has scored 248 career points.
  • Craddock’s 49 career field goals rank third on Maryland’s all-time list.
  • His 248 career points are fourth all-time at Maryland and the third most for a kicker.
  • Craddock leads the FBS with a 94.7 field goal conversion rate (18-19).
  • The junior converted 24-straight field goal attempts. That mark is a program record.
  • In addition, his 24 consecutive made field goals tied the Big Ten record held by Ohio State’s Mike Nugent (2001-02).
MEDIA INFORMATION
For up-to-date game stories, statistics, schedules and results, and other Maryland athletic department information, please log-on to www.umterps.com on the Internet.

Head coach Randy Edsall addressed the media ahead of Maryland's Dec. 30 clash with Stanford
Courtesy Maryland Athletics
Head coach Randy Edsall addressed the media ahead of Maryland's Dec. 30 clash with Stanford

Terps Address Media Ahead of Clash with Cardinal

SAN FRANCISCO – Maryland head football coach Randy Edsall joined Stanford head coach David Shaw along with Foster Farms Bowl executive director Gary Cavalli and Foster Farms senior vice president Bryan Reese for an introductory press conference at the Hotel Nikko Saturday afternoon.
Edsall was joined by Maryland quarterback C.J. Brown, kicker Brad Craddock and linebacker Cole Farrand at the event.

After opening remarks from Cavalli and Reese, Edsall took the mic and addressed the gathered media to express the team’s excitement to be invited to San Francisco for their final game of the season. 

"It's been a great time [in San Francisco ] so far," Edsall said. "It's been an experience for us in our first year in the Big Ten. Different conference. Different venues to play in. I thought our kids handled it well. We overcame advirsity because of the leadership and will of our players."

Following introductions by Edsall and Shaw, the media met with the student-athletes. Brown was excited to lead the Terrapins into Santa Clara in his final game at Maryland. 

"Being here for as long as I have, these last practices have been emotional. I've kind of reflected and I've had a great time. I'm trying to go out for the seniors, myself, my family and the University of Maryland and get this win."

Farrand believes the team has had a great set of practices leading up to its trip west and will be ready to play the Cardinal Tuesday night.

"We're loving the weather," Farrand said. "It's really nice and I think the guys are feeding into that. We've had great practices this week. Everyone is really excited."

Maryland's players and coaches will take advantage of the sunny skies when they visit the world famous Alcatraz to close out Saturday's activities. 

The Terps and Cardinal are set for a 10 p.m. ET kick off from Levi’s Stadium Tuesday, Dec. 30.