Josh Portis

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Keon Lattimore was on a mission to put Dick Clark out of work on Saturday. The University of Maryland running back put a new twist to the final countdown at Byrd Stadium, stealing away Clark's time-honored New Year's Eve job. Instead of seconds, Lattimore ticked off the final 10 yards before the goal line. Three times, it was 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ... happy six points as Lattimore's determination churned out 106 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries Saturday to pace the Terrapins to a 31-14 victory over Villanova in their season opener.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of Maryland football team is facing arguably its biggest Atlantic Coast Conference game of the season as its league opener Saturday at No. 20 Clemson. It is a game the Terrapins have circled on the calendar since training camp. "They have a lot of weapons and are, I think, one of the most talented teams in the ACC," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. "In the preseason, they were picked to win the ACC. This will be a real challenge for us. " Add to the mix the fact that Maryland (3-1)

Who will emerge to take the place of departed quarterback Sam Hollenbach at the University of Maryland? That's been the big question for Terps football coach Ralph Friedgen this spring. Tens days after the Terps wrapped up spring practice with the annual Red-White game, the question remains unanswered. Friedgen spoke to members of the Terrapin Club at Fountain Head Country Club on Monday night, but he never gave a certain answer as to who would take the snaps for the Terps when they open against Villanova on Sept.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Jordan Steffy is all about time. His life, his future and his success have come down to his ability to manage it. Time has been of the essence of Steffy's life since he stepped on the University of Maryland campus with the intent to be the quarterback of the Terrapins. He's had to take his time, bide his time, let time pass and work on his timing - all pointing to when his time would come. And that time seems to be now ... in due time. Steffy is precariously sitting atop Maryland's depth chart for quarterbacks as training camp opens for the 2007 season.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Ralph Friedgen put the NFL Draft on a personal level. He put himself on the clock, but it's not to select in the first round. It's a self-imposed deadline the University of Maryland football coach has set to pick his starting quarterback for the 2007 season. "I'm not going to take long ... at least a week, maybe a little bit more," Friedgen warned during his news conference Monday at the annual Maryland media day at Byrd Stadium. "I'm anxious to see them practice and see how they did during the summer.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Ralph Friedgen has had the University of Maryland football team traveling the road to respectability since becoming its head coach eight years ago. This season, the journey will continue and shift into the fast lane. Outside the usual talk of experience and depth during Monday's annual media day, one special five-letter word was added. Speed. "We've been trying to upgrade our speed since I got here," Friedgen said. "It is kind of like the situation we had when we had Steve Suter here.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- Assessing the success of Maryland's season depends on whether you see the Humanitarian Bowl as half empty or half full. The Terrapins capped an up-and-down ride with a 42-35 win over Nevada on a chilly Tuesday night in Idaho before a crowd of 26,781. There were more empty seats than Maryland fans, yet those in attendance watched the Terps secure their fifth eight-win season in eight years under Ralph Friedgen. There's nothing wrong with finishing 8-5, but Maryland expected much more after beating four ranked teams to put itself in position to play for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Even University of Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen had to stop himself in midquote. What did you (or I) say? "We controlled the ball, but we were scoring too fast," Friedgen said. "I almost wish we took more time to score. " OK, who are you and what have you done with Ralph Friedgen? Mr. Offense 24/7? The guy who was the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers the year they went to the Super Bowl? The guy who used to believe that offense is the best defense?

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Jordan Steffy answered Ralph Friedgen's prayers ... twice. As the University of Maryland's head coach and offensive coordinator, Friedgen admitted he only wanted the very best for Steffy in his first start at quarterback. "I was praying for him," Friedgen admitted after the Terrapins' 31-14 victory over Villanova on Saturday at Byrd Stadium. "He didn't play tight. He played like he has been at practice. He was out there having fun. " Steffy did all he needed to do in efficient fashion with his 19-of-24 passing for 174 yards and his 47 yards rushing and one touchdown in his long-awaited starting debut.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland football team was already walking a tightrope when the season started. The Terrapins were trying to balance the strengths of returning skill players with the talents of unproven quarterback Jordan Steffy. Last week's first performance was successful in a 31-14 win over Villanova. But now, the Terps' high-wire act gets a tad more difficult. Maryland is now working without a net. The Terps anticipated for Steffy to share time behind center with Josh Portis, a player coach Ralph Friedgen planned to look to in certain situations because of his explosive play-making ability.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- Assessing the success of Maryland's season depends on whether you see the Humanitarian Bowl as half empty or half full. The Terrapins capped an up-and-down ride with a 42-35 win over Nevada on a chilly Tuesday night in Idaho before a crowd of 26,781. There were more empty seats than Maryland fans, yet those in attendance watched the Terps secure their fifth eight-win season in eight years under Ralph Friedgen. There's nothing wrong with finishing 8-5, but Maryland expected much more after beating four ranked teams to put itself in position to play for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of Maryland football team is facing arguably its biggest Atlantic Coast Conference game of the season as its league opener Saturday at No. 20 Clemson. It is a game the Terrapins have circled on the calendar since training camp. "They have a lot of weapons and are, I think, one of the most talented teams in the ACC," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. "In the preseason, they were picked to win the ACC. This will be a real challenge for us. " Add to the mix the fact that Maryland (3-1)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Even University of Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen had to stop himself in midquote. What did you (or I) say? "We controlled the ball, but we were scoring too fast," Friedgen said. "I almost wish we took more time to score. " OK, who are you and what have you done with Ralph Friedgen? Mr. Offense 24/7? The guy who was the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers the year they went to the Super Bowl? The guy who used to believe that offense is the best defense?

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- It started out as an important first game for the University of Maryland football team. There was supposed to be a new offense, a new defense, new running backs and a renewed start for a quarterback who started last season. In the end, though, the Terrapins' 14-7 win over Delaware came off sounding like a text message among friends. "A 'W' is a 'W,'" said Maryland center Edwin Williams. It was the universal thought that seemed to be passed along every cell phone owned by the Terrapins and transferred to the handsets of the media just for emphasis.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Ralph Friedgen has had the University of Maryland football team traveling the road to respectability since becoming its head coach eight years ago. This season, the journey will continue and shift into the fast lane. Outside the usual talk of experience and depth during Monday's annual media day, one special five-letter word was added. Speed. "We've been trying to upgrade our speed since I got here," Friedgen said. "It is kind of like the situation we had when we had Steve Suter here.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland football team was already walking a tightrope when the season started. The Terrapins were trying to balance the strengths of returning skill players with the talents of unproven quarterback Jordan Steffy. Last week's first performance was successful in a 31-14 win over Villanova. But now, the Terps' high-wire act gets a tad more difficult. Maryland is now working without a net. The Terps anticipated for Steffy to share time behind center with Josh Portis, a player coach Ralph Friedgen planned to look to in certain situations because of his explosive play-making ability.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Keon Lattimore was on a mission to put Dick Clark out of work on Saturday. The University of Maryland running back put a new twist to the final countdown at Byrd Stadium, stealing away Clark's time-honored New Year's Eve job. Instead of seconds, Lattimore ticked off the final 10 yards before the goal line. Three times, it was 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ... happy six points as Lattimore's determination churned out 106 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries Saturday to pace the Terrapins to a 31-14 victory over Villanova in their season opener.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Jordan Steffy answered Ralph Friedgen's prayers ... twice. As the University of Maryland's head coach and offensive coordinator, Friedgen admitted he only wanted the very best for Steffy in his first start at quarterback. "I was praying for him," Friedgen admitted after the Terrapins' 31-14 victory over Villanova on Saturday at Byrd Stadium. "He didn't play tight. He played like he has been at practice. He was out there having fun. " Steffy did all he needed to do in efficient fashion with his 19-of-24 passing for 174 yards and his 47 yards rushing and one touchdown in his long-awaited starting debut.

The University of Maryland football team is undergoing some plastic surgery. The Terrapins are getting a nip here and a tuck there in an effort to put their best face forward offensively this year. For now, the face of the offense is would-be starting quarterback Jordan Steffy, but he might not have to be as complete as other quarterbacks to help the Terps look good and be good. "One thing that I have confidence in in Jordan is that he knows what to do," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said at the Terrapins' annual media day. "What I want is for him to be able to run and pass and put us in a position to be successful.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Football is serious business at the University of Maryland. It's no sing-along, yet if the Terrapins want to know all the right words, they might try to follow the bouncing Ball. Running back Lance Ball is showing all the signs of being a senior. He has a long memory, the perspective of experience and a little bit of know-how when it comes to getting things done. With all that tucked in his hip-pad pocket, Ball says Maryland might be ready to roll. "This team can be 10 times better than last year," the senior said during the recent Maryland media day. "Last year, it wasn't a true Maryland team.