College Football Preview: Maryland vs. Florida State

Thursday, May 21, 2009 3:07 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

Associated Press

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The story of Maryland's football season is so incredibly unimaginable, any attempt to chronicle the wacky up-and-down journey should begin with the words, "Once upon a time..."

It began with a narrow win over Delaware in which starting quarterback Jordan Steffy was lost with a fractured thumb. Then came a loss to Middle Tennessee State — followed by a victory over then-unbeaten California.

Wins over two more ranked teams, Clemson and Wake Forest, were sandwiched around a 31-0 defeat at Virginia. The Terrapins own a best-in-the-nation four victories over Top 25 opponents, yet are 3-3 against unranked teams. They have won five games by eight points or fewer, the last two by a combined five points.

And now, after all that, No. 22 Maryland is in position to add a memorable final chapter to an improbable saga.

Wearing their beloved alternate black jerseys in a nationally televised game against hated Florida State, the Terrapins can complete an unbeaten season at home and conceivably earn a berth in the ACC championship game with a victory at sold out Byrd Stadium tonight.

"You ever read those fairy-tale stories with a perfect ending? That's what it would be. A perfect ending," linebacker Moise Fokou said.

Fokou and 29 other seniors will be honored before the game. Then they will attempt to defeat a Florida State team that will seek to write its own ending to Maryland's strange season.