Maryland's depth chart for the week is up, and there are no noticeable changes.

Jordan Steffy is still listed ahead of Chris Turner at quarterback, though Steffy is questionable after his concussion in Saturday's victory over Rutgers.

It seems like there have been quarterback stories every week of the season (not to mention camp) between Steffy's acclimation, Turner's looks against Villanova and Rutgers and Josh Portis' ineligibility. Expect more of the same this week; I know I'll be guilty of going the QB route at least once before the Terps play Georgia Tech in one of those blessed noon starts on Saturday.

-- Patrick Stevens

Just passing along that Maryland quarterback Chris Turner, who was 14-for-20 for 149 yards in the second half at Rutgers on Saturday, was voted the co-offensive back of the week. He shared it with Florida State's Xavier Lee, another quarterback who came off the bench to lead a league team to a victory over a ranked nonconference opponent (Alabama).

In case anyone wonders how those awards are selected, a panel of nine writers from around the conference cast ballots after receiving nominations from the sports information offices of each school. And for those concerned about the league's All Carolina Conference reputation, only two members of the panel are North Carolina-based.

-- Patrick Stevens

I'll have another update after Ralph's 1 p.m. press conference, where there will probably be about 15 minutes of discussion about quarterbacks and maybe 10 minutes for everything else.

Just wanted to point out a few critical plays from Saturday's game as a final rewind after winding through the tape of the ABC broadcast yesterday.

* On the first sack of Jordan Steffy, a third-and-8 at the Rutgers 26, Rutgers brought a six-man blitz (including a safety) and Steffy never looked close to releasing the ball.

* With 9:48 left in the second quarter and facing and third-and-8 at the Maryland 22, Rutgers brought a six-man blitz (including a safety) and again sacked Steffy.

* On a third-and-8 at the Rutgers 15, there was no blitz beyond the defensive front and Steffy found Darrius Heyward-Bey for a touchdown pass.

* On the play Steffy was knocked out of the game (a second-and-7), Rutgers again brought a six-man blitz (and a safety was the guy who got to Steffy).

* Sensing raw meat in its presence, the Rutgers defense brought a SEVEN-man blitz with 10:27 left in the third quarter on third-and-5. But Chris Turner got rid of it just in time and connected with Danny Oquendo for 10 yards. It was the first of a few throws Turner made in those situations (he was 7-for-9 with four first downs on third downs against Rutgers).

* With just less than eight minutes left, Maryland faced a third-and-12 at the Rutgers 29. The Scarlet Knights only blitzed the front four, and Turner had time to get off his sweet fade to LaQuan Williams down the left side for 27 yards.

There are two obvious explanations for why Turner would not have faced the same kind of blitz Steffy did earlier in the game on long distances in passing situations. One, Turner proved he posed a greater threat to exploit a blitz, thus discouraging the Scarlet Knights from sending extra men. Two, the game situation (middle of the fourth quarter, down three points) dictated that Rutgers use a more cautious approach.

It's probably a combination of both. But it's also no coincidence Turner didn't get sacked after Steffy went down twice and was mauled a third time. After he beat the blitz once or twice, Turner simply did not see as many gentlemen in scarlet attempting to join him in the backfield as Steffy did --- and that's a big part of why Maryland is 3-2 rather than nursing a three-game losing skid heading into Saturday's visit from Georgia Tech.

-- Patrick Stevens

Here's the latest on quarterback Jordan Steffy (concussion) straight from coach Ralph Friedgen:

"Jordan's improving," Friedgen said. "He's questionable for this week. He was at practice last night. He did not participate but I'm hoping that he'll be ready to play on Saturday."

- Patrick Stevens

Also on the injury front, junior Erin Henderson is also questionable for this week with a knee injury. How severe is it? Ralph didn't exactly go into detail, and since practices are entirely closed to the media this week, there isn't even a chance to see if he passes the eyeball test during warmups.

Here's the word from Friedgen on his weak-side linebacker who hobbled out of the Rutgers game in the first quarter but returned for much of the rest of the game.

"It's a day-to-day thing also with him. The MRI showed he had an injury. He’s one of these guys that recovers very quickly. He hurt his knee in the first half and played the whole second half. I'm hoping he'll be ready to play on Saturday."

- Patrick Stevens

Apparently, the only person who's made a more meteoric rise up the depth at quarterback than Jamarr Robinson is ... me?

First some background. Back on Aug. 24, I asked Ralph who the starting quarterback would be. I expected a fruitless answer. Instead, he went all stand-up comedian with this exchange with Official Beat Diva Heather Dinich of the Baltimore Sun.

Ralph: After long deliberation, [SID] Shawn Nestor. Second team is [sports information assistant] Ben [Dooling]. Third team is Heather.

Dinich: Third team? What?

Ralph: You're lucky you made the cut, honey.

So when Marc Carig of the Washington Post asked Ralph today who would be the third-stringer behind Chris Turner and Robinson (assuming Jordan Steffy can't go on Saturday), Friedgen initially demurred.

"That's a secret," he said coyly.

But Ralph couldn't help himself, finally providing an answer. Sort of.

"Heather," the big fella said. "Patrick's the backup."

This is the effect of a couple transfers, a player busted for violating the academic code of integrity and a concussed starter. (For the record, I am opposed to any ACL tears, fractured wrists or any other such injuries that would make this situation tougher to joke about, simply on the basis that injuries to any player on any team aren't cool.)

And only one thing popped into my head when Ralph issued his "revised" depth chart.

"Heaven help you," I said sympathetically.

"Heaven needs to help me," Friedgen replied.

If one more quarterback goes down, Ralph will need even more than that to get through this season.

- Patrick Stevens

Well, the dominant topic of discussion in the final 10 minutes of Ralph's presser was the
revelation Rutgers had obtained tape of Maryland from Duke, a violation of ACC rules as delineated in this morning's Baltimore Sun.

Ralph Friedgen tried to choose his words carefully, but still let his true feelings be known.

"Yes, I was disappointed, especially when I know two other people in the league turned them down," Friedgen said. "I felt like if you’re in the league, you should abide by the league rules."

Which of course begs this obvious question: How many people still regard Duke as a member of the ACC in football?

I kid, I kid --- kind of. Ralph said the two schools that turned Rutgers down were Wake Forest and Georgia Tech, and said he received an apology from Mitch Wilkens, the Blue Devils' football video coordinator who worked at Maryland from 2001 to 2003.

- Patrick Stevens

Well, even if Jordan Steffy (concussion) doesn't play on Saturday against Georgia Tech, it wouldn't be the worst team for him to sit out against.

Steffy took 17 sacks in 4 1/2 games (upon further review, Chris Turner was sacked once by Villanova in the season opener). And coach Ralph Friedgen estimated that of the 350 plays the Terps have broken down on the Yellow Jackets' defense, 295 of them have involved a blitz.

It's an interesting situation, since the Jon Tenuta-coordinated defense clearly is predicated on constant blitzing and pressure rather than using it as a change of pace. Turner handled the blitz with aplomb on Saturday, and for that reason might be the Terps' better option against this particular defense regardless of whether Steffy has all his marbles come Saturday.

-- Patrick Stevens

It's ACC teleconference time, and the first half hour has featured both Clemson coach Tommy Bowden and Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer. Their teams meet this Saturday.

The Hokies' offense has struggled, and never more than in its visit to Louisiana State last month. That loss precipitated Beamer's decision to swap out quarterback Sean Glennon for backup Tyrod Taylor.

"The last time we had a situation like this, going to a stadium that's going to be full and a lot of people and playing a really good football team, we didn't do very well," Beamer said. "We didn't do very good down at LSU. This will give us an indication of can we handle things a little bit better."

Meanwhile, Clemson is coming off an ugly 13-3 loss at Georgia Tech that featured, among other things, nine dropped passes. The Tigers also got routed in Blacksburg last year, a game Glennon started.

"He's just more athletic," Bowden said. "I think they won 10 games last year and Glennon beat the heck out of us. He threw the ball on us. We're afraid of both of them. The other guy presents you different problems. You better be disciplined in your running lanes."

-- Patrick Stevens

Still in a holding pattern on quarterback Jordan Steffy's status.

Ralph Friedgen said Jordan Steffy "observed" practice yesterday, but there was no word on whether he might go today (or Saturday against Georgia Tech) after suffering a concussion on Saturday.

"I haven't made a decision yet which way," Friedgen said. "We're hoping we can have Jordan. He's still questionable. We'll know a little bit more today and see where we're at."

One interesting nugget popped up. Although Ralph said Sunday he'd considered rotating Steffy and Chris Turner, it's clear Steffy will start if he's ready to go.

"If he's healthy, he'll be our starter right now," Friedgen said. "But I don't know if he's healthy."

- Patrick Stevens

One of the ACC's intriguing subplots this week is Florida State assistant Chuck Amato seeing N.C. State --- the school that fired him after a 3-9 season last fall --- for the first time since coming back to Tallahassee.

Bobby Bowden is happy to have Amato back on his side, in part because of the absurd level of success the Wolfpack had against Florida State in recent years --- four victories in the last six seasons.

"He did just a marvelous job against us," Bowden said. "It's good to have him back. He had worked with [defensive coordinator] Mickey Andrews for 17-18 years. It's a real good fit. You can imagine how it will be for him standing on the sideline looking at all those kids."

(As a classic Bowden aside, he mentioned Amato wasn't the only coach who's had the Seminoles' number. "Tommy's beaten us the last three times we played him," Bobby Bowden said of his son. "We've got to find some dadgum way to get rid of him.")

As for the other end of the Amato Bowl, N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien said he talked with his players about the reunion. It's not uncharted territory for O'Brien; he faced his former team (Boston College) in the second week of the season.

"I didn't know if it would be an issue," O'Brien said. "It was in the interest of getting it out there and letting them know how I feel. Someone asked 'Do you think anyone will get mad if they want to go over and talk after the game.' Absolutely not. I don't think they were mad the Boston College kids wanted to come up and talk to me. Play the game, keep things in perspective and after that it's time to go visit."

- Patrick Stevens

You have to have a pretty good sense of humor to handle the adversity of building Duke's football program.

Ted Roof, one of the ACC's true good guys, definitely can find a laugh.

When associate commissioner Mike Finn was introduced during the ACC teleconference and his home game against Wake Forest was described, Roof interrupted.

"Did you say Durham?" Roof asked.

"Yeah, you there?" said Finn, who seemed a bit off-guard.

"It's only been a month since we've played there," Roof said.

Indeed, Duke is coming off a four-game trip, and will get four of the next five at home. And as empty as Wallace Wade Stadium can be on a Saturday afternoon, it has to be a welcome change.

An interesting note for Duke-Wake: It was in this game a year ago that quarterbacks Thaddeus Lewis (Duke) and Riley Skinner (Wake) made their starting debuts. Duke lined up for a game-winning field goal, but Wake blocked it to preserve a 14-13 victory and ignite its run to the ACC title.

--- Patrick Stevens

What gets Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams fired up?

OK, maybe I should rephrase that, since a lot of things get Gary fired up. It's one of the things that ensures that covering his team is never, ever boring and often entertaining in a bizarre sort of way.

But here's one thing Williams will consistently get fired up about: graduation rates, and how precisely they are calculated.

A perfect example: The release of the graduation success rate from the NCAA today. Maryland checked in at 0 percent for players who both began their careers and entered Maryland between the fall of 1997 and the fall of 2000. And no, there is not a number missing there. The Terps delivered a donut run in terms of scholarship players graduating within six years of starting their eligibility clock.

By my unofficial count, this group includes the top seven players on the 2002 national title team (Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter, Byron Mouton, Chris Wilcox, Steve Blake, Drew Nicholas and Tahj Holden), plus Terence Morris and two guys who transferred out of the program (Danny Miller and Matt Slaninka). That's 10, matching the number Maryland (and Gary) released.

It does not include walk-ons who did not play on scholarship, like Earl Badu. And it does not include guys who you'd think fell in that range but actually arrived before the fall of 1997 (like Mike Mardesich and the late LaRon Cephas).

Anyway, Gary was quite feisty when I talked to him this evening, and this was one of his first comments:

"Danny Miller graduated from Notre Dame," Williams said. "Tahj Holden graduated from the University of Maryland this summer and Matt Slaninka graduated from Shepherd. That's three out of 10. You can say they didn't graduate in that six-year window, but whatever."

He proceeded to rattle off the salaries of several prominent former Terps in the pros, and I have to wonder if he was an accountant in a previous life. The numbers were almost dead-on upon further review.

Still, a goose egg is a goose egg, and it was only fair to ask if this was in any way a reflection on his program.

"How is it a reflection? Zero is a number based on a six-year period. Zero is not accurate in terms of graduating [players]. ...," Williams said. "They fill out a zero, and in that six years, it was zero. But there are people who have graduated since then. Why doesn't the NCAA send this as a note?"

Personally, I look at graduation rates with a jaundiced eye for several reasons. One, they often cover players who were not recruited and sometimes not even coached by the current man in charge. That doesn't apply here, but it often does. (In the case of Maryland football and its 69 percent total, Ralph Friedgen coached most of the players involved but they all arrived under Ron Vanderlinden's watch). Either way, the data is old even if it is considered new.

Secondly, there has to be some way to take into account guys leaving for the pros. The Academic Progress Rate - better known as the APR - does a far better job of noting this discrepancy. Chances are, a team that wins a national title (as Maryland did in 2002) will have its share of pros on its roster, and a shiny rookie contract in the NBA or just a chance to shoot jumpers in Europe is awfully appealing. After all, that money will dry up for most players within a decade.

But that big honking zero stands out, and even Williams knows it. More recent events - be it the mass migration of his senior class two seasons ago after the NIT loss to Manhattan or the reality Will Bowers, Parrish Brown and Ekene Ibekwe earned degrees last spring - don't factor into this data, and Williams said both James Gist and Bambale Osby are on track to graduate after this season.

I'll let Gary have the last word tonight, since chances are he'll hear about that single round digit more often than he'd like to in the future.

"In the 18 years I've been here, 42 of my seniors have graduated," Williams said. "That's over two a year. That's significant. ... If you look at the facts, three of those [10] people have graduated. It just gets old."

--- Patrick Stevens

If you have a hard copy of today's paper, this is a repeat. But since this bit of news somehow didn't make the journey to Al Gore's Invention overnight for whatever reason, here seems as good a place as any to drop this in:

Maryland quarterback Jordan Steffy returned to practice yesterday but has yet to be medically cleared to play and remains questionable for Saturday's game against Georgia Tech.

Steffy suffered a concussion on a helmet-to-helmet hit late in the second quarter of Saturday's 34-24 victory at Rutgers, and Chris Turner entered to lead the Terrapins to a second-half comeback.

"He did OK," coach Ralph Friedgen said after practice. "He's slow. He's progressing and he's a little bit better today than he was yesterday."

Friedgen said during the ACC teleconference Steffy would start if he was healthy, though he hedged from that position after practice.

"It's questionable," Friedgen said. "I don't know what I would do. I'm just waiting to see if I have a decision by game time."

Friedgen said linebacker Erin Henderson (knee) also remained questionable.

Well, there will be some kind of decision by the time the noon kickoff arrives on Saturday. Ralph is playing coy a bit this week, but his mind may well be made up by the team's medical staff. Even if Steffy gets an OK from doctors, Friedgen probably has to consider weighing the benefits of holding him back if possible since the Terps' bye is next week.

-- Patrick Stevens

Haven't dipped into the Maryland-Navy stuff just yet this week, but after speaking with Maryland athletic director Debbie Yow, here are two things that are fairly certain:

1) Negotiations for a Maryland-Navy football game in 2010 (and possibly 2014) are not dead, and discussions between Yow and Navy AD Chet Gladchuk will continue this week.

2) There is no firm time line on Maryland's end, other than to try to solidify a nonconference opponent "as soon as possible."

Which means, of course, nothing has changed. And until it does, it really is a story about nothing.

-- Patrick Stevens

Jordan Steffy ... still questionable. He'll be a game-time decision, according to coach Ralph Friedgen. Those playing two quarterbacks in ACC fantasy football, take note.

Also still questionable: linebacker Erin Henderson (knee). He was "better," according to Ralph.

Among the freshmen who have yet to play that might get a look this year are wideouts Tony Logan and Torrey Smith and linebacker Derek Drummond. Logan and Drummond both traveled to Rutgers last week.

Meanwhile, cornerback Richard Taylor (ACL tear) is inching closer to returning.

-- Patrick Stevens

This morning has been spent swimming in stats related to Georgia Tech's swarming defense. The rankings aren't a big surprise — third in both sacks and tackles for loss — but the sheer numbers are. Jon Tenuta's defense averages 4.2 sacks and 10.4 tackles for loss, pretty much justifying the blitz-all-the-time approach.

On the other side of the ball, the Yellow Jackets have been two different teams this year. There is the pro-Choice offense — that is, the times tailback Tashard Choice has been healthy. In those three games, Tech is 3-0 and Choice averages 23 carries for 150.3 yards. When he was hampered by a hamstring injury last month, the Yellow Jackets went 0-2 and Choice averaged 10 carries for 25 yards. Yuck.

So the two things Maryland must do are obvious: handle the blitz with a fairly high level of poise, patience and perspicacity and slow down Choice enough to force quarterback Taylor Bennett (707 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT) into making some plays.

Based on those numbers, Bennett is almost a statistical doppelganger for Maryland's Jordan Steffy (674 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT). But Steffy also completes 68 percent of his passes, while Bennett is at 50 percent. Clearly, the passing game is not Tech's strength.

Speaking of Steffy (concussion), he will be a game-time decision according to Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen. My gut says Chris Turner will start, but Ralph was cautious all week when talking about the situation. A bunch of that was probably gamesmanship, but there was some uncertainty there as well. Steffy still hadn't been medically cleared to play as of early Thursday evening.

As for a pick, I'm looking for a throughly unsightly, defense-dominated game. Georgia Tech possesses the nation's No. 6 rushing defense, and Maryland's play against the run has held up longer and longer the last three weeks. Neither team is pass-first, and it is tough to envision many aerial fireworks unless there are garbage time opportunities.

But that seems unlikely. The teams are matched reasonably well, and both have shown some yo-yo-like tendencies early in the season. The wishy-washy prediction here is Maryland 16-13, but it would come as no shock if Georgia Tech pulled out a victory with a similar score. It's just hard to see this as either a blowout or a shootout unless there's an avalanche of turnovers that leave short fields for these teams to navigate.

-- Patrick Stevens

Got into the stadium about 20 minutes ago, and the team arrived just a little bit ago, too. It's rather dreary here in College Park, and the combination of weather and a noon start has probably kept away most fans from the pre-pregame festivities. Just from a glance out of the back side of the press box, it looked like Terrapin Alley attendance was sparse.

Still no word on a starting quarterback for today, though that should come soon enough. T-minus two hours until kickoff.

Anyway, I could have sworn I saw Josh Portis jerseys --- well, No. 12 jerseys, anyway --- for sale as I scooted past a concession stand after the West Virginia game ended last month. No such sightings this morning --- just Erin Henderson, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Lance Ball.

More notes as kickoff approaches.

A funny anecdote from a few months back at the ACC Kickoff event.

As Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey was getting up to leave, a reporter asked him if anything had happened to punter Durant Brooks over the summer. Gailey, a bit startled at the thought, said no and asked why he would get such a question. Turns out Brooks was left off the list of preseason all-ACC nominees, prompting Gailey to dryly ask someone to start a write-in campaign.

Well, it didn't work then (Wake Forest's Sam Swank got the nod), but there shouldn't be much campaigning needed at the end of the season. Brooks (an all-ACC pick over Adam Podlesh last year) ranks second in the country with 47.1 yards a punt, and the Yellow Jackets lead the nation in net punting at 42.23 yards.

Brooks could be vital today because of the field position he provides, especially if things turn into a low-scoring scrum.

And with two staunch run defenses with questions at quarterback, that is far from an impossibility.

On a field with a bunch of players wearing black or dark blue warmup outfits, Maryland quarterback Chris Turner stands out in his red shirt.

He's also taking snaps from starting center Edwin Williams down by the 30 yard line closest to the team house, and I have yet to spy Jordan Steffy.

Looks like the "game-time decision" might have been made for Ralph by the team's medical staff --- though there's no official word yet, either way.

The QBs are all out warming up, and it looks like several questions are officially answered.

There's no Jordan Steffy, and Tony Logan --- a true freshman who played quarterback in high school --- is warming up with the quarterbacks.

So it looks like it's Turner today, with Jamarr Robinson as his backup.

Linebacker Erin Henderson (knee), like QB Jordan Steffy, is sporting the jersey not tucked in and the black warm-up pants while the rest of Terps are in pads. So that leaves the Terps down their top defensive player heading into today's game.

That will mean a greater role for both Rick Costa, Henderson's backup on the weak side, and Adrian Moten, who is a backup at all three linebacker positions.

--- Patrick Stevens

Yes, Jordan Steffy and Erin Henderson are out with injuries today. Those aren't a shock, especially with the bye week coming up.

Meanwhile, Anthony Wiseman will be handling kickoff return duties today for Maryland. That's an interesting twist since Da'Rel Scott looked decent in that role the last two weeks.

--- Patrick Stevens

It's not good when a team calls a timeout on defense and then allows a 78-yard touchdown pass on the next play.

So it goes for Georgia Tech, which just gave up a 78-yard pass play from Chris Turner to Jason Goode. It's the first TD for either player in their respective careers.

Can't be too surprised Goode is involved so early. The Terps went to him frequently against the Yellow Jackets in last year's meeting in Atlanta.

--- Patrick Stevens

Scary sight here at Byrd Stadium, where a stretcher has been brought out to collect linebacker Rick Costa. Maryland medical personnel are attending to him right now after he was injured with 5:26 left in the first quarter.

Ralph Friedgen just went out to check on things, and Costa's just been put on a stretcher and strapped down.

Costa was playing on the weak side because Erin Henderson (knee) is out today. It leaves the Terps very thin at linebacker. Look for Adrian Moten to get a lot of time there the rest of the way.

--- Patrick Stevens

What's up with the quick-strike Maryland offense?

That's back-to-back scoring drives for the Terpies, with Lance Ball shrugging off a tackler to roll into the end zone. It was set up by Chris Turner's slick 44-yard pass to Darrius Heyward-Bey down the right side. Hey-Bey made a nice play, wresting it away from Jahi Word-Daniels.

For those keeping score, Turner has thrown for 122 yards on just two long plays. For the first quarter (which just ended), he is 3-for-5 for 130 yards and a score.

--- Patrick Stevens

Rick Costa was apparently moving when he was taken off the field about 10 minutes ago. He's being taken to the Shock Trauma unit in Baltimore for precautionary reasons with a neck injury.

--- Patrick Stevens

Now right guard Andrew Crummey is down, and a cart has been summoned onto the field to get him.

Maryland has a 14-3 lead and is on the move for another potential score, but losing Rick Costa (neck) and now Crummey is not going to help matters for the rest of the game.

For what it's worth, Darrius Heyward-Bey is up to three catches for 99 yards. And no, he is not injured.

And since I'm a fan of Southwest Airlines, I'll nominate Georgia Tech corner Jahi Word-Daniels for the next "Wanna get away?" commercial. Covering Hey-Bey today is no fun.

--- Patrick Stevens

Word just in from the Maryland locker room that guard Andrew Crummey has an ankle injury and his return is questionable.

So is Maryland's chances of making it through the game without a triage center being set up on the sideline.

Tit for tat at Byrd. Tashard Choice just pulled up on a long carry, perhaps re-aggravating a hamstring injury for Georgia Tech. Meanwhile, Travis Ivey, a reserve defensive lineman, was just carted over to the locker room.

--- Patrick Stevens

Even if Georgia Tech hadn't come out of a Maryland timeout and sacked Chris Turner, forced a fumble, collected it on the bounce and carried it into the end zone, I would have mentioned at halftime that Maryland never seems to win easy.

Guess that's not necessary now.

Still, the Terps will take 21-10 lead into the break, which is still pretty good against the Yellow Jackets defense. And Maryland gets the ball to start the second half.

Turner, his fumble notwithstanding, was efficient, going 5-for-8 for 196 yards and a touchdown. Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball combined for 16 carries and 58 yards -- not great shakes, but still solid.

However, Georgia Tech's Tashard Choice is up to 96 yards (and did return to the game). I'd bet Georgia Tech is more likely to make it closer than fade away in the second half.

Two other worrisome things:

1) Maryland's injuries (Andrew Crummey, Rick Costa, Travis Ivey) could take a toll in the second half. Phil Costa has filled in for Crummey, Adrian Moten for Rick Costa, and Dean Muhtadi got a look on the defensive line after Ivey left.

2) Georgia Tech already has had the ball 18 minutes. If Maryland got tired against West Virginia and Wake Forest, imagine what will happen if the defense is stuck out there 35 minutes against the Yellow Jackets.

--- Patrick Stevens

Maryland might have just constructed its best drive of the season, given the game situation and the scenarios it faced.

Chris Turner was sacked on the first play, then completed a pair of sideline routes to Isaiah Williams to get a fresh set of downs.

Facing a third-and-11, Turner fired a dart to a sliding Joey Haynos for a 20-yard pickup.

Lance Ball was hit at the line two plays later, but eluded the grasp of Derrick Morgan and wound up scampering for 30 yards.

Three plays later, Ball leaped in from the 1 for his third score of the day. He's at 68 yards on 11 carries, and the Terps are up 28-17 with 4:20 remaining.

That might be enough to stem the tide, but the Terps could still use a defensive stop on this coming possession.

--- Patrick Stevens

Good for Maryland: Travis Baltz just booted a 65-yard punt.

Bad for Maryland: It just went 3-and-out in its first fourth quarter possession.

The Terpies would be well-served not to pack it in offensively. Maryland is nursing a 28-20 lead with 14:12 left.

By the way, there was no additional word on Andrew Crummey, and not a peep has been mentioned about Travis Ivey.

Carlos Feliciano is the latest Terp to be shaken up. He just walked back to the sideline under his own power.

One thing is certain with 13:36 remaining: Maryland's training staff should be in great shape to run a 5K given how much of a workout they have been giving today.

--- Patrick Stevens

Another zany game for the Terpies, this time holding on after Georgia Tech's Travis Bell missed a 52-yard field goal with 54 seconds left.

The 28-26 lead will not be gone in 54 seconds, in all likelihood.

More in another hour or so. I must run down to postgame. But Maryland should feel very fortunate it escaped despite getting steamrolled on defense in the second half.

Just back upstairs from postgame.

Guard Andrew Crummey is probably lost for the year with a broken fibula. It's a huge loss for Maryland, which was already short-handed on the offensive line. It also definitely puts a bit of a cloud over this 28-26 victory, as I'll write about in a sidebar for tomorrow's paper. One teammate talked about hopefully getting back for the bowl game. The nice thing from his viewpoint is it looks more and more like Maryland will wind up in a postseason game someplace.

Rick Costa (neck) will apparently be all right, but that is probably in a larger sense. No word yet how soon he or Travis Ivey might be back.

The bye couldn't arrive at a better time for these guys. They're on a roll and have a chance to get healthy. And don't think they are not still kicking themselves