Well, it was a nice yet rather uneventful night last night in South Beach. I saw Gloria Friedgen eating dinner outside with her daughter and a few friends, so I stopped to check out the menu. (If she's eating there, it's gotta be good, right?) So the host comes up to me and gives me his spiel about how good his place his. To which I replied, "Well it must be if Gloria Friedgen is here."
He said, "Oh, who? Where is she?" I explained to him she was the wife of Ralph Friedgen.
Again, "Oh, who?"
I explained, and then I went to the next place.
I got a prime corner seat where I could watch everyone walk by, and saw some Maryland fans, along with the sports information folks and equipment guys. Then I took a little walk, checked out the scene and was back in my room by 10:30. Yeah, I know, lame, but it's going to be a late night tonight.
Speaking of which ...
Did you know this is Maryland's first trip to the Orange Bowl in 20 years? The last time the Terps were here it was Oct. 10, 1987. They lost 46-16 to Miami.
Did you know FIU junior linebacker Ryan Martinez and Maryland running back Lance Ball played together at Teaneck High School in New Jersey?
One more ... did you know that FIU offensive lineman Xavier Shannon is the son of first-year Miami coach Randy Shannon?
This team is doubly familiar with the Terps. They obviously played against each other last year, but first-year coach Mario Cristobal and assistant Jeff Popovich and Mike Cassano all coached against Maryland last year as members of Miami's staff with Larry Coker. Cristobal, who will turn 37 on Sept. 24, is the second-youngest coach in Division I-A.
I don't think this game is going to be similar to FIU's game against Penn State because FIU turned the ball over FIVE times against the Nittany Lions, leading to three PSU touchdowns. I'd be really surprised if that happened again.
Here's a terrible stat for you, though: After one game, FIU is averaging -3 rushing yards per game.
Maryland should - and needs to - win this game convincingly heading into Thursday night's game against West Virginia.
