CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Scott Milanovich is once again Maryland's starting quarterback, and the Terps hope the sight of Kenan Stadium brings him out of the doldrums.
In his second college start, Milanovich kept Maryland in a 59-42 shootout loss at North Carolina last year, as he set a Terps record with 34 completions and tied another with five touchdown passes. It was the first of five 400-yard games for Milanovich and helped lead to a Maryland single-season passing record of 3,499 yards.
L Milanovich's junior season hasn't been nearly as productive.
He was benched at West Virginia on Sept. 17, and played behind sophomore Kevin Foley against Wake Forest and Clemson. The two had comparable statistics in those two games and, after 13 days of weighing each one's merits, coach Mark Duffner yesterday named Milanovich to start today's game at North Carolina.
Duffner and his players are unavailable for comment on the day )) before a game, but a Maryland spokesman said the coach cited Milanovich's experience as a key factor in the decision.
Foley had moved ahead of Milanovich, the preseason ACC Player of the Year, on the depth chart after he led the Terps to victory at West Virginia. In the past two games, Foley completed 27 of 45 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, and Milanovich was 19 of 36 for 192 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.