Terps unveil another new set of uniforms

came out for warm-ups wearing red pants. But just before the game began, the players raced out of the tunnel in white pants and white jerseys.

The biggest surprise may have been the new gold, black, red and white helmets.

The team had staged a fashion show last month to unveil the uniforms. At that time, there were only two helmets displayed. The one used Monday night was apparently held back.

Terps in the spotlight

Monday's game represented the first for the ACC in a 12-year package the league just signed with ESPN for a showcase on Labor Day night.

ACC commissioner

John Swofford

, who attended the game between the

and Hurricanes, said, "We're trying to spread the game around. It's terrific exposure for the league and for the teams involved."

Swofford said that the scandal at Miami has not detracted from the game.

"You hate to have it happen," Swofford said. "But Miami is being very upfront and very aggressive in the way it is handling this. Ninety percent of the players and none of the coaches were there when it happened — whatever it is."

Recruits take in pregame

The

had many prospective recruits, their family members and some of their high school coaches on the field prior to the kickoff. Included in the group was

Sonny Odogwu

, the massive offensive tackle from St. Frances.

Odogwu, who is in his first full year of playing football after moving to Baltimore from Huntington, W.Va., was there with his coach,

Messay Hailemariam

, who played for the

from 1991 through 1995 and later served as a personal trainer for several players.

Hailemariam is letting Odogwu go through the recruiting process, and said that West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina have all called to inquire about the 6-9, 295-pound manchild who gave up basketball for football after moving from Nigeria three years ago.

But Hailemariam said he wouldn't mind see Odogwu wind up at his alma mater.

"I'm so excited and enamored with what Coach Edsall is trying to do," Hailemariam said. "The disclipline he wants from his players is going to take Maryland a long way."

jeff.barker@baltsun.com

don.markus@baltsun.com