For Maryland football, everything feels new in 2011

beat North Carolina, 23-7, in the opener — the last time until Monday that Maryland began a season with an Atlantic Coast Conference game.

Maryland's ticket-sales marketing campaign bills it as "a new era." This year, that doesn't feel like hyperbole.

Asked what feels most different, senior receiver Quintin McCree replied: "It's everything. It's a whole new look."

Here's a glimpse of 10 facets of the football program — from the substantial to the cosmetic — that are new:

The offense.

Expect a heavy dose of senior tailback Davin Meggett, who said he has dropped about 10 pounds from his 2010 playing weight of 215. Edsall has been intentionally vague about previewing the offense, but concedes that Meggett will be a "workhorse" and an "every-down back." New offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, hired from LSU, is fond of a passing game that spreads the field with multiple sets. He also likes screen passes. But Crowton said before spring practice that he anticipates about a 50-50 run-pass ratio — much like the well-balanced BYU team he coached in 2001 that led the nation in total offense. In the mature-beyond-his-years O'Brien and the speedy C.J. Brown — both tall, athletic former high school basketball players — Crowton said he has two quarterbacks who are among the conference's best.

The defense.

Kenny Tate, the all-ACC safety converted this season to a linebacker position known as "star," has repeatedly told the media that the defense will be basically the same as in 2010. There are bound to be similarities. But with former defensive coordinator Don Brown now at Connecticut, it would be hard to imagine the

blitzing as often as they did in last season's high-risk, high-reward schemes requiring multiple packages and substitutions. A key will be continuing last season's positive turnover trend. The

, who finished with a 9-4 record, were plus-15 in turnover margin, second only to Virginia Tech in the ACC. "I don't think there are any good defenses right now that are not turning the ball over," said defensive coordinator Todd Bradford, hired from Southern Mississippi. "I think it's critical."

The countdown clock.

To build excitement, the football program has placed clocks around campus counting down the precise number of hours, minutes and seconds to the opening kickoff. "They've got them around the school — there's one in our dining hall," McCree said. "It was 100 [days] and something, and now it's four days and the hours are counting on down."

The field.

Last season, "

" appeared in script at the middle of the Byrd Stadium field. This year, the Maryland logo will take its place. It's part of a push — also reflected in the new uniforms — to highlight the school and state name and invigorate state pride. At the end of the home season, there are plans to replace the grass field itself. "After the Virginia game, we're going to rip the field up and put turf down," Edsall said this summer. "We could have all-star games on our campus."

The marketing.

Beginning in August, Maryland made a limited number of luxury suites available to be leased for single games. The suites had once been available only for longer-term rentals. But the school — which must pay debt service on the modernized Tyser Tower — is eager to avoid having suites that aren't producing revenue. Maryland says season-ticket sales, which have slumped the past five years, have increased enough to push the number back over 20,000. Edsall's contract contains a provision granting him a $100,000 bonus if season-ticket sales increase 25 percent or more in a year. The coach said about 1,000 tickets remain for the Miami game.

The uniforms.

Maryland's new, lightweight uniforms, unveiled last month, will give the team 32 possible combinations of jerseys and pants (red, white, black or gold) and helmets (black or white). Fans on message boards and Twitter hotly debated the merits of the uniforms, which the players have embraced. One fan said the uniforms were reminiscent of those in "Any Given Sunday," the Oliver Stone-directed football film. "A little too Steeler for me," another fan wrote. Edsall, who has models of the new helmets in his office, said the uniforms will catch recruits' attention. "That's kind of who we're appealing to. Young kids like to see that newness, that uniqueness," the coach said.

The football complex.

There is new equipment and flooring in the weight room. A "hall of fame" corridor in the Gossett Football Team House has been redecorated to include, among other things, a photograph of the new coach.

The academic center.

There are new computers in the program's center devoted to classwork. The athletic department said there are more resources this year for academics. The Sun reported in April that the NCAA is stripping Maryland of three football scholarships because of poor academic progress report scores recent years — particularly the 2-10 season of 2009. It marked the first time Maryland has been docked scholarships in any sport since the NCAA began collecting such academic data in 2003-04.

The rules.

Edsall doesn't permit players to wear ball caps, do-rags or earrings during meetings. "It's a different style," said punt returner Tony Logan, who sometimes wore earrings last season. "He demands respect, but he also gives out a lot of respect."

The slogan.

"No Excuses, Just Play" was printed on T-shirts. "The captains came up with that slogan," said offensive lineman Andrew Gonnella, one of four captains. The others are Meggett, Tate and defensive lineman Joe Vellano. With so much offseason change, "we wanted to bring that [slogan] upon the team so we knew to stay focused," Gonnella said.

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Maryland at a glance

COACH:

Randy Edsall (first season)

CONFERENCE:

Atlantic Coast Conference

LAST YEAR:

9-4

RADIO:

105.7 FM, 1300 AM

STADIUM:

Byrd Stadium

TICKETS:

$27-$55 (depends on game) for single-game seats, $25 per person for groups. Season tickets are available.

PARKING:

Various options available (umterps.com)

OFFENSE:

Multiple sets expected. New coordinator Gary Crowton has used variations of a spread offense in the past.

DEFENSE:

To be determined.

OUTLOOK:

Maryland finished well last season, toppling a ranked North Carolina State team and routing East Carolina in the Military Bowl to end at 9-4. Maryland, which has just 10 seniors, returns a dozen starters. Given the team's strong 2010 showing, coaches may have been surprised when the

were picked fifth in the Atlantic Division by ACC media. "It'll just give us a little more incentive, a little more sense of urgency to prove people wrong," Edsall said. Edsall's offense will rely heavily on ACC rookie of the year Danny O'Brien. The redshirt sophomore quarterback threw 22 touchdown passes last season and has three returning linemen to protect him. Senior Davin Meggett (720 rushing yards) is expected to be a workhorse in the backfield. On defense, the

will count on pressure from two players who switched positions. Kenny Tate is an all-ACC safety-turned linebacker who excels at blitzes and at dropping back into coverage.

(Edmondson) switched from linebacker to defensive end. The

have two big safeties in 6-3

(Atholton) and 6-2

(Archbishop Curley). Maryland is opening the season with a conference game (Miami) for the first time since 2001.