Ineligible for a bowl heading into Saturday, Maryland and coach Ralph Friedgen faced an unfamiliar situation: a meaningless game.  Only once before in Friedgen’s nine years has it played with nothing at stake, and it beat Wake Forest in the 2005 finale.

In the third quarter Virginia Tech was in a somewhat similar spot, eliminated from the ACC Coastal race when Georgia Tech clinched with a win.  But by that point the result here at Byrd Stadium was decided, and it was hardly a shocker.  The Hokies’ 36-9 win was never in doubt—they were the vastly superior team in all facets.

Included: Video of Friedgen's postgame news conference

Maryland’s play, meanwhile, was as dreary as the overcast sky, which has been a staple of home games this season.  The blackout was appropriate as well, considering the game’s somber processions from the opening possession.

“I think we’ve been snake bit in every case on the field, off the field,” linebacker Alex Wujciak said.  “I think that’s kind of what’s been going on this year.  We can’t get a ball to bounce our way.”

The stands would have been mostly empty after Virginia Tech led 27-3 at halftime if not for the influx of Hokie faithful, who comprised an overwhelming majority of the 51,514 who stuck around.  The most audible cheer by the end was the back-and-forth chant of “Let’s go Hokies,” and the scattered Maryland fans still in attendance weren’t inclined to counter. 

Such has been Maryland’s season, its eight losses the most since 1998.  The slide started from the first game and continued its steady downward trend on Saturday.  For the seventh time this season the Terps gave up more than 30 points--on Saturday to a team that hasn’t scored more than 23 in its last three games.

Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor was 10 of 17 for 200 yards and three touchdowns in the first half-- he came in averaging 161 passing yards a game.  He added another 68 yards in the second half and also ran for 81 yards.  Freshman running back Ryan Williams ran for 126 yards and a touchdown, and Virginia Tech amassed 484 total yards.

Even a Virginia Tech fumble went for positive yards.  Maryland knocked the ball out of running back Josh Oglesby’s hands and right to Taylor, who ran 30 yards up the left sideline.

“I’m seeing plays I haven’t seen my whole coaching career,” Friedgen said.  “I’m just wondering what spell we’re under.  It doesn’t seem like anything can go right.”

That doesn’t just include bad bounces, either—the injuries continued to pile up.  Safety Kenny Tate suffered a high ankle sprain early in the second quarter and punter Travis Baltz broke his finger making a tackle.  Friedgen said both are likely out for the year.

It was an injury last week, however, that affected Maryland the most.  Jamarr Robinson started Saturday in place of Chris Turner, who sprained his MCL in the first half of the loss to N.C. State.

Nothing came easy for the redshirt sophomore against Virginia Tech’s swarming defense.  He had little time to throw, and when there was protection his intended target was usually surrounded by Hokies.  He finished 12 of 32 for 104 yards and was sacked six times, but he did find some success.

Maryland’s most effective—and really only productive—play was Robinson’s rushing attack.  He had 24 carries for 129 yards, the most by a Maryland quarterback under Friedgen and more than Maryland has had as a team since the loss to Middle Tennessee State.  The rest of the team had seven carries for three yards, reminiscent of last season’s minus-12 yard effort in Blacksburg.

“Overall it was fair,” Robinson said of his performance.  “I’m critical of myself.  It was fair to me.  I felt like I could have made a lot more plays, more throws in particular and more scores.”

Said Friedgen: “He makes plays with his feet…  The throwing game I think has to get better.  I think he had some throws [that] people could have made plays on—they didn’t.  That would have helped him.  I don’t think he sees things as well as he needs to.  That’s got to improve, but overall it was OK.” 

Friedgen added that he thought about playing freshman Danny O’Brien, but said offensive coordinator James Franklin was “leery” after O’Brien “didn’t have quite the practices he’s been having.”  Freidgen did, though, leave open the option of playing O’Brien in Maryland’s final two games.  “I’m not saying I won’t play him if I have to.  I’m going to do what I have to do to try to win the football game.”

It’s a message that he’s reiterated several times, but he’s yet to find the right formula.  On Saturday it likely wouldn’t have mattered what Maryland tried—Virginia Tech was simply the better team.  Even without a turnover for the first time this season, it never challenged the Hokies.  

It was an emotional postgame news conference for Friedgen, who choked up at one point when discussing what advice Virginia Tech coach and friend Frank Beamer gave him after the game.  But he perked up when he again praised his team for continuing to work hard and pushing through, even as the season drags to a merciful close. 

“As bad as this year is, it would be a lot worse if I didn’t like them,” he said.  “Probably for them too.”

Photo by Christopher Blunck

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