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Monday, August 14
Terps poised to end bowl drought

By Gregg Doyel
Special to ESPN.com

Maryland Terrapins
1999 record: 5-6 (2-6 ACC)
Coach: Ron Vanderlinden
Returning starters: 13 (7 offense, 6 defense)

Outlook
The Terps almost broke through last season, Vanderlinden's third in College Park, before an 0-4 finish cost them a bowl game and robbed Vanderlinden of any cushion he had built for himself with that 5-2 start. Now the prevailing theory around Maryland is that the Terps must play in a bowl game this year to save Vanderlinden's job -- and a bowl isn't out of the question.

Maryland has a nice offense featuring one of the best tailbacks in the country, LaMont Jordan, who set Maryland records with 1,632 yards for the season and 306 in one game. Quarterback Calvin McCall (1,264 passing yards) returns, as does bruising fullback Matt Kalapinski and three starters on the line. The biggest question is Maryland's pass defense; both starting cornerbacks left after last season, including early NFL entrant Lewis Sanders. The top four tacklers are back: linebackers Marlon Moore, Aaron Thompson and Kevin Bishop, and safety Rod Littles.

Keep an eye on ...
Jordan's off-field issues. As of early August, Vanderlinden wasn't sure if Jordan would qualify academically to play this season, and even if he does, Jordan has been known to reside for weeks at a time in his coach's doghouse. Vanderlinden has gotten onto Jordan for his study habits, his playing weight and his work ethic. If Jordan keeps Vanderlinden happy, Vanderlinden will keep Jordan in the hunt for All-America honors by giving him the ball 30 times a game.

It's a good season if ...
The Terps get to a bowl game for the first time since 1990. Maryland would have made it last season were it not for an 0-4 finish that included a dreadful home loss to Duke and a crushing, season-ending defeat against Virginia, squandering Jordan's 306-yard effort.

Gregg Doyel covers the ACC for the Charlotte Observer

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