ORANGE BOWL PREVIEW
Maryland (10-1) vs. Florida (9-2)
Wednesday, Jan. 2, 8 p.m. ET (ABC)
While Florida's national championship hopes came to an end in its upset loss to Tennessee at "The Swamp," Maryland on the other hand is looking to close out a remarkable first season for national coach of the year Ralph Friedgen.
That's why motivation is the key for the Gators. Will they be at a fever pitch, looking to recapture their superiority and build momentum for the 2002 campaign? Or will we see less than an "A" type performance against a Terrapin squad they are heavily favored to beat?
There is no question Florida has the definite edge in terms of material. What Steve Spurrier and his staff have to guard against is a lackluster approach along with distractions that could create a problem with their focus.
Case in point, the Rex Grossman situation. After being late for curfew, Grossman will be watching from the sidelines when the Gator offense takes the field for the first series against Maryland.
Ironically, it will be sophomore Brock Berlin, who is reportedly transferring from Florida to Miami, who will be under center initially against the Terrapins.
With the Gators' questionable running game, the burden is on Berlin and Grossman to air it out effectively against a Terrapin secondary that could have trouble matching up against the likes of Jabar Gaffney, Reche Caldwell, Taylor Jacobs and company.
As for Maryland, Friedgen will have the Terps motivated to prove to the college football world they are a legitimate top-echelon football team.
With running back Bruce Perry not at 100 percent, the pressure will fall squarely on the shoulders of senior QB Shaun Hill to make things happen in the passing game. When Hill drops back, it will be interesting to see how often he is pressured by the Gators highly skilled pass-rushing DE Alex Brown.
On defense, Maryland is keyed by the stellar play of junior LB E.J. Henderson. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound tackling machine recorded 150 stops this season, including a remarkable 28 tackles for loss and six sacks.
OVERVIEW: Under the direction of Friedgen, the Terps captured their first ACC title in 16 years. Hill was solid at QB, while Perry provided a huge boost, leading the ACC in rushing with 1,242 yards, while finishing second on the Terrapin squad with 40 receptions. Perry's injury status is critical. The electrifying 5-9, 190-pounder is still bothered by an abdominal pull, although the good news is that he's making progress in the days leading up to the Orange Bowl. Unfortunately, an ankle injury has standout OG Todd Wike considered very questionable. Additionally, senior SS Tony Jackson status is up in the air due to an ankle injury. Florida should have plenty of success as usual through the air waves, but the Gators have to be aware of an opportunistic Terrapin deep patrol that came away with 24 interceptions on the year. The bottom line is this: If Florida is motivated and is able to match the Terrapins intensity and focus, the Gators should roll to a relatively easy victory. However, if the Gators go in thinking they can just throw their helmets on the field and win by 24, this one could suddenly become quite interesting.
