2001 Maryland Terrapins football team
Encyclopedia
The 2001 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland
in its 49th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference
. The Terps closed the regular season with a record of 10–1, with its only loss coming to Florida State
. The Terps won the ACC Championship and were granted a Bowl Championship Series
berth in the 2002 Orange Bowl
. It was Maryland's first bowl game since 1990, first winning season since 1995, and first conference championship since 1985.
inherited a good situation as their new head coach. His predecessor, Ron Vanderlinden
, and the Maryland team had just barely fallen shy of winning seasons for the last two years in a row. Additionally, the 2001 squad was returning many experienced, quality players.
(32-20), to earn a spot in the AP rankings for the first time since September 1995, at #25. The Terrapins then met their main rival Virginia
on Homecoming weekend at College Park, and beat them by a 20-point margin (41-21).
The Terps went on to Atlanta
to face #15 Georgia Tech
. With 5 seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter, and Maryland trailing 17-14, the Terps were forced to try for the tying field goal from 46 yards. Their kicker, redshirt freshman Nick Novak
, had earlier missed a field goal attempt, bouncing it off an upright, and had an overall unimpressive record in his early career. However, Novak made the 46-yard field goal, sending the game into overtime, where he again made good on a 26-yard field goal, winning the game for Maryland (20-17). By the end of his college career Novak would go on to become the ACC all-time leading point scorer with 393 points, and capture the ACC record for 80 field goals.
After sailing past (59-17) at home, then #10 Maryland traveled to Tallahassee
to face #18 Florida State. Despite being tied through the third quarter (31-31), Florida State handed Maryland their only defeat (52-31) during the season, dropping their AP ranking to #15.
Maryland then defeated , 47-14. The Terrapins played the season's final home game against Clemson
, which they defeated, 37-20, to ensure at least a share of the ACC championship. The following week, Maryland secured the ACC title outright when quarterback Shaun Hill
threw a short touchdown pass to Guilian Gary
in the front corner of the end zone with 41 seconds remaining to defeat , 23-19. The Terrapins closed the regular season ranked #6 in the nation and first in the conference, with a record of 10-1 (ACC: 7-1). The Terrapins, having secured the 2001 ACC championship, became the first time any team other than Florida State had won it outright since Florida State entered the conference in 1991. Additionally, Ralph Friedgen became the only first-year coach to ever win the ACC title.
to face the SEC champion, Steve Spurrier
's #5 Florida
, in a BCS match-up. The Gators beat the Terrapins with a lop-sided result (56-23). Thus, Maryland ended the post-season with a 10-2 record, ranked #10 in the nation.
.
Quarterback Shaun Hill
was signed by the Minnesota Vikings
as an undrafted free agent.
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
in its 49th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
. The Terps closed the regular season with a record of 10–1, with its only loss coming to Florida State
2001 Florida State Seminoles football team
The 2001 Florida State Seminoles football team represented the Florida State University in the college football season of 2001. The team was coached by Bobby Bowden and played their home games in Doak Campbell Stadium.-Schedule:...
. The Terps won the ACC Championship and were granted a Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
berth in the 2002 Orange Bowl
2002 Orange Bowl
The 2002 FedEx Orange Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Florida Gators and the ACC champion Maryland Terrapins on January 2, 2002. Florida routed Maryland 56-23. The game was part of the 2001-2002 Bowl Championship Series of the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football...
. It was Maryland's first bowl game since 1990, first winning season since 1995, and first conference championship since 1985.
Preseason
In 2001, despite the Terrapins' disappointing recent finishes, Ralph FriedgenRalph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen is an American football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Maryland from 2001 to 2010. Friedgen was previously an offensive coordinator at Maryland, Georgia Tech, and in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers...
inherited a good situation as their new head coach. His predecessor, Ron Vanderlinden
Ron Vanderlinden
Ron Vanderlinden is an American college football coach. He is currently the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Penn State University. Vanderlinden previously served as the head coach at the University of Maryland from 1997 to 2000....
, and the Maryland team had just barely fallen shy of winning seasons for the last two years in a row. Additionally, the 2001 squad was returning many experienced, quality players.
Regular season
Maryland won its first four games, including against strong conference competitor Wake Forest (27-20) and regional rival West Virginia2001 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
Under new Head Coach Rich Rodriguez the 2001 West Virginia Mountaineers football team suffered their worst season since 1978, finishing with a mark of 3–8. The season's lowest point was a home loss to Temple, the schools first loss to the Owls since 1984 and first home loss to the school since...
(32-20), to earn a spot in the AP rankings for the first time since September 1995, at #25. The Terrapins then met their main rival Virginia
2001 Virginia Cavaliers football team
The 2001 Virginia Cavaliers football team representative the University of Virginia in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's coach was coach Al Groh. They played their home games at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.- Schedule :...
on Homecoming weekend at College Park, and beat them by a 20-point margin (41-21).
The Terps went on to Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
to face #15 Georgia Tech
2001 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
The 2001 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the college football season of 2001-2002. The team's coach was George O'Leary, who would leave the school before the bowl game to accept the head coaching job at the University of Notre Dame...
. With 5 seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter, and Maryland trailing 17-14, the Terps were forced to try for the tying field goal from 46 yards. Their kicker, redshirt freshman Nick Novak
Nick Novak
Nicholas Ryan "Nick" Novak is an American football placekicker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
, had earlier missed a field goal attempt, bouncing it off an upright, and had an overall unimpressive record in his early career. However, Novak made the 46-yard field goal, sending the game into overtime, where he again made good on a 26-yard field goal, winning the game for Maryland (20-17). By the end of his college career Novak would go on to become the ACC all-time leading point scorer with 393 points, and capture the ACC record for 80 field goals.
After sailing past (59-17) at home, then #10 Maryland traveled to Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
to face #18 Florida State. Despite being tied through the third quarter (31-31), Florida State handed Maryland their only defeat (52-31) during the season, dropping their AP ranking to #15.
Maryland then defeated , 47-14. The Terrapins played the season's final home game against Clemson
2001 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2001 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A college football during the 2001 season. Clemson competed as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference ....
, which they defeated, 37-20, to ensure at least a share of the ACC championship. The following week, Maryland secured the ACC title outright when quarterback Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
threw a short touchdown pass to Guilian Gary
Guilian Gary
Guilian Austin Gary is an American football coach and former player. He currently serves as the wide receivers coach for the Tigers football team at Towson University. He played college football at the University of Maryland, College Park where he was a star wide receiver...
in the front corner of the end zone with 41 seconds remaining to defeat , 23-19. The Terrapins closed the regular season ranked #6 in the nation and first in the conference, with a record of 10-1 (ACC: 7-1). The Terrapins, having secured the 2001 ACC championship, became the first time any team other than Florida State had won it outright since Florida State entered the conference in 1991. Additionally, Ralph Friedgen became the only first-year coach to ever win the ACC title.
Postseason
As ACC champions, the Terps earned a berth in the Orange Bowl2002 Orange Bowl
The 2002 FedEx Orange Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Florida Gators and the ACC champion Maryland Terrapins on January 2, 2002. Florida routed Maryland 56-23. The game was part of the 2001-2002 Bowl Championship Series of the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football...
to face the SEC champion, Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
's #5 Florida
2001 Florida Gators football team
The 2001 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2001 college football season...
, in a BCS match-up. The Gators beat the Terrapins with a lop-sided result (56-23). Thus, Maryland ended the post-season with a 10-2 record, ranked #10 in the nation.
Schedule
Team Players in the NFL
The following players were selected in the 2002 NFL Draft2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
.
| Player | Position | Round | Overall | NFL Team |
| Melvin Fowler Melvin Fowler Melvin Thaddeus Fowler, Jr. is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft... |
Center | 3 | 76 | Cleveland Browns 2002 Cleveland Browns season The 2002 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 50th season with the National Football League.-Regular season:- Playoffs :-Standings:... |
| Charles Hill Charles Hill (American football) Charles LeDawnta Hill is an American football player. He was selected in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans and played for one season in the National Football League. He has played in the NFL Europe league and since 2006 has competed in the Arena Football League.-Early... |
Defensive Tackle | 3 | 83 | Houston Texans 2002 Houston Texans season The 2002 Houston Texans season was the franchise's first-ever season and the city of Houston's first NFL season since the Houston Oilers left in 1997 to move to Tennessee to become the Titans.... |
| Matt Murphy Matt Murphy (American football) Matthew "Matt" Jarrid Murphy is an American football player in the National Football League. Murphy was selected in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. He is currently a free agent.-Early life:... |
Tight End | 7 | 252 | Detroit Lions 2002 Detroit Lions season The 2002 Detroit Lions season was the 73rd season in franchise history. It was the Lions inaugural season at Ford Field.-Staff:-Schedule:-External links:***... |
Quarterback Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
was signed by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
as an undrafted free agent.