The 2001 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in its 49th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). 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.
Quick Facts Maryland Terrapins football, ACC champion ...
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More information Conf, Overall ...
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In 2001, despite the Terrapins' disappointing recent finishes, Ralph Friedgen 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.[1]
Maryland won its first four games, including against strong conference competitor Wake Forest (27–20) and regional rival West Virginia (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 in College Park, and beat them by a 20-point margin (41–21).[2]
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 Duke (59–17) on Homecoming weekend, 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.[2]
Maryland then defeated Troy State, 47–14.[2] 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.[3] 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 NC State, 23–19.[4] 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.[2]
As ACC champions, the Terps earned a berth in the Orange Bowl to face Steve Spurrier's #5 Florida out of the SEC, 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.[2]
More information Date, Time ...
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 1 | 12:00 pm | North Carolina | | | ABC | W 23–7 | 44,080 |
September 8 | 6:00 pm | Eastern Michigan* | | - Byrd Stadium
- College Park, MD
| | W 50–3 | 42,105 |
September 22 | 3:30 pm | at Wake Forest | | | | W 27–20 | 22,372 |
September 29 | 12:00 pm | West Virginia* | | - Byrd Stadium
- College Park, MD (rivalry)
| | W 32–20 | 40,166 |
October 6 | 12:00 pm | Virginia | No. 25 | - Byrd Stadium
- College Park, MD (rivalry)
| JPS | W 41–21 | 44,197 |
October 11 | 7:30 pm | at No. 15 Georgia Tech | No. 22 | | ESPN | W 20–17 OT | 40,574 |
October 20 | 1:00 pm | Duke | No. 12 | - Byrd Stadium
- College Park, MD
| JPS | W 59–17 | 43,528 |
October 27 | 3:30 pm | at No. 18 Florida State | No. 10 | | ABC | L 31–52 | 82,565 |
November 3 | 1:00 pm | Troy State* | No. 15 | - Byrd Stadium
- College Park, MD
| | W 47–14 | 38,415 |
November 10 | 7:00 pm | Clemson | No. 13 | - Byrd Stadium
- College Park, MD
| ESPN2 | W 37–20 | 52,462 |
November 17 | 7:45 pm | at NC State | No. 10 | | ESPN | W 23–19 | 51,500 |
January 2 | 8:00 pm | vs. No. 5 Florida* | No. 6 | | ABC | L 23–56 | 73,640 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
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[5]
More information Players, Coaches ...
2001 Maryland Terrapins football team roster |
Players |
Coaches |
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
- Injured
- Redshirt
Roster Last update: 2001-11-07 |
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More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked т = Tied with team above or below | Week |
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
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AP | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 11 |
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Coaches | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 т | 7 | 6 | 10 |
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BCS | Not released | 8 | — | 15 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | Not released |
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North Carolina
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
North Carolina at Maryland
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Tar Heels |
7 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
7 |
• Terrapins |
7 |
2 | 0 | 14 |
23 |
- Date: September 1
- Location: Byrd Stadium, College Park, MD
- Game start: 12:10 pm EDT
- Elapsed time: 2:50
- Game attendance: 44,080
- Referee: Jack Childress
- Television network: ABC
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | 13:12 | UNC | Willie Parker 77-yard run (J. Reed kick) | UNC 7–0 |
6:33 | MD | J. Williams 20-yard pass from S. Hill (N. Novak kick) | Tied 7–7 |
| 2 | 11:43 | MD | Safety, T. Stewart | MD 9–7 |
| 4 | 13:19 | MD | S. Monroe 5-yard pass from S. Hill (N. Novak kick) | MD 16–7 |
6:35 | MD | M. Riley 1-yard run (N. Novak kick) | MD 23–7 |
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Eastern Michigan
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
Eastern Michigan at Maryland
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Eagles |
0 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
3 |
• Terrapins |
13 |
14 | 14 | 9 |
50 |
|
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | 10:07 | MD | B. Perry 8-yard run (B. Barnard run failed) | MD 6–0 |
5:38 | MD | M. Riley 1-yard run (N. Novak kick) | MD 13–0 |
| 2 | 6:33 | MD | G. Gary 19-yard pass from S. Hill (S. Hill pass failed) | MD 19–0 |
3:37 | MD | B. Perry 24-yard run (M. Shanks pass) | MD 27–0 |
| 3 | 12:10 | MD | B. Perry 31-yard run (N. Novak kick) | MD 34–0 |
8:14 | MD | S. Hill 4-yard run (N. Novak kick) | MD 41–0 |
| 4 | 12:43 | MD | V. Siljkovic 44-yard field goal | MD 44–0 |
8:54 | EMU | E. Klaban 44-yard field goal | MD 44–3 |
5:07 | MD | J. Crawford 2-yard run (V. Siljkovic kick failed) | MD 50–3 |
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at Wake Forest
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
Maryland at Wake Forest
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Terrapins |
7 |
3 | 7 | 10 |
27 |
Demon Deacons |
3 |
0 | 7 | 10 |
20 |
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | 14:40 | MD | Bruce Perry 80-yard run (N. Novak kick) | MD 7–0 |
5:28 | WF | T. Ashe 25-yard field goal | MD 7–3 |
| 2 | 8:30 | MD | Nick Novak 27-yard field goal | MD 10–3 |
| 3 | 8:20 | MD | Marc Riley 1-yard run (N. Novak kick) | MD 17–3 |
1:47 | WF | T. Williams 11-yard run (T. Ashe kick) | MD 17–10 |
| 4 | 12:31 | MD | Nick Novak 29-yard field goal | MD 20–10 |
10:25 | WF | T. Ashe 37-yard field goal | MD 20–13 |
8:38 | MD | Bruce Perry 50-yard run (N. Novak kick) | MD 27–13 |
6:54 | WF | J. Anderson 42-yard pass from J. MacPherson (T. Ashe kick) | MD 27–20 |
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West Virginia
More information Total ...
West Virginia at Maryland
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Mountaineers |
0 |
13 | 7 | 0 |
20 |
• Terrapins |
7 |
12 | 6 | 7 |
32 |
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Virginia
More information Total ...
Virginia at No. 25 Maryland
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Cavaliers |
0 |
7 | 14 | 0 |
21 |
• No. 25 Terrapins |
0 |
24 | 0 | 17 |
41 |
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at No. 19 Florida State
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
No. 10 Maryland at No. 19 Florida State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 10 Terrapins |
7 |
10 | 14 | 0 |
31 |
• No. 19 Seminoles |
0 |
21 | 10 | 21 |
52 |
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | MD | James Lynch 65-yard run (Novak kick) | MD 7–0 |
| 2 | | MD | Marc Riley 1-yard run (Novak kick) | MD 14–0 |
| 2 | | FSU | Talman Gardner 16-yard pass from Chris Rix (Beitia kick) | MD 14–7 |
| 2 | | FSU | Michael Boulware 23-yard interception return (Beitia kick) | Tied 14–14 |
| 2 | | FSU | Gardner 9-yard pass from Rix (Beitia kick) | FSU 21–14 |
| 2 | 0:00 | MD | Nick Novak 51-yard field goal | FSU 21–17 |
| 3 | | MD | Bruce Perry 8-yard run (Novak kick) | MD 24–21 |
| 3 | | FSU | Xavier Beitia 31-yard field goal | Tied 24–24 |
| 3 | 6:50 | FSU | Greg Jones 4-yard run (Beitia kick) | FSU 31–24 |
| 3 | 1:53 | MD | Shaun Hill 2-yard run (Novak kick) | Tied 31–31 |
| 4 | 12:28 | FSU | Gardner 28-yard pass from Rix (Beitia kick) | FSU 38–31 |
| 4 | 11:17 | FSU | Javon Walker 22-yard pass from Rix (Beitia kick) | FSU 45–31 |
| 4 | 6:58 | FSU | Atrews Bell 32-yard pass from Rix (Beitia kick) | FSU 52–31 |
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[6]
Clemson
More information Total ...
Clemson at No. 13 Maryland
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Tigers |
3 |
3 | 0 | 14 |
20 |
• No. 13 Terrapins |
7 |
10 | 7 | 13 |
37 |
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[8]
at NC State
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
No. 10 Maryland at NC State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• No. 10 Terrapins |
0 |
3 | 7 | 13 |
23 |
Wolfpack |
3 |
6 | 3 | 7 |
19 |
- Date: November 17
- Location: Carter–Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
- Game start: 7:45 pm EDT
- Elapsed time: 3:25
- Game attendance: 51,500
- Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C), Clear
- Referee: Joseph Rider
- Television network: ESPN
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | 3:50 | NCST | A. Kiker 33-yard field goal | NCST 3–0 |
| 2 | 10:40 | NCST | A. Kiker 23-yard field goal | NCST 6–0 |
| 2 | 1:38 | NCST | A. Kiker 41-yard field goal | NCST 9–0 |
| 2 | 0:05 | MD | Nick Novak 25-yard field goal | NCST 9–3 |
| 3 | 8:51 | MD | Guilian Gary 5-yard pass from Shaun Hill (Novak kick) | MD 10–9 |
| 3 | 3:45 | NCST | A. Kiker 27-yard field goal | NCST 12–10 |
| 4 | 9:32 | MD | Shaun Hill 6-yard run (pass failed) | MD 16–12 |
| 4 | 3:59 | NCST | C. Jackson 1-yard pass from Philip Rivers (Kiker kick) | NCST 19–16 |
| 4 | 0:41 | MD | Guilian Gary 8-yard pass from Shaun Hill (Novak kick) | MD 23–19 |
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[9]
vs. No. 5 Florida (Orange Bowl)
More information Quarter, Total ...
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- MD – Nick Novak 20-yard field goal, 12:20. Florida 14–10. Drive: 4 plays, 1 yard, 0:45.
- FLA – Taylor Jacobs 15-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick), 2:18. Florida 21–10. Drive: 10 plays, 72 yards, 3:45.
- FLA – Jabar Gaffney 4-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick), 0:03. Florida 28–10. Drive: 6 plays, 64 yards, 1:21.
- Third quarter
- FLA – Earnest Graham 6-yard run (Jeff Chandler kick), 11:02. Florida 35–10. Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 3:38.
- FLA – Robert Gillespie 11-yard run (Jeff Chandler kick), 7:26. Florida 42–10. Drive: 4 plays, 74 yards, 1:29.
- FLA – Jabar Gaffney 33-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick), 2:52. Florida 49–10. Drive: 2 plays, 68 yards, 0:19.
- Fourth quarter
- MD – Marc Riley 1-yard run (Nick Novak kick), 11:56. Florida 49–17. Drive: 15 plays, 71 yards, 5:56.
- FLA – Carlos Perez 10-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick), 10:16. Florida 56–17. Drive: 4 plays, 69 yards, 1:40.
- MD – Marc Riley 10-yard run (pass failed), 5:10. Florida 56–23. Drive: 14 plays, 80 yards, 5:06.
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- FLA – Earnest Graham – 16 rushes, 149 yards, 2 TD
- MD – Shaun Hill – 11 rushes, 31 yards
- Top receivers
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The following players were selected in the 2002 NFL draft.
[10]
Quarterback Shaun Hill was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent.