NC State vs. Maryland – The Last 10 Years

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As Wolfpack fans still savor the sweet victory over 7th ranked Clemson 37-13 on Saturday to end a 7 year losing streak to the Tigers, the team’s focus has now shifted onto the other arch nemesis, Maryland. Forget the crazy Under Armour uniforms. Forget that Ralph Friedgen is no longer coaching the Terrapins. Forget that Sweaty Gary Williams is no longer coaching…oops, wrong sport. Forget the bad losses against Cincinnati and Florida State. Forget doubling up Virgina, shutting out North Carolina, and dominating Clemson. All you need to be concerned about is the upcoming game. If State wins, the bowl game will be earned (probably either in Charlotte or Nashville). Lose, and a very interesting off-season starts.
There are four main reasons that the Wolfpack needs to beat Maryland.

  1. It’s Maryland.
  2. Becoming bowl eligible.
  3. 15 extra practices…almost another spring practice.
  4. Recruiting uptick. Better selling your program to recruits saying your program has gone to back to back bowl games.

Maryland has had NC State’s number recently. Let’s look at the last ten games.

2001 – Raleigh. Maryland 23-19. This game featured the beginning of what I consider my dislike of the Terrapins fanbase. This was Friedgen’s first year as head coach and a win would give them the conference title and a berth in the Orange Bowl. After a Shaun Hill 8 yard TD pass with 41 seconds left won the game for Maryland, their fans threw oranges all over the field. It was not a good night.

2002 – College Park. Maryland 24-21. After starting off 9-0 and then losing a heart breaker to Georgia Tech, the Pack traveled to Maryland for payback after what happened the previous year in Raleigh. And it looked for a while like it would happen. Alas, ahead 21-14 starting the 4th quarter, the Pack could not hold on and Nick Novak kicked a 27 yard field goal with 34 seconds left to win the game for the Terps.

2003 – Raleigh. Maryland 26-24. Rivers lost his 4th straight game to Maryland on senior day in Raleigh. Pregame he was given a honor by NC State retiring his jersey. State was up 24-10 in the 4th quarter but gave up the final 16 points of the game. After missing an extra point with 2:29 left, Maryland was down 1. But T.A. McLendon fumbled and Maryland drove for the winning points, a 43 yard field goal by Novak with 23 seconds left. Utter disaster of a game.

2004 – College Park. NC State 13-3. The Wolfpack dominated Maryland, limiting them to 91 yards of offense in winning against Maryland for the first time in 5 years. In what became the top-ranked defense in the NCAA, State held Maryland to 5 first downs and 24 yards passing. Two field goals by John Deraney and a one yard TD run by Reggie Davis accounted for the scoring.

2005 – Raleigh. NC State 20-14. This game would decide who would go bowling with both teams at 5-5. Down 7-3 at the half, the Wolfpack dominated the second half with touchdowns by Toney Baker and Marcus Hudson, Hudson’s being on a 28 yard interception return. Mario Williams lead the defense with 4 sacks.

2006 – College Park. Maryland 26-20. The Wolfpack couldn’t keep control of the ball and lost 26-20 in a game that wasn’t that close. With the help of multiple turnovers, Maryland jumped out to a 23-0 lead in the 2nd quarter. Despite a Darrell Blackman 65 yard punt return for a score to get the game closer, the Pack couldn’t catch up and lost.

2007 – Raleigh. Maryland 37-0. In a repeat of 2005, the winner of this game would go bowling. Unlike the previous matchup, this game was completely one-sided as the Terrapins became bowl eligible with a 37-0 drubbing of the Pack, and ending a span of 150 games in which the Wolfpack had not been shut out. This game will forever though be known for one call: Ron Cherry calling Kelani Heppe for a 15 yard penalty in the 4th quarter for “Giving him the Business.”

2008 – College Park. Maryland 27-24. This was a very close game up at Maryland. The game was tied at the end of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters. The yards were very close, the turnovers were a wash, and the score was obviously close. The difference? A 20 yard field goal by Obi Egekeze with 6 seconds left gave Maryland a victory and dropped State to 2-6 and 0-4 in the ACC.

2009 – Raleigh. NC State 38-31. Russell Wilson threw for 3 touchdowns and ran for another as the Wolfpack notched its first conference win of the season. This was a bad Maryland team but it was a much needed win. Wilson passed for 343 yards in the victory. Even though State was favored to win, the win was not as convincing as expected.

2010 – College Park. Maryland 38-31. A victory by the Wolfpack and State would be on the way to Charlotte for the ACC title game. Up 14-0 early in the game, the Pack got scared and froze for the next 2 quarters. By then, it was 38-14 and the game was over. Or was it? State closed the gap to 38-31 and had a controversial and very generous spot on 4th down go against them and it allowed Maryland to run out the clock. This was the most disappointing loss of the last 10 years, even more than in 2003.

So that is the last 10 years. 3-7. This will be the third time a bowl game hangs in the balance. Will State show up like they did in the last 3 home games or will it be the team that played against Cincinnati, Florida State, and Boston College? Maryland has lost 6 straight games by double figures. Will the Wolfpack make it 7 in a row or will the Terps relish the opportunity to spoil the Wolfpack’s bowl game aspirations? All questions will be answered starting Saturday at 12:30 in Carter-Finley Stadium. Let’s pack that stadium and pull the boys through to a victory.

About ruffles31

1996 NC State graduate who is still waiting on his first ACC conference championship in any of the four main revenue sports (football, men's basketball, women's basketball, and baseball) since enrolling. All I want is a ACC Champions t-shirt.

'06 Football '07 Football '08 Football '09 Football '10 Football ACC Teams Flashback NCSU Sports History Tom O'Brien

57 Responses to NC State vs. Maryland – The Last 10 Years

  1. blpack 11/23/2011 at 11:00 AM #

    A must-win for the Pack. I think we get it done.

  2. tvp1 11/23/2011 at 11:05 AM #

    The 2003 loss was the single most brutal, soul-crushing defeat in my 30 years as a State fan.

  3. Pitbull_1973 11/23/2011 at 11:09 AM #

    Wanted to add a little something to the recaps.

    2003 – This game was the back drop of the infamous ‘bottlegate’ incident. I was at this game sitting in section 2 behind the Maryland bench and witnessed their players run THROUGH our band at halftime knocking down several band members.

    Then after the game, their players rushed to my end of the field (the old A.E Finley Fieldhouse) and taunted our band. (They later claimed they went to celebrate with their students and band, but they were on the opposite side of the stadium.)

    The fans in our section started booing the Maryland players that were taunting our band and someone thew a full 20 oz Pepsi onto the field. One of the Maryland players picked it up and threw it back, striking a fan. That is when everyone in the stands opened up and started slinging bottles at the players. The players, of course, responded by picking up more bottles and throwing them back at the fans.

    This moment in time forever etched a loathing into my psyche for all things Maryland. Not because we lost, not because their players threw bottles. But because I watched their coaches stand among the players and not only did they not stop the players, THEY HANDED THEM BOTTLES TO THROW.

    Then-head coach Chuck Amato came across the field to try to calm down the fans, but bottles were flying so furiously that he couldn’t safely get close enough to do anything and he wisely backed off.

    Should the fans have thrown bottles? No. But a football player in full pads getting hit with a bottle of Pepsi is nothing compared to a unprotected fan getting hit in the face by the same. (Yes, I witnessed this happen to a young lady.) I still feel their entire team should have faced charges for assault from this incident.

  4. DC_wolf 11/23/2011 at 11:27 AM #

    ruffles, great post, but you are being kind-or @ least understating the 2003 game: “But T.A. McLendon fumbled…” If you remember, T.A. was POUNDED @ the line of scrimmage by some guy named, no joke, Ambush, causing him to fumble away the game on their side of the field.

    I was there thinking “are you kidding me? What could possibly happen to ruin Senior Day – where we retired Phil Rivers’ number – and up 24-10 in the 4th qtr.? An Ambush…”

  5. GAWolf 11/23/2011 at 11:33 AM #

    If Greivaous Vasquez played football against us he’d find a way to set national records for both defensive and offensive categories. He was their Chuck Norris versus us. But so was Steve Blake. And so was that QB who liked to gamble. This list could go on and on. And on. And on.

  6. DC_wolf 11/23/2011 at 11:42 AM #

    Pitbull, I was in the same section as you & saw the EXACT same thing. Thanks for adding that significant part. Their coaches were no better than their players or fans. I saw the WRAL recap after the game when I got home & they actually had to cut away from the reporter he was being harassed by their fans so bad.

    I probably dislike UNC fans more – just for the overall arrogance, but UMD fans are just low-lifes.

  7. tjfoose1 11/23/2011 at 12:10 PM #

    2003? I expected us to lose after watching the ridiculous pregame spectacle.

  8. TruthBKnown Returns 11/23/2011 at 12:15 PM #

    Stop fearing the turtle, people. We will absolutely NOT lose this game.

    Relax!

  9. TheCOWDOG 11/23/2011 at 12:29 PM #

    I was so inflamed by the 2003 incident that I was going to make my way down to the field house with Francis Combs to confront the Maryland coaching staff.

    My wife said that she’d never go to another game w/ me if I didn’t back-step immediately.

    Confessions.

  10. tapinpar 11/23/2011 at 12:31 PM #

    Don’t forget that in 2003, MD was on the field doing their pre-game warmups when we attempted to start the Senior Day/Rivers festivities. They wouldn’t leave the field, came across the 50-yard line as a group, and a “skirmish” broke out even before we could get the day started.

  11. 61Packer 11/23/2011 at 12:37 PM #

    I was in Michigan Stadium on September 1, 2007, and just before kickoff fans around me were saying the exact same thing: “We will absolutely NOT lose this game.” And I’m sure many NCSU fans felt the same way in ’06 when Akron visited, even down to the last play.

    The ’03 game was lost on that cold November night due to a boneheaded decision for TA to run the ball rather than holding on to it and then punting deep to preserve a lead. It’s the boneheaded decisions I fear more than the Turtle.

    I’ll be in CF Saturday, cheering for the Pack. I take nothing for granted anymore.

  12. TruthBKnown Returns 11/23/2011 at 12:37 PM #

    All this moaning about how Maryland has our number and stuff just made me recall something they will NEVER have over us… and that is the win in the ACC tournament (a game that some still contend is the best ACC game ever played) that put us in the big dance and left THEM at home!

    And I shouldn’t need to remind anyone here that we won the national championship that year!

    Whatever mojo they THINK they have over us, they will never overcome THAT one fateful basketball game!

  13. TruthBKnown Returns 11/23/2011 at 12:38 PM #

    61Packer, I say it again. We will NOT lose this game.

  14. Wufpacker 11/23/2011 at 1:55 PM #

    Having spent my formative years as an NCSU fan in UMd territory, I can say without compunction that UMd fans, in a group, are the worst I’ve ever experienced. They rival Philly fans, no joke.

    Individually, they aren’t as bad….not nearly as bad as a single Carolina fan. But group ’em together and get ’em liquored up and look out.

    I dislike UMd ALMOST as much as I dislike Carolina. I hope we’re up 62-3 late in the 4th qtr and are continuing to pass the ball with all the starters still in. We can’t beat them badly enough to suit me, quite frankly.

  15. Primewolf 11/23/2011 at 1:55 PM #

    Good summary. But it brings back alot of painful memories.

    My view is that MDs domination of us the past 10 years is due to the fact that they had superior coaching. Fridge could develop an offenseive game plan and their defensive coaches were good as well.

    Chuck ran alot of man to man defense. Fridge ate that up. Hence, except for the year we had a really dominate defense, we lose.

    I still remember an offensive play MD ran on us. Md sent a man in motion from one side of the field to the other, knowing that our defender, in man coverage, would shadow his motion. Well, as soon as our defender got just in front of the MD center, MD hiked the ball, the center jumps out and flattens our man, who never saw it coming. Their man in motion, now has no defender on him, and MD throws him a pass in the flat, which was cleared out after other MD receivers running down the field, and the play must have gained 30 yds plus.It was pure brillance.

    Some years MD may have had more talent, but not much more, and some games were decided by last minute fumbles, but the Fridge basicallly outcoached us over the decade.

    If we lose to MD, it won’t be because the Fridge has done us in again. TOB neeeds this one and I hope they will have a good plan and the players ready to go. If we lose and he blames the players again, that is the last straw for me and TOB.

    A great OC and playcaller is probably worth 7-10 points a game over an average guy with the same talent. Recall we had some bad OCs in the last few years of Rivers. I will never forget the Wake game when we tried to run the ball instead of using Phil’s talents.

  16. BJD95 11/23/2011 at 1:58 PM #

    TBKR – I was in your position last year. Go back and read my posts. I was sure. We had them, and the Atlantic Division. I had never been so certain. After we ran out to a 14-0 lead, I felt prophetic.

    Whoops.

    2003 – I was antsy all game. The instant MD missed the extra point, I turned to my then wife and said “Great, now we’ll lose in regulation.”

    Funny thing is, IIRC TA had the first down already. If he goes down, we can run out pretty much all the time on the clock. Then the Ambush.

    Whoops again.

  17. BJD95 11/23/2011 at 2:01 PM #

    Oh, and the 11th (back in 2000) was a giant shit sandwich as well. Blech.

  18. Wulfpack 11/23/2011 at 2:13 PM #

    TBK was also the one adamantly telling us we would beat Wake this year, and we saw how that went. Unfortunately, history has shown that history matters. I can’t explain why we keep losing these games to these teams, but we do. I think we have a great shot tomorrow, but we’ve got to want it. If that doesn’t happen, then forget it.

  19. mak4dpak 11/23/2011 at 2:17 PM #

    If the aggressive play of the game against Clemson, is evident in the Maryland game, it will be no problem. Only thing concerns me is that we get another of TOB, and probably the same staff running the same plays, thus producing another up/down season. Sure would be nice to see some new assistants under TOB. Bible is outdated in his play calling.

  20. TruthBKnown Returns 11/23/2011 at 2:24 PM #

    Wow, I predicted the outcome of a game and was wrong about it. Guess my credibility is shot from this point forward. I can never again predict the outcome of a game.

    Two points:

    1) No one saw Wake’s improvement coming, or our defense being so bad early on. That was the second game of the season.

    2) We absolutely will NOT lose to Maryland.

  21. BJD95 11/23/2011 at 2:28 PM #

    I don’t have a problem with Dana Bible, but then again I grew up watching Ted Cain (up the middle, up the middle, incomplete, punt) call plays.

  22. VaWolf82 11/23/2011 at 3:01 PM #

    If memory serves, my first blog entry here was a preview of the 2005 UMD game titled “Go Ugly Early”. It’s strange how coaches can start so strongly and then just fade away….Amato, Groh, Friedgen and a whole lot more.

  23. VaWolf82 11/23/2011 at 3:06 PM #

    Guess my credibility is shot from this point forward.

    I think that you lost that with the two years of cheerleading waiting for Harrow and your unending support of Lowe in the face of a mountain of contrary evidence.

  24. codebrown 11/23/2011 at 3:11 PM #

    I’m secure enough to admit that I openly wept like a little girl in the student bleachers after TA’s fumble in ’03

    I’ve since learned not to expect a win against these f’ing turtles EVER.

    They’ve owned us like we’ve owned those powder-blue pansies.

  25. mak4dpak 11/23/2011 at 3:13 PM #

    Maybe we could get Mike Stoops to be our OC, just saying! He needs a job, unless he goes to work for his brother.

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