Coming Off Win, Terps Can't Relax vs. Wake Forest

Now, in the wake of last Saturday's 24-21 win, Friedgen wonders if his players might feel too good about themselves.

It's not so much that Maryland dominated the Tigers, who missed two field goals and lost a fumble in final six minutes. But by winning their Atlantic Coast Conference opener, the Terrapins (2-3, 1-0) now stand alone atop the league's Atlantic Division.

"The thing I worry a little bit with our players right now is, they've been working so hard to get better, and the ball bounced out way Saturday and we were able to get a win," Friedgen said Tuesday. "I think it's human nature to just want to go, 'Ahh,' and relax. But we can't relax. We've got to keep going, we've got to keep working."

The last thing the Terrapins need is a smug attitude heading into Saturday's game against Wake Forest. It will Maryland's first road trip since a season-opening 52-13 loss at California on Sept. 5.

"We're going to have to win on the road," quarterback Chris Turner said. "This should be a pretty good challenge for us."

Ideally, the Terrapins gained momentum from beating a good Clemson team but will keep things in perspective heading to Wake Forest (3-2, 1-1).

Asked to describe the mood of the team, safety Terrell Skinner said, "Motivated, because we know the ACC championship is within reach."

Earlier losses to California, Middle Tennessee and Rutgers are no longer relevant. The Terrapins control their own fate in the ACC, and can take another big step forward with a win at Wake Forest.

"Every game we've gotten better and better," tight end Tommy Galt said. "In the ACC, it's a whole new ball game. Even though we've lost a couple of games out of conference, anything's possible. If we run the table, we could be playing on Jan. 1. That's something a lot of guys are really buying into, and hopefully it works out for us."

Maryland must go 4-3 the rest of the way to qualify for a bowl bid. Turner can understand why Friedgen is concerned about the players taking a step back after last week, but insists that will not be an issue.

"I can see where he's coming from, but right now, the sense I get is that we do have momentum and we want to remember how this feels," Turner said. "Winning can be contagious. Hopefully we can keep this trend going and put four quarters together. If we did that last week, it wouldn't have even been close."

That, evidently, is the impression Wake Forest got after watching film of a game in which the Terrapins rallied from an early 10-0 deficit to win.

"It gives everybody a wake-up call in the ACC. We're definitely not going to overlook them now," Demon Deacons cornerback Brandon Ghee said. "Clemson's a good team. I think them winning helped us more than hurt us, because now we open up (our eyes) and say, 'Oh, OK, this is a real team."'

It's a team hurt by injuries. Senior cornerback Nolan Carroll is out for the season with a broken leg, and running back Da'Rel Scott will miss at least five weeks after breaking his wrist in the Clemson game. Also, left tackle Bruce Campbell will probably sit out the Wake Forest game with a knee injury.

David Meggett will start at running back. If Campbell can't go, Paul Pinegar will move from right tackle to fill the void and freshman R.J. Dill will start at right tackle.