U.Va. and Maryland on same path

By Doug Doughty

Midway through the 2009 college football season, the Virginia and Maryland programs are mirror images,

Both have head coaches in their ninth season.

Both head coaches - Al Groh at Virginia and Ralph Friedgen at Maryland - are alumni of those schools.

Both have extensive NFL coaching experience.

Both programs have had ups and downs during their tenure, but have had more winning seasons than losing seasons.

Both recruit in many of the same areas.

"You can check all those boxes," Friedgen said this week.

Another similarity, not pointed out to Friedgen, was the restlessness of the respective fan bases. Maryland (2-4 overall, 1-1 ACC) is a 3-1/2-point underdog to the Cavaliers (2-3, 1-0) heading into today's 4 p.m. kickoff.

It will be interesting to see what kind of crowd the game attracts because, like Virginia, the Terrapins have seed their attendance drop. Maryland's average crowd at 54,000-seat Byrd Stadium last year was 47,958. In the first four games this year, the highest attendance was 46,485.

While average attendance at Maryland is down nearly 3,500 a game, Virginia is coming off a homecoming game against Indiana that 45,371 attended. It was the smallest turnout at a U.Va. home game in 10 years, and its 49,431 average is down nearly 4,500 fans.

With four home games remaining, Virginia still has a chance to recapture some of its fan base. After opening the season with three consecutive losses, the Cavaliers have won two games in a row, improving their record to 12-1 over the last 13 October games. The big difference in U.Va.'s game last week was an offense that generated 536 yards in a 47-7 romp over Indiana. However, senior tailback Mikell Simpson sustained a neck injury that is likely to keep him out of today's game.

Simpson, who had 149 all-purpose yards at the time of his injury with 6:38 remaining in the third quarter, was listed as "doubtful" on the injury report Virginia put out on Thursday.

Simpson had a huge game in an 18-17 Virginia victory at Maryland two years ago, when he had 271 all-purpose yards.

Virginia has been listing redshirt freshman Torrey Mack as its No. 2 tailback, but nobody would be surprised if Simpson's fifth-year classmate, 6-foot-1, 245-pound Rashawn Jackson, picks up most of the slack.

Jackson, listed as the No. 1 fullback on a team that rarely employs two backs, carried eight times for 73 yards against Indiana. Groh has acknowledged that Jackson is the best pass blocker among U.Va,'s running backs, which could be a source of comfort to quarterback Jameel Sewell. He has passed for more than 300 yards in two of his past three games and has jumped into sixth place on the school career passing list.

Maryland quarterback Chris Turner, also a fifth-year senior, stands third on the Terps' all-time passing list. He has shown more of a willingness to run this season, but, like Sewell, his statistics do not reflect it.

Maryland ranks 115th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in sack avoidance, and U.Va. is 117th. Turner has 175 yards in gains, which are offset by 175 yards in losses. Sewell also has 175 yards in losses (in one fewer game) but has rushed for 292 yards.

The teams are similar in almost every way, not that they feel any particular kinship.

Virginia's "not one of my favorite teams," Maryland linebacker Alex Wujciak told the Baltimore Sun this week.

"We're two different schools, two different atmospheres, two different types of kids. There are no shirts and ties and khakis in College Park. None of us want to wear that type of stuff."