Terps ‘finish’ the deal

For their 17-14 win over Navy, the Maryland Terrapins got a trophy that looked a lot like a bushel of crabs. That seems fitting because despite giving up a bushel of yards, the Maryland defense was tough to crack when it really counted. Like fourth-and-one at the goal line with 37 seconds left.

Navy-Maryland thoughts, part deux

An updated game story will be up shortly. In the meantime, here are some thoughts. These may appear in the game story as well, but I wanted to get them to you now.

*I was surprised to hear that Maryland said it intends to use both Jamarr Robinson and Danny O'Brien at quarterback this season.

Friedgen said it had been his intent all along to play O’Brien. “We’re going to use them both,” the coach said. O’Brien was in for only one play – a botched handoff to Davin Meggett at the Navy 16 with the score tied at 14. The fumble spoiled a 57-yard punt return by Tony Logan on the previous play.

*Maryland said it correctly anticipated that quarterback Ricky Dobbs would keep the ball and follow his fullback into the line on Navy's final offensive play. The Terps said they had noticed watching video that Dobbs didn’t seem to like pitching the ball near the goal line. “That was the one play we were looking to defend,” Maryland defensive coordinator Don Brown said. “ If they had pitched the ball and ran to the outside, they may have walked in.”

*Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo opted to go for the win rather than attempt a game-tying field goal. “I look back in hindsight now and it was a bad decision, but at the time I had faith in Ricky,” the coach said.. “He’s scored like that many times before.”

Maryland, Navy hope football matchup rekindles local rivalry

Monday's game will be just the third time in 45 years that the schools - separated by just 30 miles - will have played.

Navy’s Dobbs finds winning formula with football, faith

Navy's Dobbs mixes football and faith with great results

The conversation took place in the kitchen of Thomas Cobb's home in Douglasville, Ga., the summer that Ricky Dobbs left for the Naval Academy Preparatory School.

With strong defense, FGs, Morgan beats Bowie 14-7

Bowie has minus-33 yards rushing; Scarlett kicks record four field goals

Many of the problems that hindered Morgan State's offense last season carried over Saturday in its season opener against Division II Bowie State.

Maryland-Navy matchup will renew old rivalry

Separated by just 26 miles, Terps and Mids have met just 20 times

It's been 46 years, but Ralph Friedgen remembers the gasp from the Byrd Stadium crowd when Maryland returner Kenny Ambrusko opted to run a kickoff out of the end zone with the Terps trailing Navy by one point and 2:58 left.

Why Army’s Kevin Anderson as Maryland AD?

So why Kevin Anderson as athletic director?

Incoming Maryland president Wallace Loh has stressed the need to balance athletics and academics. Obviously, the service academies strive rigorously for such a blend.

Maryland was looking for someone with proven business acumen. These are challenging times for intercollegiate athletics, which rely heavily on ticket sales and concessions. Take a look (below) at Anderson's business initiatives while at Army.

Here's a quote from Loh, courtesy of Maryland media relations:

“Kevin has built a solid program of competitive and academic success at the U.S. Military Academy, supporting the student-athlete and demonstrating that academics and athletics can go hand in hand,” said Dr. Loh. “I am convinced that his leadership will raise Maryland Athletics to even greater heights."

You all remember that Debbie Yow had recommended Connecticut AD Jeff Hathaway before departing. I'm told by two selection committee members that Hathaway was a finalist.

But one of them said the NCAA's accusation of men's basketball infractions at UConn dimmed Hathaway's chances. This same committee member said Loh seemed wary of even the slightest perception that a new AD — or a team operating under him — might not be "squeaky clean."

Here, courtesy of a Maryland media relations news release, is a list of some of Anderson's initiatives at Army. Again, this is from Maryland's release:

--"While at Army, Anderson helped develop and manage a budget of $25 million and turned an operating deficit of more than a million dollars into a $2.73 million surplus in only five years. Sponsorship, ticket sales and fund-raising revenue have all increased during his time there."

--"Anderson led a team that negotiated a five-year, $55 million deal with CBS to televise the Army-Navy game, and worked on the agreement that will bring college football to Yankee Stadium, beginning this season with the Army-Notre Dame game."

--"On the field, Anderson has led a broad-based resurgence that has seen 20 teams earn berths in NCAA Championships, including programs in 10 different sports. Army improved its standing in the 2009-10 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup by 11 places."

Hokies tailback raises bar – www.roanoke.com

Sophomore David Wilson has set some high goals this season.

BLACKSBURG -- David Wilson's blazing speed was a huge reason why Virginia Tech's coaching staff decided to play the sophomore tailback this football season.

Obviously, Wilson does most everything in a hurry.

Eaton wants to remain at Maryland

Interim Maryland athletic director Randy Eaton said he wants to remain at Maryland under Kevin Anderson -- the man who will replace him on a permanent basis.

Eaton has been the athletic department's chief financial officer. He has worked on budgets and the scheduling of non-conference opponents.

Despite not getting the AD job permanently (he has not been a permanent AD before), Eaton said: "I have no desire to leave, and we have a great leader. I've said from the beginning that I wanted to stay."

Eaton knows it will be up to Anderson, who comes from Army, to decide who goes and who stays.

"I've joked there are 2 kinds of people in intercollegiate athletics – those that have been fired and those that are going to be fired," Eaton said.

Gary Williams calls Anderson “a coach’s AD”

Men's basketball coach Gary Williams says he's "feeling really good about" the selection of Army athletic director Kevin Anderson as Maryland's next AD.

"If you're a coach, you got the feeling he is a coach’s AD," said Williams, who leads Maryland's biggest revenue-producing sport.

"He would look for the department to be unified. I always looked at the department as a team," Williams said.

More Williams: "He recognizes the need for basketball to be successful."

Left unsaid is that Williams' relationship with former athletic director Debbie Yow -- now at N.C. State -- was marked by distrust.

Williams wasn't merely an observer in the selection of Anderson. As a member of the search committee -- women's basketball coach Brenda Frese was also on the panel -- Williams played a role in selecting the three AD finalists. It was then up to incoming university president Wallace Loh to make the final selection.

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