"It seems like you have to fight every semester for that spot," says Goldberg, 6 feet 2, 193 pounds, who redshirted his freshman year. "Whereas somebody on scholarship just has to maintain, you start out every camp on the bottom of the depth chart."
Goldberg's absence is disappointing to fans and others familiar with his story.
"I think he was Maryland's 'Rudy,' " says Jess Atkinson, the former Maryland and NFL kicker who produces the Terrapins Rising reality show. "Having gone through being a walk-on myself, he was one of those guys you always root for."
Larry Grabenstein, chairman of the Maryland Gridiron Network booster group, says: "He's not the biggest guy or the fastest guy, but he's got a lot of heart. Every program has someone like him."
Goldberg, whose MySpace page has a Terrapins background and logos and a photo of his old locker, says he isn't bitter. But he acknowledges regrets.
"It's hard to end your career like that. It kind of leaves a bad taste because I didn't really accomplish completely what I set for myself," Goldberg says.
"I did get one pass my way in San Francisco [at past season's Emerald Bowl], but it was at my feet. Chris [Turner] was rolling out and it was an off-balance pass," he says.
Among his former teammates, place-kicker Obi Egekeze is sure to miss Goldberg most. The kicker and holder spent hours last season practicing their timing.
"I'm still fighting to get him back right now," Egekeze says, shaking his head. "You develop such a good relationship, such a good chemistry."
Punter Travis Baltz has emerged as the leading contender to hold in Goldberg's absence.
Goldberg almost lost the holder's job before the 2007 season began.
He mishandled his first snap in spring practice, prompting Friedgen to bark at him: "You've got to be able to handle that!"
"It was our first spring practice. It was about 25 degrees and it was snowing," Goldberg recalls. "The footballs were frozen and my hands were frozen. I kind of double-clutched it."
Goldberg heard Friedgen thought he might be too nervous to hold in a game.
"That kind of insulted me," Goldberg says. "But it pushed me to do better."
jeff.barker@baltsun.com
