COLLEGE PARK - - Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen conceded Tuesday that the team "is in a tough situation right now," resulting mostly from inexperience, injuries and a dose of bad luck.
"This is a time where our season hasn't gone exactly how we wanted it to," Friedgen said at his weekly media luncheon.
"I don't take losing very well. It eats away at me."
Maryland is 1-2 after a 32-31 loss to Middle Tennessee State, the second season in a row the Terps have been upset by the Sun Belt Conference team.
Maryland made 10 tackles for losses Saturday but continued its pattern of surrendering yardage in big chunks.
"We're just giving up big plays, and we've got to stop that," Friedgen said. "We have a young team, and I know people are tired of hearing that, but it's just the way it is. Some of our guys flip out a little bit when they get into action."
Friedgen said the Terps had some "hard luck" Saturday. He cited several plays, including a low pass from Chris Turner that bounced off running back Davin Meggett's hands into the hands of a Blue Raiders defender.
"Those things will even out in the end," Friedgen said.
Friedgen also said some players have had personal issues, but he declined to discuss them or name the players. "I'm not making excuses," he said.
Friedgen said the team, which has just 14 seniors - half as many as last season - needs a "coming out" party to boost its confidence.
Wounded and weary
Players and coaches said Tuesday that Maryland's defense was tired at the end of Saturday's game and suggested that the fatigue could have cost the Terps on Middle Tennessee's final drive.
The Blue Raiders went 73 yards in eight plays in the final 1:30 to set up a 19-yard, game-winning field goal. Their no-huddle offense might have contributed to Maryland's late-game fade.
Maryland's secondary has been hit by injuries - starters Nolan Carroll and Jamari McCollough are out. That means other players are remaining on the field longer.
"I think [safety] Kenny Tate played 80-something plays," Friedgen said.
Like Tate, safety Terrell Skinner also plays on special teams. Skinner said he also was in for more than 80 plays.
"I think we did get a little fatigued on that last drive," Skinner said. "I kind of thought the game was over with."
Like many fans, Skinner thought Maryland was in position to run out the clock - or score a decisive touchdown - before Middle Tennessee could get the ball again.
