COLLEGE PARK -- Its bowl-game aspirations all but gone with four games remaining, Maryland's season-long goals have shifted.
The Terps (2-6, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who had aspired to play for the ACC title and qualify for an upper-echelon bowl, still hope to minimize turnovers and end the season on a high note. The best they can hope for is .500, and that doesn't seem realistic given the matchups that lie ahead.
But Maryland isn't just playing for this season now. The Terps will also devote more attention to assessing and developing talent for future years that hold more promise than this one.
"Obviously, we want to win football games," coach Ralph Friedgen told reporters Sunday, the day after a 17-13 defeat at Duke that marked the first time Maryland had lost to the Blue Devils since 1999.
At the same time, Friedgen said, "we've got to try to get some young guys getting some experience. To me, the more depth we can build for the future, the better."
With Maryland headed into its bye week, it's too soon to know exactly how this shift will play out. Friedgen has indicated that he hopes to blend the two goals - trying to win and developing young talent - without sacrificing one for the other.
Maryland has already played more freshmen - sacrificing redshirt seasons - than Friedgen had hoped to do when the season began.
Stockpiling ample redshirts is a luxury the Terps have been unable to afford this season because of injuries.
Maryland has played 10 true freshmen - mostly on defense. The list comprises linebackers Darin Drakeford, Avery Murray and Ryan Donohue; defensive linemen Zach Kerr, Justin Anderson and Isaiah Ross; offensive lineman Bennett Fulper; running back Caleb Porzel; kicker Nick Ferrara; and defensive back Eric Franklin.
It's the most true freshmen to play in Friedgen's nine-year Maryland tenure, the school said. The previous high was eight in 2004.
"That's definitely more than we would have liked," Friedgen said Sunday. "The positive thing about that is they've played pretty well."
Franklin became the 10th freshman to play after safety Antwine Perez was injured against Duke. Franklin recorded a sack of Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis.
"Obviously we would have liked to hold his redshirt, but he came in and played in a tough situation," Friedgen said.
Coaches have varying philosophies about redshirting players. Some believe it's useful to give players game experience early rather than redshirt them.
