Hollenbach

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Before he even left Kenan Stadium on Saturday, Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach said he knew today's film session wouldn't be an entirely pleasant experience. Hollenbach's two long fourth-quarter passes helped the Terps overcome a 10-point deficit and beat North Carolina, 33-30, in overtime, but coach Ralph Friedgen had a difficult time yesterday looking past two costly interceptions. "We've got to stop throwing interceptions, and where we're throwing the interceptions is not good," Friedgen said.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Maryland freshman fullback Cory Jackson has run the ball before, just not at the Division I level. In a bowl game. For a touchdown. Jackson, the only true freshman on Maryland's roster who didn't redshirt this season, was one of several young players who made an impact in Friday night's 24-7 win over Purdue in the Champs Sports Bowl and is hoping to make similar contributions in 2007. While a small group of their teammates have decided not to return next season - or are still mulling over their options - these potential playmakers are looking forward to making bowl appearances a tradition.

ORLANDO, Fla.-- --It has been a while since we'd had an "I-was-there" moment quite like this one - the kind of play you not only find yourself talking about the next day, but also reminiscing about years later. Sam Hollenbach, Maryland's goldenboy quarterback who's got a double major in mechanical engineering and walking old ladies across the street, spotted his sprinting receiver and cocked his arm back, hoisting behind his right ear his entire college career. "I thought I was watching Elway," Terps coach Ralph Friedgen would say later.

ORLANDO, Fla.-- --It has been a while since we'd had an "I-was-there" moment quite like this one - the kind of play you not only find yourself talking about the next day, but also reminiscing about years later. Sam Hollenbach, Maryland's goldenboy quarterback who's got a double major in mechanical engineering and walking old ladies across the street, spotted his sprinting receiver and cocked his arm back, hoisting behind his right ear his entire college career. "I thought I was watching Elway," Terps coach Ralph Friedgen would say later.

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen is in his first season as the Terps' offensive coordinator, but he's had some help calling the plays. In the final two minutes of the Terps' game-winning drive against Clemson on Saturday, quarterback Sam Hollenbach was given permission to go with his gut. Miami@Maryland Saturday, 3:30 p.m., chs. 2, 7, 1300 AM, 105.7 FM Line: Maryland by 2 1/2

College Park -- One chair remained empty yesterday at a crowded table in the Maryland football team's cafeteria, reserved for starting quarterback Sam Hollenbach. Television cameras were in place, microphones and tape recorders ready, and reporters were getting restless. All that was missing was the quarterback. A school spokesman called Hollenbach's cell phone to remind him of his obligation with the media, but Hollenbach missed the call. He was in his dorm room, busy watching game film of West Virginia with his notes in front of him, and preparing for what he described as the "biggest game he's ever played in."

Hollenbach takes gospel to gridiron COLLEGE PARK -- The lights at Byrd Stadium were out, and the field was nearly indistinguishable in the darkness. Maryland's quarterback sat in the dimly lit second floor of the Tyser Tower press box with his back to the empty stadium, the season - and his career there - now over. Sam Hollenbach bowed his head and prayed: Maryland vs. Purdue Champs Sports Bowl, Orlando, Fla., Friday, 8 p.m., ESPN, 1300 AM, 105.7 FM Line: Pick 'em

COLLEGE PARK -- They came in together as roommates, warmed the bench together for three seasons, and then wondered if they should leave together. Instead, something kept Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach and receiver Danny Melendez here, together, and it was their familiarity with each other that contributed to Maryland's 45-33 win over No. 19 Virginia yesterday before a homecoming crowd of 52,656, the sixth-largest in school history. Hollenbach, who was a backup quarterback until last year's season finale against Wake Forest, continued to prove himself yesterday with yet another career performance.

Wake Forest took the ball from Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach three times Saturday night, but in the end, Hollenbach said that's all the Demon Deacons took from him on Senior Night. "No matter what, I'm going to look back on the season with a lot of good memories, a lot of fun memories and walking off our field here with a lot of joy," he said. "And that's something that can never be taken away." Despite struggling through back-to-back 5-6 seasons before this year, Hollenbach is a member of a winning senior class.

COLLEGE PARK - Ralph Friedgen and Sam Hollenbach might not realize it, but in many respects they're very much alike. Both were excellent high school quarterbacks, and both learned the game from - and were coached by - a former college football player who also happened to be their father. Both men were good students who came to the University of Maryland with great expectations, and both struggled to make it onto the field. For Friedgen, the dream of playing quarterback quickly faded. His coaches made it clear early on he would never see the field playing that position.

Orlando, Fla. -- Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach put his arms around the shoulders of strength and conditioning coach Dwight Galt and center Edwin Williams while they grabbed his feet and carried him through two rows of teammates like an awkward line dance. As is tradition since Ralph Friedgen became football coach at Maryland, the players who have exhausted their eligibility picked teammates or coaches to carry them off the field yesterday at the final full practice of the season.

Hollenbach takes gospel to gridiron COLLEGE PARK -- The lights at Byrd Stadium were out, and the field was nearly indistinguishable in the darkness. Maryland's quarterback sat in the dimly lit second floor of the Tyser Tower press box with his back to the empty stadium, the season - and his career there - now over. Sam Hollenbach bowed his head and prayed: Maryland vs. Purdue Champs Sports Bowl, Orlando, Fla., Friday, 8 p.m., ESPN, 1300 AM, 105.7 FM Line: Pick 'em

Wake Forest took the ball from Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach three times Saturday night, but in the end, Hollenbach said that's all the Demon Deacons took from him on Senior Night. "No matter what, I'm going to look back on the season with a lot of good memories, a lot of fun memories and walking off our field here with a lot of joy," he said. "And that's something that can never be taken away." Despite struggling through back-to-back 5-6 seasons before this year, Hollenbach is a member of a winning senior class.

COLLEGE PARK -- Professional football scouts are almost certain to gather one day, stopwatches in hand, to time Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey in a pre-draft workout. Unless he loses a step or two, it was discovered yesterday that the freshman runs the 96-yard dash in 22 seconds. That's how long it took Heyward-Bey to reach the end zone in the second quarter after quarterback Sam Hollenbach got the snap from his 4-yard line on first down. And that's how long it took for a seemingly nasty predicament, a team backed up near its goal line, to turn into jubilation.

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen is in his first season as the Terps' offensive coordinator, but he's had some help calling the plays. In the final two minutes of the Terps' game-winning drive against Clemson on Saturday, quarterback Sam Hollenbach was given permission to go with his gut. Miami@Maryland Saturday, 3:30 p.m., chs. 2, 7, 1300 AM, 105.7 FM Line: Maryland by 2 1/2

CLEMSON, S.C. -- If there was any doubt about whether the Maryland football team deserves to go to a bowl game, odds are it was swept away yesterday by the Terps' scrawny kicker. Senior Dan Ennis was quickly lost in a swarm of elated teammates after he kicked a 31-yard field goal as time ran out to give the Terps a 13-12 upset of No. 19 Clemson, capping four quarters of some of the best football Maryland has played this season. Miami@Maryland Saturday, time and TV TBA, 1300 AM, 105.7 FM Play it again A summary of Maryland's 13-12 victory over Clemson: What went right -- Maryland's defense held the top offense in the Atlantic Coast Conference to four field goals, and the Terps' passing game was finally productive.

COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland suddenly might have to give its quarterback duties to a redshirt candidate or a former starter who lost his job. Junior Sam Hollenbach suffered a sprained left shoulder during the Terps' 28-9 loss to No. 3 Virginia Tech on Thursday night and will be out until Wednesday. Terps coach Ralph Friedgen said yesterday that if Hollenbach can't practice at full speed on Wednesday, he'll have to make a decision as to whether he can play next Saturday against Florida State.

COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach sat on his bed, his chest and shoulder wrapped in a contraption that pumps a steady flow of ice water from the rectangular container next to him through a vacuum-like hose and into the "sleeve" around his shoulder. The Game Ready Accelerated Recovery System is like a blood-pressure cuff that tightens around Hollenbach's injured left shoulder, easing the pain. Using the $2,000 machine has become routine. So have the hits he's been taking lately.

COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen didn't give starting quarterback Sam Hollenbach a ringing endorsement yesterday, and hinted that sophomore backup Jordan Steffy might get another shot at making some plays instead of just calling them in from the sidelines. "I'm disappointed in Sam," Friedgen said. "I'd like for him to make a few more plays. I do see Jordan getting better. I'm hoping he'll continue to get better and practice better.

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen keeps various statistics that never appear in the final box score, and one from Saturday night's 14-10 win against Florida International helped him defend some questionable decision-making by senior quarterback Sam Hollenbach. There were 37 missed assignments on Saturday, and offensive linemen accounted for 22 of the mistakes. On at least three occasions--- when he was sacked for a total loss of 20 yards - Hollenbach paid the price. One lineman, whom Friedgen declined to name, made seven of those errors.