Kaleo

COLLEGE PARK -- If anyone on the planet is happier than Maryland quarterback John Kaleo, they can't be much happier. Kaleo is all shining teeth these days.A year ago, he was benched and buried by a coach who had signed a new contract. Kaleo figured he had to transfer if he wanted to do anything in college football other than stand around.But then there was this windfall of fortune. Joe Krivak, improbably, was bought out after the first year of his contract, giving Kaleo a second chance. The new coach, Mark Duffner, installed a pass-happy, no-huddle offense that is every quarterback's fondest wish.

Maryland quarterback John Kaleo might be able to play Saturday against Pitt after all.The senior starter's right knee, hurt in the third quarter of the loss to Penn State Saturday, was examined yesterday by team physician Dr. Stan Lavine. Lavine told Kaleo to take it easy today, that he would be on a day-to-day basis and that he should be ready to play Saturday. If he can't, the No. 2, redshirt freshman Scott Milanovich, will.Kaleo, who said he is still having some minor discomfort but has been jogging without pain, said he definitely will play.

Maryland senior starting quarterback John Kaleo will have his right knee examined by team physician Stan Lavine today.Kaleo, 6 feet and 195 pounds, injured his knee with 8:07 left in the third quarter of Saturday's 49-13 loss to Penn State in Beaver Stadium. Kaleo's foot got caught in the turf after he was hit by a Penn State defender while attempting to pass.The injury initially was diagnosed as a sprain. Kaleo still had a slight limp yesterday. X-rays were taken at the campus health center yesterday afternoon.

Of the eight college football teams in the state that lost last weekend, none has a better chance to rebound with a victory this week than Towson State.The Tigers, who will play host to Bucknell Saturday night at Minnegan Stadium, actually played better than it would seem in losing their opener at Rhode Island, 36-19."We played well," says first-year coach Gordy Combs. "We were 13-7 going into the fourth quarter, and later we got to 27-13. We ran 83 plays to their 74. We had 426 yards total offense.

COLLEGE PARK -- Another game, another opportunity to win, another loss.That's been the story of Maryland's football team two games intthe 1992 season.How close were the Terps yesterday to a victory? Maybe one toenail, a few fingertips and a couple of inches.Final score: North Carolina State 14, Maryland 10, before 27,55at Byrd Stadium.It was the second straight loss for the Terps (0-2 overall, 0-ACC), who a week ago gave up 16 fourth-quarter points in a 28-15 loss to Virginia."This is real frustrating to let two wins slip out of our hands,Maryland quarterback John Kaleo said.

COLLEGE PARK -- The North Carolina State defense ha been in retreat all afternoon.It already had been on the field for some 37 minutes and a staggering number of plays. It already had surrendered more than 500 yards of Byrd Stadium real estate. It had bent at a 90-degree angle, but miraculously not splintered.The Wolfpack had called time out with 19 seconds left and Maryland parked on State's 14-yard line.In the huddle, State was trying to regroup against Maryland quarterback John Kaleo and the run-and-shoot offense.

COLLEGE PARK -- A year ago, quarterback John Kaleo came to Maryland's football program with a great reputation, a solid arm and so much confidence that it bordered on arrogance.He once predicted he would throw several touchdown passes against West Virginia, only to throw one and get yanked in the second period. He also had a personality conflict with his former coach, and by the end of the season, he was working his way down instead of up on the depth chart.But John Kaleo was reborn yesterday.

COLLEGE PARK -- Will John Kaleo start at quarterback for Maryland in the season opener against Virginia on Sept. 5, or will it be Scott Milanovich?The decision may be announced Friday after the team holds two more scrimmages, one today and another Thursday. Both will be closed to the public and the media."I'm pleased with all three of our quarterbacks' progress," said Mark Duffner, Maryland's first-year coach who also included 6-foot-4, 213-pound sophomore Tony Scarpino, from Monroeville, Pa., in the derby.

The University of Maryland quarterback derby has turned into a two-man race.The Terps concluded their spring practice with a one-hour scrimmage and Duffner said junior John Kaleo and true freshman Scott Milanovich are the top candidates for the starting quarterback job in Duffner's run-and-shoot offense when preseason camp opens in August. Redshirt freshman Tony Scarpino is a distant third.Spring practice began with six quarterbacks competing for the No. 1 role. Since then, freshman Greg Lister has quit, and Kaleo and Milanovich have beaten out the others.

COLLEGE PARK -- First-year Maryland football coach Mark Duffner has chosen the run and shoot as his offense. It's a wide-open, exciting system, one built around the quarterback's ability to read defenses quickly, call audibles and pass accurately.Now Duffner just has to find a trigger man.Maryland begins spring practice tomorrow with six quarterbacks competing for the starting job. It will be the third straight year Maryland has to use an inexperienced player in the position."It's a wide-open race," said Duffner, whose offenses at Holy Cross were consistently ranked nationally.