Maryland Offense

Until the Terps tied it up at 7 on a 31-yard pass from C.J. Brown to Justus Pickett with 12 seconds left in the first half, the Maryland offense had been mostly three-and-outs and a bad afternoon for Nick Ferrara. The late score prevented Maryland from being shut out in the first half for the first time since the 38-7 loss to Temple earlier in the season. Ferrara's first two punts combined traveled nearly as far (47 yards) as his third (42) to go along with a missed 31-yard field goal.

Gary Crowton is out after one disappointing season as Maryland's offensive coordinator, and the school is expected to hire former New Mexico coach Mike Locksley as his replacement, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Locksley, dismissed by New Mexico this past season, had a 2-26 win-loss record at the school but is known as an aggressive recruiter. He is a former Maryland assistant and recruiting coordinator and played defensive back for Towson in 1988-1991 before also serving as an assistant there.

Maryland has reached an agreement in principle for LSU's Gary Crowton – a longtime offensive coordinator in college and the NFL – to oversee new head coach Randy Edsall 's offense, according to a source with knowledge of the process. Contract terms were being finalized Thursday afternoon. Crowton would become a key figure in the program being rebuilt by Edsall, who replaced Ralph Friedgen and was introduced Jan. 3. Edsall's first big hiring decision was to retain Don Brown as defensive coordinator.

Maryland is still mum on the apparent hiring of Mike Locksley as Randy Edsall's new offensive coordinator. The names I heard Wednesday when word got out that Gary Crowton was the first coaching casualty of Maryland's 2-10 debacle were Locksley as well as former UConn offensive coordinators Joe Moorhead and Norries Wilson, who was recently fired as head coach at Columbia. At least one former Washington high school coach who knows Locksley from his years working for Ron Vanderlinden and Ralph Friedgen at Maryland believes the former New Mexico coach would be a "great fit" despite the troubles he had on and off the field in Albuquerque.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The excuses were ready-made.The records, Maryland's youth and North Carolina State's bowl aspirations added up to the Terps' arriving at Carter-Finley Stadium yesterday as two-touchdown underdogs. An already thin Maryland lineup had been depleted further by a run of injuries that took its top receiver and three defensive starters.The difference in talent doesn't explain totally the Wolfpack's 44-21 whipping of the Terps, however. Maryland had a 7-0 lead after the first quarter, but from then on, it slid into a familiar rut, giving in on both sides of the ball.

Clemson (5-3, 3-3 ACC) at No. 13 Maryland (8-1, 5-1) Site: Byrd Stadium, College Park Time: 7 p.m. TV/Radio: ESPN2; WBAL (1090 AM) Last week: Clemson lost to Florida State, 41-27, at home. Maryland beat Troy State, 47-14, also at home. Maryland offense vs. Clemson defense: As expected, the defense has been troublesome for the Tigers this season, with opponents averaging 28.4 points per game. Linebacker Chad Carson has been the leader of this unit, which has been hurt by injuries. Maryland's offense continues to shine, producing an average of 284 yards over the past three games, even as star running back Bruce Perry's numbers have tapered off. Maryland defense vs. Clemson offense: Will Maryland be able to stop Woodrow Dantzler, who has dominated the Terps both times he has faced them?

Less than a month after the disaster that was the 2011 Maryland football season ended, offensive coordinator Gary Crowton is making it no secret that he wants out of College Park. Crowton, who joined Randy Edsall's staff at Maryland after four seasons at LSU, is openly campaigning for the Colorado State head coaching job. Crowton, who had mixed success as a head coach at Louisiana Tech and BYU, told The Denver Post that he would “very much so” like to coach at Colorado State , where he played college ball for a while in the 1970s.

COLLEGE PARK -- The fireworks in the Maryland offense have fizzled. The defense that set an NCAA record for futility last season is allowing more yards than ever.The special teams, however, have improved thanks to Joe O'Donnell's right foot.A year after the kicking game was a hindrance, O'Donnell has returned the field goal to the Terps' game plan. A sophomore transfer from Rural Ridge, Pa., who kicked for Division I-AA Tennessee-Martin in 1993, O'Donnell has made all three of his field-goal attempts and, equally important, boosted the kickoff coverage unit.

Tonight's game Akron (0-1) at Maryland (0-1) Site: Byrd Stadium, College Park Time: 6 TV/Radio: Comcast pay-per-view/WBAL (1090 AM) Line: Maryland by 21 Series: First meeting Last game: Maryland lost to Notre Dame, 22-0; Akron lost to Iowa, 57-21 Maryland offense vs. Akron defense: After gaining only 133 total yards last week, the Terps would like to get untracked against a Zips defense that gave up nearly 400 yards of rushing against Iowa....

Terps first-year offensive coordinator Gary Crowton said today that he is interested in the Colorado State job "because I played there and at some point I want to be a head coach again" but that his focus is on turning Maryland's fortunes around. "I am very happy at Maryland. I am looking forward to having a winning season in 2012," Crowton replied to me in a text message. "I don't think there is much of a story at CSU at this point. My focus is on recruiting and finding ways to make the [Terps]

Less than a month after the disaster that was the 2011 Maryland football season ended, offensive coordinator Gary Crowton is making it no secret that he wants out of College Park. Crowton, who joined Randy Edsall's staff at Maryland after four seasons at LSU, is openly campaigning for the Colorado State head coaching job. Crowton, who had mixed success as a head coach at Louisiana Tech and BYU, told The Denver Post that he would “very much so” like to coach at Colorado State , where he played college ball for a while in the 1970s.

Until the Terps tied it up at 7 on a 31-yard pass from C.J. Brown to Justus Pickett with 12 seconds left in the first half, the Maryland offense had been mostly three-and-outs and a bad afternoon for Nick Ferrara. The late score prevented Maryland from being shut out in the first half for the first time since the 38-7 loss to Temple earlier in the season. Ferrara's first two punts combined traveled nearly as far (47 yards) as his third (42) to go along with a missed 31-yard field goal.

Fans who looked closely at Maryland's sideline during the season-opening football game may have been puzzled by what they saw on cards held up by team managers. Was that really a photo of TV talk-show host Regis Philbin, and — if so — what could Philbin, a Notre Dame graduate, possibly have to do with Maryland football? Yes, it was a color photo of the co-host of "Live! With Regis and Kelly. " But why the school chose to display Philbin's image remains as much of a local mystery as which color uniforms the Terps will wear on a given week.

In October 2006, Maryland linebacker Erin Henderson intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown in a comeback win over Virginia. After that came a pronounced drought. Forty-one games — more than three years — elapsed before Maryland scored another defensive touchdown, on a lumbering, 70-yard interception return by linebacker Alex Wujciak in 2009. Since Wujciak's big play, Maryland's defense has demonstrated a penchant for scoring. The Terps have managed eight defensive touchdowns in the past 18 games — including two in this season's opening-week victory over Miami.

Gary Crowton might be fool's gold. The new Maryland offensive boss comes in with a shiny resume. The man won a national title at LSU. He directed the offense for Oregon’s 2005 squad that went 10-1 and won the Fiesta Bowl behind Kellen Clemens' savvy play. Simply put, he seems like a home run. Don’t fall for it -- yet. The man has a pattern. Sure, you might bash me when the Terps go 10-2 this year and make it to the ACC title game, led by Crowton and Danny O’Brien. But after that, brace yourselves for the possibility of mediocre football.

Justin Lewis, who started 12 of 13 games for Maryland's football team last season at right guard, was dismissed from the team Tuesday and turned himself in to authorities to respond to allegations of second-degree assault, according to university and law enforcement officials. University police said a warrant was issued for Lewis, 21, in Prince George's County. "Apparently, somebody filed charges against him," university police spokesman Marc Limansky said. "There was an outstanding warrant and he decided to turn himself in. " Lewis was charged in connection with an alleged June 26 fight.

Even without their leading scorer, the Maryland Terrapins just keep on rolling. The defending national champion Terps got four goals from sophomore midfielder Katie Schwarzmann (Century) and three more from Laura Merrifield to defeat No. 7 Penn, 16-4, in a non-conference game Friday night. The Terps played without scorer Karri Ellen Johnson , who sat out with an unspecified illness. Judging by the way the offense was clicking, they didn't need her. "I think we played our best defensive game of the season," said Terps coach Cathy Reese.