Quarterback Controversy

— Quarterback Danny O'Brien woke up Sunday with three touchdown passes to his credit and a right ankle that was not as sore as he feared it might be. Maryland coaches are hoping that O'Brien will be healthy enough to allow the Terrapins (2-0) the option of playing the redshirt freshman again — along with fellow quarterback Jamarr Robinson — when they travel to West Virginia Saturday to face the 21st-ranked Mountaineers. It will be Maryland's first game this season against a team ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. "I think it's a big step.

"I'm telling you, as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, there is never, will never be, a quarterback controversy. If I change quarterbacks every week, there won't be a controversy. It will be a calculated, analytical approach on my part ... but there won't be a controversy." - Brian Billick, August 1999 So, OK, no quarterback controversy. Never. Scratch quarterback controversy. Don't mention it this season. In the brief life of the Baltimore Ravens, their quarterback roster has included Vinny Testaverde, Jim Harbaugh, Eric Zeier, Scott Mitchell, Stoney Case, Tony Banks, Randall Cunningham, Trent Dilfer, Elvis Grbac, Chris Redman and Jeff Blake.

LSU at Alabama:The No. 3 Tigers (8-1) haven't come into a game ranked this high since 1959, the year after they won the national championship. At 4-6, the Crimson Tide is just looking to play spoiler. Bryant-Denny Stadium is where Alabama lost to No. 1 Oklahoma by only seven points earlier this season. North Carolina State at Florida State: The Wolfpack beat the Seminoles in each of the past two years, and Florida State's motivation for this game has to be a bit suspect after last week's loss to Clemson.

Navy has never had a full-blown quarterback controversy under fifth-year coach Paul Johnson, but the Midshipmen (2-0) could be headed into the thick of one this week. After Navy's 21-20 victory over Massachusetts, during which Johnson juggled senior starter Brian Hampton and sophomore backup Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada all day, only to watch both - particularly Hampton - struggle running the option and throwing the ball, Johnson was undecided about who will start at Stanford on Saturday. Navy@Stanford Saturday 10 p.m., 1090 AM, 1050 AM, 1370 AM, 1430 AM Replay UP --Navy's senior-laden defense stood tall, as the Mids held UMass to six points and 80 yards in the second half.

The Picks This week's guest is Gary Vikan, director of the Walters Art Museum. Ravens, 13-10 Ravens fans will need the bye week to recover from what should be a third straight ugly win. Edward Lee Ravens, 20-16 Without Chris McAlister, the Ravens make the fans nervous but prevail in the end. Rick Maese Bills, 17-13 The Ravens' new plan for next season: Only schedule teams from the NFC West. It's fool-proof! Don Markus Bills, 17-14 After nearly beating Dallas at home two weeks ago, the Bills will be fresh coming off their bye week.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Vinny Testaverde has a sore right throwing shoulder, but says the condition won't hinder him if he starts tomorrow's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cleveland Stadium.Testaverde has been in a quarterback controversy with rookie Eric Zeier, who had a 1-3 record in the Browns' past four games. Testaverde replaced Zeier in the second half of the Browns' 31-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers last Sunday, completing 16 of 22 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns.

Jerry Rice is learning to say hello when it's time to say goodbye.The sands are running out of the hourglass for the peerless San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, who already has his ticket punched for the Hall of Fame.In the 27-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday, he caught two passes for 2 yards. At age 37, Rice is near the end. He has 32 catches all year.As the game wound down in the pouring rain in San Francisco and the only fans left were Steeler fans, he said, "You start thinking, `Wow, what am I doing out there?

It's not that I thought the Tennessee Titans would stink or anything. After all, they went 10-6 and made the playoffs last season. They boast one of the best defensive front sevens in football. And they have one of the NFL's most underappreciated coaches in Jeff Fisher. It's just that I figured the Titans would play mediocre football unless Vince Young took a serious step forward at quarterback. If you had told me that Young would be out with physical and psychological problems after Week 1, I would probably have predicted doom.

The Ravens, who started the 1998 season at 2-2, lost their third straight game when the Green Bay Packers limited them to 233 yards of total offense in a 28-10 win at legendary Lambeau Field on Oct. 25, 1998. In addition, the Ravens had a full-blown quarterback controversy as Eric Zeier was replaced by Jim Harbaugh in the second half. The key play was a 71-yard punt return by the Packers' Roell Preston just 1:47 into the game. It put the Packers up 7-0 at home, where they had won 25 of their past 26 games.

SINCE the juggernaut in College Park took off, the ride has been a blast. The Terrapins' ascent has been fueled by hunger, pride and talent made good by blood, sweat and tears - and anything else Ralph Friedgen has asked for. We all know what's happened at Maryland since Friedgen came back home. It has been all about winning games, Top 25 rankings, bowl appearances, sold-out Byrd Stadium, facility upgrades and big TV money. Now, with the stakes permanently higher, the potential for misery is that much more miserable.