Chatter From the Other Sideline: Maryland

It’s a custom of the college football season for head coaches across the nation to meet with the media towards the beginning of the week and discuss the prior week’s matchup and preview their upcoming test. Fans are often privy to the quotes coming out of their own team’s HQ, but what about their upcoming opponents’? 

Let’s take a look at some of the quotes that Maryland’s head coach Mike Locksley had to say that referenced Indiana specifically in his Monday press conference.

Q: Opening statement.

“… [in regards to] Indiana, obviously a lot of respect for their program. Coach Cignetti I’ve known a long time. He comes from a pedigree, his dad a hall of fame college football coach that I had the chance to compete against as a student athlete at Towson State when he was the head coach at IUP. Always had great teams. And then his brother [Frank] that also has coached. So, he’s part of the family business and has really done a good job of not just at Indiana, but if you look at his track record everywhere he’s been, he’s won. You have to give credit to a guy that does it, and he’s built it the right way. Got a lot of respect for him.

Extremely good in all three phases. You know, when you look at Indiana’s roster, I think they’ve got 22 juniors to redshirt seniors or higher in their two-deep. So, a veteran group and a lot of those guys have been with him throughout his time at James Madison and then travelled with him to Indiana. It’s allowed him to get a jump start with a veteran team that knows his system and he has taken full advantage of that opportunity. 

The quarterback is as advertised. One of those guys who throws it very accurately, is efficient. As he goes, they go. Obviously, their rushing attack, they’ve got a guy that we’re very familiar with, Roman Hemby. I think he’s leading them in rushing. They’ve got two 500-yard rushers and a 300-yard rusher behind them. You look at the receiving core, veteran receivers. Sarratt, a guy from right down the road. Went to St Francis, transferred to JMU, and then goes with his coach to Indiana, is having a big year along with Cooper. Really doing a good job on the offensive side.

But, I think defensively is where they really jump out. They’ve got another veteran group there. It seems like #4 [Aiden Fisher] is all over the tape. Linebacker, really talented player. On the back end, #5 [D’Angelo Ponds] is a really talented player. And then obviously they have Kamara as a pass rusher, I think all three of those guys were First Team All-Big Ten a year ago. 

So, really talented across the board. Will be a well coached team. But, what a great opportunity it is for us to host a top-two team here in the Shell for homecoming. Ideal situation for us.

Q: Do you think a ‘shock the world’ mentality will help you for this game?

“No, and this is no disrespect to Indiana or what they do, but I think the biggest opponent we’re going to face is ourselves. When you look at how the last three games have gone, it’s been a lot more us than it has been the opponent. And that’s why I feel pretty good going into it, because these are things that can be corrected. We’ll get it corrected this week.”