WAHOOS WAITING: Terps vs. Cavs

Lansford Watson knows all about the Terrapins' gridiron rivalry with Virginia.

Although he's never taken the field against the Cavaliers, the redshirt freshman watched from the sidelines last season as the Cavaliers came into Byrd Stadium and used a late score to beat the Terps 18-17 before a homecoming crowd.

He's heard the stories about the tough atmosphere at Scott Stadium and the Terps' recovery from a 20-point deficit for a win there in 2006.

Watson said he's been practicing harder than ever this week in preparation for tomorrow's trip to Charlottesville. He's ready to be a part of the next chapter in a storied series.

The 73rd meeting between the Terps (4-1) and the Cavaliers (1-3) features two teams going in different directions when the suddenly hot Terps square off against a Virginia team that has yet to beat a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) opponent. But Watson said it's not enough to take the shine off his first chance to take the field against the Cavaliers. The Terps know what to expect whenever they meet their nearest ACC opponent.

"They're going to come out and try to give it their all," Watson said. "It's a rival game. They're going to come out and try to throw everything at us."

Virginia has dominated the series of late, taking 12 of the last 16 meetings.

But the Cavaliers, under coach Al Groh, are reeling this time around. They've lost all three of their games against opponents from power conferences by at least 28 points. Since preseason starting quarterback Peter Lalich was kicked off the team for admitting to a probation violation and didn't play after the team's second game, things have gotten even worse. Last week, Virginia lost at Duke 31-3 to snap the Blue Devils' 25-game conference losing streak.

But throughout the week, the Terps have said all the right things so as not to give the Cavaliers any extra motivation to snap out of their funk this week.

"I don't think anybody on the team is taking them lightly," center Edwin Williams said. "They still have a great team. From what I've seen on the film, they still play very aggressively and just as good as they played last season."

Friedgen said he has been impressed by Virginia's personnel moves to get underperforming players off the field and younger players a chance to grow, especially on defense. He said he can see the Cavaliers getting better on tape week by week.

And they will be buoyed by a home crowd that has been tough on the Terps. Before turning their fortunes with the big comeback two years ago, the Terps hadn't won in Charlottesville since 1990.

Friedgen turned up the simulated crowd noise at practice extra high this week and repeatedly talked to his team about what to expect at Scott Stadium.

"We've been down there and we've been in a trance," Friedgen said. "It's been frustrating to me. I just don't want to go through that again."

Friedgen also faces the burden of expectation this season.

Last season's late October meeting pitted two hot teams against each other. Virginia was just outside the top 25 and fighting for an ACC Coastal Division crown. The Terps were riding a two-game winning streak that included their win at then-No.10 Rutgers.

The Terps enter Saturday's tilt as a clear favorite as they try to prove they can be contenders in the ACC.

With young players like Watson eager for their first trip to Charlottesville and veterans like Williams looking for revenge, it's a safe bet the Terps will be as focused as they were in any of the other meetings in the series.

With a team that has already had its share of ups and downs through five games this season, it's pretty important that they are.

"Let's be honest," offensive coordinator James Franklin said. "We haven't proven we are consistent enough to take anybody lightly."

edetweilerdbk@gmail.com