BASEMENT BRAWL

There’s a striking familiarity in N.C. State football coach Tom O’Brien’s tone of voice. It’s one of frustration — despite outscoring opponents this season, the Wolfpack has fallen to 3-5 overall, including a league-worst 0-4 in ACC play. It’s also one of helplessness — 11 of O’Brien’s players are out for the season, the team unable to catch a break at any turn.

This story has been told already, from the mouth of Terrapin coach Ralph Friedgen. The Terps haven’t dealt with quite as many injuries as the Wolfpack. But inexperience and sloppy execution have left them limping toward the end of the season with a 2-6 (1-3 ACC) record of their own, their backs pressed firmly against the wall.

Tomorrow, O’Brien and Friedgen will attempt exorcisms from opposing sidelines in Raleigh, N.C. The 1 p.m. game will fittingly be broadcast exclusively on ESPN360.com. Those who tune in will watch the ACC’s bottom-feeders engage in a battle to determine which conference team will be the first eliminated from bowl contention.

Many of the Terrapin faithful have circled this game on their schedules. The Wolfpack, after all, is the team holding the Terps up from the absolute cellar of the ACC Atlantic Division.

“They could probably say the same about us. We’re doing pretty poorly,” Terp fullback Cory Jackson said. “I don’t think anybody thinks we’re going to be world-beaters. We got beat by Duke and Middle Tennessee. They’re going to say we’re not the Maryland of the past, and maybe they deserve to say that.”

But the Terps are coming off a bye week. And their injuries are healing. Running back Gary Douglas is expected to be available this weekend after missing the Terps’ Oct. 24 loss at Duke. Jackson and linebacker Alex Wujciak were allowed to rest during last week’s practices, preserving their surgically repaired knees.

Guard Bennett Fulper will join tackle Tyler Bowen and cornerback Nolan Carroll on the sidelines for the rest of the season. But Friedgen has said All-ACC running back Da’Rel Scott appears to be on pace to return for the final two games of the season, and linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield should be back by next week.

For the Wolfpack, the situation remains dire. Since losing linebacker Nate Irving to injury after a car accident this offseason, O’Brien has watched his injury report grow week after week. Three projected starters, including Irving, are on the Wolfpack’s 11-player “out for the season” listing, and middle linebacker Ray Michel will miss this game.

“It’s got to end sometime,” O’Brien said Monday in Raleigh. “I hope I’m the next one hurt. I’ll take a hit for the team if it keeps somebody else healthy.”

It’s been just that kind of season for both coaches. Each has lamented the potential of a losing attitude developing in the locker room and praised his players for continued effort on the practice field.

Neither team has been able to reach close to its potential. For the Terps, that’s been the result of relentless turnover issues and overall inexperience. For the Wolfpack, the issue is simply not having its best players in a season where expectations were rising.

“I think Tom felt pretty good [entering the year],” Friedgen said. “I don’t think either one of us thought we’d be where we are now.”

It’s the kind of self-depricating humor shown in O’Brien’s injury comment, then, that has kept these coaches afloat. As the season has unraveled, Friedgen has tried new things and looked for new sources of inspiration and hope.

“There was a rainbow today — I don’t know if you guys saw it,” Friedgen said yesterday. “I’m looking for any kind of sign.”

The group of five reporters chuckled with the coach, but Friedgen let out a sigh.

“You laugh, but it’s not funny,” he continued. “I’m looking for Dorothy.”

ajoseph@umdbk.com