DESPERATE TIMES

The Rutgers tombstone is prominently located in the front of the symbolic graveyard.
Among the other headstones displayed near the entrance to the Terrapin football team's practice field, which commemorate the Terps' wins over top-10 teams, the Rutgers tombstone is often the first one passersby see.

R.I.P.
SCARLET KNIGHTS
TERPS 34
#10 RUTGERS 24
SEPTEMBER 29, 2007.

What a difference two years makes.

The Scarlet Knights (2-1) have gone a middling 15-10 after that loss and haven't even sniffed a return to the top 10, while the Terps (1-2) have had enough trouble this season trying to beat supposed cupcakes James Madison and Middle Tennessee.

They certainly haven't looked like a team that could beat a top-10 program on the road.
Heading into tomorrow's rematch at Byrd Stadium, both the Terps and the Scarlet Knights could desperately use a statement win against a fellow BCS conference team to build some momentum for their program and attempt to head back in the right direction.

Otherwise, their seasons might soon be fit for burial.

"We need this win for a lot of reasons," Terp wide receiver Torrey Smith said. "For ourselves as far as confidence goes, for our fans to not jump off the bandwagon. The biggest thing for us that we need to do is just fix our mistakes."

The Terps' mistakes have been plentiful and well documented during the first three games of the season, and coach Ralph Friedgen and several Terps readily admitted this week things have not been going according to plan.

The defense has allowed nearly 40 points and more than 465 yards of total offense per game, and while the offense has provided some big plays, turnovers and penalties have been a frustrating, recurring theme.

The last-second 32-31 loss to Middle Tennessee last Saturday is currently the low point. But with a tough ACC schedule looming, the Terps could be falling into a potentially ugly downward spiral if they don't start improving quickly.

They know that if the season hasn't started to come unglued already, it certainly could with a second-straight home loss to the Scarlet Knights tomorrow.

"We've been facing some hard luck. Sometimes you've got to change your luck and make your luck," Friedgen said. "I think this team really needs to have a coming out."

The Scarlet Knights have also been somewhat of an enigma in the early going.

They were blown out at home by current-No. 14 Cincinnati, 47-15, to start the season, and then rebounded with home wins against lightweights Howard and Florida International.

But it is still unclear what they are capable of.

A win against the Terps might give them more of an idea.

"I think for both teams, for us and Rutgers, it's a game to see really where we're at, to see really where we're going to go from here," Terp quarterback Chris Turner said. "I think on paper we're pretty evenly matched, and we'll just have to see what happens."

schimmel@umdbk.com