Miami controversy not on Terps' mind

A damning Yahoo Sports report detailing the accusations of former Miami athletics booster Nevin Shapiro, who said he provided thousands of impermissible benefits to at least 72 student-athletes during an eight-year span, became the talk of the sports blogosphere soon after it was published Tuesday.

But for a Terrapin football team that, in two weeks' time, will stand as the scandal-ridden Hurricanes' first test of the 2011 season, the news was a nonissue.

That's partly because, when players were asked about it Tuesday afternoon, they hadn't heard about it. Quarterback Danny O'Brien said he had read  rumors of the Hurricanes' alleged transgressions, but that more pressing issues — namely, surviving his preseason two-a-days — were on his mind.

Defensive tackle Joe Vellano said he wasn't even aware of Miami's situation, which could threaten the eligibility of as many as 12 current Hurricanes, including quarterback Jacory Harris and defensive back Ray-Ray Armstrong.

In a statement Wednesday, Miami president Donna Shalala said she "regard[s] these allegations with the utmost of seriousness and understand[s] the concern of so many of you. We will vigorously pursue the truth, wherever that path may lead, and I have insisted upon complete, honest, and transparent cooperation with the NCAA from our staff and students."

DEFENSE STRUGGLING?

In the ongoing preseason competition between the Terps' new-look offensive and defensive units, coach Randy Edsall said one has so far looked considerably better.

"I feel I know who we are offensively," Edsall said. "Defensively, I'm not as happy and as pleased or as far along in that assessment and evaluation of the people that we are going to need and who's going to be there for us. There're a lot of still-unanswered questions from a defensive standpoint than offensively."

Edsall said he anticipates some changes to the Terps' depth chart but declined to elaborate on specific positions.

INJURY REPORT

Defensive end Justin Anderson will miss six weeks after undergoing surgery Friday to fix an injured foot, Edsall said Saturday.

Anderson started every game for the Terps last season as a strongside defensive end in former defensive coordinator Don Brown's scheme, but he switched to defensive tackle this spring before shifting back to end before preseason practice.

Wide receiver Adrian Coxson also left practice Saturday with an apparent leg injury, but Edsall said Tuesday he would not discuss the severity of the injury or any others. In a Twitter post Saturday, Coxson wrote that he tweaked his ankle and that he was "good." Coxson sat out last season after transferring from Florida.

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