Countdown to Kickoff
September 20, 2003 11:04 AM | General
September 20, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia (1-2) visits Maryland (1-2) for a 6:05 pm game at Byrd Stadium (48,055) in College Park, Md., on Saturday, Sept. 20. There will be no live television for the game, but fans can catch MSN’s radio coverage through MSNsportsNET.com.
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| West Virginia players arrive at the team hotel Friday evening. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
West Virginia is looking to snap a two-game Maryland win streak in series play and the Terrapins have also claimed the last two meetings at Byrd Stadium. WVU’s last victory in College Park came in 1997, a 31-14 triumph.
Here is Saturday’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – In TEN of West Virginia’s 12 scoring drives this season, the offense has scored in a time of possession of 3:18 or under.
9 – Maryland returns NINE of 11 defensive starters from last year’s defense that ranked seventh in the country in scoring.
8 – After defeating West Virginia 48-17 in Morgantown last year, Maryland went on to win seven of its last EIGHT games.
7 – West Virginia has won SEVEN of the last 13 meetings against Maryland. However, the Terps have taken the last two and three of the last four.
6 – Maryland ranks SIXTH in the ACC in total offense with an average o 328 yards per game. The Terps rebounded from 222 and 197-yard performances against Northern Illinois and Florida State to produce 565 total yards against The Citadel.
5 – West Virginia has had FIVE plays of 40 yards or more. The top play this year was an 81-yard kickoff return by Pac-Man Jones against Wisconsin.
4 – Maryland had FOUR scoring plays of 40 yards or longer in last year’s game against West Virginia in Morgantown.
3 – West Virginia won THREE games on grass surfaces last year, and was a 48-7 winner two week’s ago on East Carolina’s natural surface.
2 – Since 1950, West Virginia has had 12 1-2 starts to football seasons and has only produced TWO winning records in 1952 and 1994. The ’52 team finished the year 7-2 and the ’94 team had a 7-6 record.
1 – West Virginia linebacker Grant Wiley ranks FIRST in the country with five forced fumbles. The Trappe, Pa., resident has forced seven fumbles for his career.
Enjoy Saturday’s game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete post-game coverage.
