This is interesting. Not sure if I like it. More bench guys for bigger schools, but this makes the g5 even worst.

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Comfortable and Confident as he says. Wants to be the first black HC to win a National Championship. Has three OL coaches and that excites me. Seems he finally has a grasp on the importance of line play. And the massive weight loss, which is great for his credibility and of course his health. IMHO that was the biggest improvement from last year and years past. Congrats to Coach Locks!

BALTIMORE, Md. – Maryland Head Football Coach Michael Locksley will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Baltimore Orioles game on Sunday at Camden Yards.

Locksley will take the field prior to the first-place Orioles hosting the San Diego Padres at 1:35 p.m.
Locksley will also join MASN and the Orioles Radio Network during their broadcasts of the game.

Going into his sixth season as the head coach of the Terps, Locksley has guided Maryland to three consecutive winning seasons and three straight bowl victories.

Locksley and the Terps are set to hold their first practice of fall camp on July 31. Maryland opens the 2024 season on Saturday, August 31 at home against UConn.

The Terps have landed a commitment from local four-star ATH Zymear Smith. He was previously committed to Alabama and can play multiple positions on offense and defense. Huge addition to what is shaping up to be one of the best classes in the country. Terps now have 5 four-stars in this year's class. More at the link below.

STORY

I'm hearing Zymear Smith will announce his commitment on Friday, after initially thinking he'd possibly announce Aug. 1. I'm still awaiting final details. I was also told he's likely to start out at WR for the Terps but there is a lot of flexibility there and the door is wide open for him to play DB if he prefers. Obviously, Terps still in excellent shape here.

As for other big-time targets still on the board, Rivals250 OL Jaylen Gilchrist will announce Aug. 3. He is officially down to the Terps, Cocks and Georgia. Terps are right there, but at this point I'm not sure I can call them the leaders. They might still have a bit of ground to make up with this one. But we will see what happens here in the home stretch over the next few days.

But the good news is Zymear Smith should be officially on board to start the weekend, giving the Terps a 5th four-star in the class.

COLLEGE PARK, MD - The University of Maryland Athletics Department will introduce a simplified and modernized ticket pricing model that transitions to a per seat contribution for Maryland football and men’s basketball, starting with the 2025-26 seasons. Along with this will come a new premium experience opportunity at XFINITY Center as well as wider lower-level seats at SECU Stadium providing enhanced offerings and comfort at both venues.

As part of the transition to a per seat model, the Terrapin Club will also make an exciting shift to an all-in giving model that combines all gifts to Maryland Athletics into one contribution total which will be used to determine Terrapin Club member level.

This new season ticket model is the result of comprehensive analysis and in consideration of fan feedback received in recent years. The updated pricing structure will allow Maryland Athletics to streamline the season ticket process and the donor experience, introduce consistency across venues, and provide current season ticket holders increased ownership of their experience. The new process is also intended to make it easier to welcome new Terp fans to campus for an enhanced gameday atmosphere, while providing equitable and affordable options for everyone.

Additional fan input has also influenced the expansion of a variety of exciting seating amenities that will launch between now and Fall 2025. Opening this fall at XFINITY Center, The Maryland Club will offer an exclusive bar, dining, lounge and gameday experience. Over at SECU Stadium, more than 17,000 lower bowl seats will be widened by 20 percent in the fall of 2025, providing a more comfortable footprint of space for each ticket holder. With fan experience a priority at athletics venues, several other initiatives to enhance game day atmosphere, comfort, and enjoyment are set to come online in the near future as well.

“Maryland Athletics is built on tradition, and we continue to take building that tradition to another level when it comes to Maryland football and basketball,” said Damon Evans, the Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics. “As we continue to invest in the championship resources needed to win at the highest levels, it is important that we reimagine the fan experience from all angles while keeping pace and evolving with the rest of our peers in the Big Ten and nationally. By advancing these plans, we aim to empower our current season ticket holders while welcoming a new generation of fans to join us at SECU Stadium and XFINITY Center for an even better and more enjoyable experience.”

The new plan aims to provide fair and affordable options while opening up access to more desirable seating that has previously been unavailable. Football season tickets will include several sections that do not require a per seat contribution. Moving forward, all men’s basketball season ticket holders will become Terrapin Club members with each seat in XFINITY Center requiring at least a $25 per seat contribution.

All football and men’s basketball season ticket holders, in alignment with a seat adjustment in 2025, will be able to choose the options that work best for them based on the new structure. Using the Terpoint priority system that has been in effect for several years, rankings will lock in Dec. 31, 2024, and those rankings will dictate the order of selection for football and men’s basketball tickets, as well as parking for both sports. More information regarding seat adjustments will be shared with Terrapin Club members and season ticket holders later this fall. In addition, the 2025-26 year will introduce an all-in giving model, a streamlined benefits chart, and an updated Terpoint system that celebrates philanthropy and rewards donors who increase giving year-over-year.

“We want the experience to be easier to understand and navigate, equitable for all fans while still rewarding long-time and highly invested supporters, and reflective of our collective goal to see sustained success in football and men’s basketball along with all of our sports. As the collegiate athletics landscape continues to evolve, there are critical steps we need to take to align Maryland with peer institutions while elevating our competitive success in the years ahead. This new ticket and giving model allows us to do this and more. We look forward to the opportunity to continue to provide unforgettable memories of our Terps year after year,” added Kirby Mills, Senior Associate Athletics Director and Chief Development Officer of the Terrapin Club.

The unveiling of the new model continues a trend of Maryland’s ongoing efforts to upgrade and modernize the total experience for all Terrapin fans. Over the last five years, Maryland has added state-of-the-art video boards at SECU Stadium and XFINITY Center, installed new sound systems, upgraded to enhanced LED lighting systems, and established elite practice facilities with the opening of Jones-Hill House and current construction of the Barry P. Gossett Basketball Performance Center.

Terrapin fans are encouraged to visit umterps.com/NextEra to access expanded information on the new per seat model, including an FAQ section and customized calculator to provide additional clarity for pricing in various sections. Terrapin Club members and current season ticket holders will also receive a printed guide in the mail over the course of the next few weeks. Fans wanting to speak with an Athletics representative are encouraged to call 301-314-7060.

Team USA escapes massive upset vs. South Sudan: Highlights and more

From Ryan O'Blenees of the national team. Predictions for Blake Woodby, Jayvon McFadden and Jaylen Gilchrist.

We will see with Gilchrist. The Terps definitely made a lasting impression with his official visit to College Park, but he openly called South Carolina the clear leader before the visit. I haven't heard anything personally to make me think he's done to the Terps, but they definitely have the people in place and the proximity to the Tidewater area to pull this one off.

As for Woodby, everyone seems to think Auburn is going to land the Rivals100 DB, but this is one of those ones where I'm must tuning out most of the noise and believe the Terps are in it until he is signed elsewhere. He has a very strong relationship with AAR and it just feels to me like they have a few other things going in their favor too, despite all the Auburn talk. I'm not putting in a FutureCast for Maryland at this point, but I'm not putting one in for Auburn either, despite all the talk about the Tigers.

More at the link below.

STORY

Ok, admittedly I haven't really followed MLB much in recent years. That said, growing up I was a die hard O's fan and Cal Ripken was my idol.

Anyways, this year's O's team has me getting back into baseball again. They look like a legit playoff contender at the All-Star break and they are winning with all of this young talent and still seem to have a loaded farm system. For a guy who doesn't follow baseball that closely anymore, it sure seems like they are set up to be good for a long time.

So I figured I'd start a running general thread on the O's. I guess I'll start by asking the current die hards here their thoughts at the break.

What, if anything, do the O's still need to compete in October?

Thoughts on 1st Rd pick Bradfield Jr.? Seems like an old-school Kenny Lofton-type center field prospect. Any other picks you really like?

Any other general O's thoughts, post 'em here.

Ok, I'll hang up and listen now.