Most Terps fans were unhappy in seeing Michigan State's upset loss to Nebraska, for two reasons: first, the Spartans had strung together a mix of good wins with shaky ones, barely beating a number of teams by close margins that, on paper, should not have been nearly so close. They seemed ripe for an upset by a determined team able to avoid mistakes and/or force them on Mark D'Antonio's squad.
Unfortunately, Nebraska solved the puzzle a week too early; with the Terps traveling to East Lansing, the chance that the their now once-beaten opponent might come out guns blazing, with much to prove, seemed ever possible.
Such prognostications seemed accurate when Michigan State scored first, reaching paydirt in its first drive. The Terps proved resilient, however, returning the favor, with Perry Hills mixing short passes, handoffs, and keepers, evening the score by the end of the first quarter. Back and forth both teams went trading touchdowns and field goals, and entered the fourth quarter tied at 24. Recovering an MSU fumble at its own 15 with 3 minutes remaining, the Terps continued the home team fans' dismay, reaching the enemy 35 as the clock waned. On a third and five, Wes Brown broke into the clear and roared down the left sideline to score; a squib kick ended the game with no damage, and Maryland flew back home with a prized 31-24 win, and a video that would be played on "best of" programming Sunday mornings 20 years into the future on BTN and MASN.
Unfortunately, Nebraska solved the puzzle a week too early; with the Terps traveling to East Lansing, the chance that the their now once-beaten opponent might come out guns blazing, with much to prove, seemed ever possible.
Such prognostications seemed accurate when Michigan State scored first, reaching paydirt in its first drive. The Terps proved resilient, however, returning the favor, with Perry Hills mixing short passes, handoffs, and keepers, evening the score by the end of the first quarter. Back and forth both teams went trading touchdowns and field goals, and entered the fourth quarter tied at 24. Recovering an MSU fumble at its own 15 with 3 minutes remaining, the Terps continued the home team fans' dismay, reaching the enemy 35 as the clock waned. On a third and five, Wes Brown broke into the clear and roared down the left sideline to score; a squib kick ended the game with no damage, and Maryland flew back home with a prized 31-24 win, and a video that would be played on "best of" programming Sunday mornings 20 years into the future on BTN and MASN.
