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| Wednesday, November 8 Vanderlinden is on the verge of a bowl, or getting fired By Gregg Doyel Special to ESPN.com | |||||
| College football's annual job fair is upon us -- help wanted at Alabama, Rutgers, West Virginia -- and Ron Vanderlinden has two weeks to make sure Maryland doesn't join the action.
Vanderlinden came to Maryland in December 1996 with a glorious pedigree, including assistant stops at Michigan, Colorado and Northwestern, but he hasn't turned the Terps around. His predecessor, Mark Duffner, was 17-27 in his final four years at College Park. Vanderlinden would have to win his final two games of 2000 to match that.
Under Vanderlinden, Maryland is 15-27, including an awful four-game losing skid to end last season at 5-6, and out of the bowl picture, after a 5-2 start. Now, thanks to its 35-28 upset in double overtime this past week against N.C. State, he again has his team on the verge of a bowl invitation -- which would be Maryland's first since 1990.
The Terps (5-4, 3-3 in the ACC) must win just once in the final two games, but neither will be easy. When you're Maryland, games rarely are, but these are especially tricky: Saturday at 4-5 North Carolina, which also is playing for its coach, Carl Torbush, and a bowl berth; and Nov. 18 against white-hot Georgia Tech.
Vanderlinden, 44, has three years left on his contract, including a two-year extension. Maryland athletics director Debbie Yow, who hired Vanderlinden, is known to be especially bottom-line conscious and likely to look for every reason to keep him.
A win in either of the final two games would do it. Maryland insiders believe two hard-nosed losses might even be enough.
Hey, this ain't Alabama.
Around the ACC Clemson
The team's top DT, Troy Austin, is questionable for Saturday with a leg problem. His backup Charles Porter, also is questionable for disciplinary reasons. ... Converted WR Jeff Phillips, who has been playing defense just three weeks, has moved into the starting lineup at cornerback. ... P Brian Morton leads the ACC at 44.9 yards per kick -- fifth in the country. Florida State True freshman PK Brett Cimorelli has taken firm grasp of the kicking job that was his the moment he signed out of Zephyrhills (Fla.) High School as Sebastian Janikowski's heir. Injuries and confidence problems have been in the way, but no more: Against Clemson he was 6-for-6 on extra points and hit four field goals. ... Chris Weinke for Heisman, anyone? He has torched three teams for at least 496 passing yards, including big-time foes Miami and Clemson. Georgia Tech Overshadowed by N.C. State's Koren Robinson, Florida State's Marvin Minnis and Clemson's Rod Gardner, Georgia Tech's Kelly Campbell leads the ACC with 49 catches for 780 yards. ... Georgia Tech will play in its fourth straight bowl game, matching a feat last done by coach Bobby Dodd from 1953-56. ... The Jackets (6-2) have won four in a row and are ranked in the Top 25 for the first time this season. Think they wouldn't like to have another crack at N.C. State, which beat them in overtime? Maryland With 101 yards against N.C. State, TB LaMont Jordan moved into fourth on the all-time ACC list with 4,021, passing Florida State's Warrick Dunn, North Carolina's Mike Voight and Virginia's Thomas Jones. ... The Terps' 35-28 victory was their first overtime game since the NCAA began using the procedure. North Carolina The win against Pittsburgh puts the Tar Heels in position, with season-closing victories against Maryland and Duke, to reach the postseason. ... Freshman OG Jupiter Wilson is on the verge of unseating sophomore Isaac Morford. ... PK Jeff Reed, a former walk-on, is a Lou Groza candidate. N.C. State QB Philip Rivers, second in the ACC in total offense at 270.9 yards per game, could be a game-time decision Saturday against Duke after playing most of the Maryland loss with a sprained throwing shoulder. ... DE Nate Goodson, the team's top interior defender, is doubtful with a knee sprain, but LB Clayton White will return with a cast on his broken arm. ... Two games after moving into the starting lineup following an early-season battle with knee problems, OT Scott Kooistra is out of the year with a different knee ailment. Virginia After a slow start, Virginia has a chance at seven victories for the 14th straight year. It has to win two of the following three to do it before the bowls: at Georgia Tech on Thursday, against N.C. State Nov. 18, and at Virginia Tech Nov. 25. ... QB David Rivers, the hero last year in Virginia's 45-38 victory against the Jackets, is the starter now at Division I-AA Western Carolina. ... Virginia, which didn't play last week, is 11-12 after off weeks under coach George Welsh. Wake Forest TB Tarence Williams has emerged as the Deacons' best back of late, punctuating that with his 17-carry, 154-yard, three-TD day against Duke, including a 72-yard run. ... QB Anthony Young (sore left foot) left the Duke game and didn't return but is expected to play this week against N.C. State. He has been knocked out of the last two games. Gregg Doyel covers the ACC for The Charlotte Observer. | ALSO SEE Big East notebook Northwestern still in the running for the Roses Big 12 notebook Big West notebook Mountain West notebook Pac-10 notebook WAC notebook AUDIO/VIDEO   Atrews Bell makes a spectacular catch, leading to another Seminole touchdown.avi: 1310 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Florida State's Davy Ford breaks one loose for an 82-yard touchdown run.avi: 1020 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Jeff Chaney goes 42 yards on a screen pass from Chris Weinke.avi: 995 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Clemson's Travis Zachery rumbles into the end zone for a touchdown.avi: 567 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Marvin Minnis dodges several tacklers helping set up another Seminole score.avi: 1470 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Florida State's Marvin Minnis scores on a 98-yard pass from Chris Weinke in the first quarter.avi: 1860 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 | ||||
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