100711

JUST OFFENSIVE IDLE MARCH Terps face Yellow Jackets team not lacking for options SPORTS | PAGE 8

Friday, October 7, 2011

The Ides of March looks good but lacks depth DIVERSIONS | PAGE 6

THE DIAMONDBACK THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Our 102ND Year, No. 27

Students to VP of Univ. Relations will resign pay at least $50 for Notre Dame game

After 12 years, Brodie Remington announces he will leave post by end of 2012

BY REBECCA LURYE Staff writer

After overseeing the university’s fundraising efforts and alumni outreach for the last 12 years, Vice President of University Relations Brodie Remington will leave his position in 2012, he announced yesterday.

Over the last dozen years, Remington has been the point man on several univer-

sity fundraising initiatives, including the Great Expectations campaign currently underway that seeks to bring in $1 billion alone in gifts. Remington announced his resignation in an email to the University Relations department yesterday.

“The time is right for me, and, I think, for the University. … This great University will need a vice president fully prepared to provide leadership for the next six to eight years or more. I am not,” he

wrote in the email.

Remington said he will leave his position once a new vice president is in place — which he said should happen by next fall — although he will still serve in the university relations office as an advisor until the end of 2012.

In the coming weeks, university President Wallace Loh will charge a committee

see REMINGTON, page 3

BRODIE REMINGTON VP UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

Athletics dept. unable to get free tickets for Nov. 11 game at FedEx Field

BY LEAH VILLANUEVA Senior staff writer

Thousands of students snagged free tickets to the Terrapins football game against Navy last September, but watching the team take on Notre Dame University this year will come with a much heftier price tag.

The Nov. 11 game will be held at FedEx Field in Washington, and the only tickets available to students will be for 400-level seats ranging from $50 to $60. Lower level seats are also available at $95 and top level seats for Terrapin Club members are available at $120.

Matt Monroe, assistant athletic director of ticket services, said in last year’s high-profile game against Navy at M&T Bank Stadium — considered a home game for the Terps — the athletics department was able to negotiate 3,000 complementary student tickets under its contract with the stadium. However, this year is a home game for Notre Dame, which has a contract with FedEx Field. Monroe said the university only received a small number of complementary tickets, most of which were given to the players’ families, football staff and the university marching band.

“The prices are pretty much laid out for

see TICKETS, page 2

An organic endeavor

The good ol’ days Dining halls used to double as bars when drinking age lowered to 18

BY SPENCER ISRAEL Staff writer

Today, dining halls and convenience stores on the campus offer students anything from club sandwiches to sushi to soda. But 30 years ago, they were serving students another staple in many college students’ diets: alcohol.

In 1973 the state drinking age was lowered to 18, and with it came the

establishment of several on-campus bars that would go a long way to establishing this university as one of the premier party schools in the country, according to university archivist Anne Turkos.

“I think students today would be astonished to know that we actually had fairly available alcohol on campus,”

see BARS, page 3

Students eat only locally grown food for class project

BY CLAIRE SARAVIA

In the ’70s, students flocked to on-campus bars housed in dining halls and Stamp Student Union. JEREMY KIM/THE DIAMONDBACK.

Staff writer

While most students stress about writing papers and studying for exams, one group of university students faced a different kind of classroom challenge this semester — where to find their next locally sourced meal.

Along with attending lecture and reading from a textbook, students taking AMST 498Q: Special Topics in American Studies: Advanced Material Culture took the “Lovocore Challenge,” where they had to spend four consecutive days eating nothing but foods grown or produced within 150 miles of College Park. The students began day one of the challenge last Thursday and used sources like the city’s farmer’s market over the weekend to get their meals.

American studies professor Psyche Williams-Forson, who teaches the class, said the students will learn to appreciate the different complex factors that go into eating closer to home through this experience.

“I want them to see food as an area or set of objects to study that are surrounded by issues of gender, race, class, region and time,” Williams-Forson said. “You begin to really have to think about the foods you consume and the meanings attached to those foods.”

Williams-Forson said many students don’t expect the challenge to be so difficult, with hurdles ranging from finding and preparing the foods on a tight schedule to taking the

see ORGANIC, page 2 TOMORROW’S WEATHER:

INSET PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

Newly packaged Four Loko will hit shelves this spring Cans must accurately display alcohol content

BY JIM BACH Staff writer

Four Loko drinks will hit liquor store shelves this spring with resealable containers. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

Sunny/70s

INDEX

NEWS . . . . . . . . . .2 OPINION . . . . . . . .4

The brightly colored metallic 23.5ounce Four Loko cans have come under fire again from federal regulators who are now claiming the beverage contains at least twice as much alcohol as their advertisements suggest.

The Federal Trade Commission said Phusion Projects, the Chicago-based manufacturer of Four Loko, falsely advertised their product as the equivalent of one to two beers and that it “could safely be consumed in its entirety on a single occasion,” according to FTC documents. However, drinking one Four Loko is the same as downFEATURES . . . . . .5 CLASSIFIED . . . . .6

DIVERSIONS . . . . .6 SPORTS . . . . . . . . .8

ing four to five beers, FTC spokeswoman Betsy Lordan wrote in an email.

Although Phusion Projects denies the FTC’s claim, the packaging will change to reflect this and will also be resealable starting this spring.

Yet some students said the hard-hitting effects of the beverage — which was dubbed “blackout in a can” before energy-boosting components were stripped from the can’s ingredient list last fall — are already well known, and the can’s new labeling won’t steer avid Four Loko drinkers away.

“People don’t drink it for the taste, they don’t drink it to enjoy it,” said

see DRINK, page 3 www.diamondbackonline.com

2

THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

TICKETS from page 1

University officials had 3,000 free student tickets for last year’s football game against Navy. FILE PHOTO/THE DIAMONDBACK

ORGANIC from page 1 awkward shopping trips.

“Graduate students have gone to grocer y stores like Whole Foods and asked for local things and said they felt ver y uncomfortable doing it,” Williams-Forson said.

In addition to blogging about their experience, the students will write a paper that describes one meal they ate and reflects on the different aspects associated with that food, such as the challenge in finding it or who sold it to them.

To beat the challenge, many students came up with creative ways to get their meals.

Senior studio art major Sophia Smith said she met her quota by getting some of the local fruits and vegetables routinely delivered to her mother’s house.

“It made me think a lot about how vir tually anything I was eating before [the challenge] wasn’t local,” she said.

Junior American studies major Cain Jef fries traveled to a meat farm on the Eastern

Shore to get his local foods.

He said the challenge helped him connect with his food in a whole new way.

However, he said he wouldn’t be able to continue eating that way on his limited college budget.

“It was ver y eye-opening and made the eating experience more personal for me,” Jeffries said.

“It was definitely worthwhile and I’m glad I did it, but economically it’s impossible to do.”

In spite of the challenges, Williams-Forson said many students came out of the experience with a better appreciation and broader knowledge of what local foods have to offer.

She added it also forced students to interact with producers such as local farmers and get a sense of the cultural dynamic between producers and consumers.

“It heightens their awareness of some of the foods they have not experienced,” Williams-Forson said. “It’s a way for students to really engage food differently.”

Williams-Forson said even if students didn’t continue to

us,” Monroe said. “It’s just like we’re going to the South Bend when FedEx Field is right down the street.”

Several students said they are unwilling to pay the price to snag a seat.

“If it was $60 for a season pass, that’d be cool, but no, it’s $60 for one game between two athletic programs that are not that good. … It’s not wor th it at all,” said sophomore microbiology major Chuka Udeze, who added he had been “so pumped” for the game until he learned the ticket cost.

“Plus they’re 400-level seats, so you’ll get nosebleeds and pay $60.”

Sophomore letters and sciences major Brady Griffin agreed.

“You’re paying professional prices for a college football game,” he said.

Monroe said the athletics

department made efforts to get students the best deal possible, noting officials managed to reser ve student seats directly behind the university marching band that were originally $95. Students can now get these for $60.

“We are eating some of the cost, but this year and last year are ver y different games,” he said.

Monroe added the athletics department is still discussing with the Division of Student Affairs whether they can provide shuttle buses to and from the stadium for students.

But sophomore letters and sciences major Dylan Amoroso said while the price tag is high, he still expects a good student turnout.

“It’s against Notre Dame, so it will still be a good fun game, plus it’s in D.C., which is kinda cool,” Amoroso said. “I’ll still probably go since I go to all the sports.” villanueva@umdbk.com

“It heightens their awareness of some of the foods they have not experienced.

It’s a way for students to really engage food differently.”

PSYCHE WILLIAMSFORSON AMERICAN STUDIES PROFESSOR

eat exclusively local, she hopes the experience taught them valuable lessons they could take with them outside the classroom.

“Students don’t realize the amount of time and energy that’s involved in putting together meals and where they’re going to get the food, so you have to give a lot more time and attention to planning,” Williams-Forson said.

“It moves them out of their comfort zone.” saravia@umdbk.com

American studies professor Psyche Williams-Forson required her students to take the Lovocore challenge, where they ate nothing but locally grown foods for four straight days in order to gain a new appreciation for food grown close to home. GARY CHEN/THE DIAMONDBACK

THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

3

In 1975, the South Campus Dining Hall had a bar called The Pub, which served students who were 18 years and older beer for nine years. JEREMY KIM/THE DIAMONDBACK

BARS from page 1 Turkos said.

With three on-campus bars, “fairly available” is right.

Students presented their driver’s license and university ID to gain entry and signed a paper claiming responsibility for any guests with them — they could bring up to two.

Joe Mullineaux — a senior associate director for Dining Services who was first a patron and later an employee of several campus bars — said although alcohol flowed freely, students generally did not become boisterous or belligerent because of the harsh consequences they would face.

“If you or your guests did anything wrong, you would be the one going in front of the judicial board,” he said. “The judicial board is a pretty strong punishment.”

However, The Pub quickly

DRINK from page 1 sophomore engineering major Kayla Park-Brouse. “They drink it for the effect that alcohol has on them.”

Four Loko’s new packaging will have additional label information comparing the 23.5-ounce can to the average 12-ounce can of beer, according to a press release by Jaisen Freeman, co-founder of Phusion Projects.

“We initiated the action out of concern that the company was engaging in deceptive marketing,” Lordan wrote in an email.

“Deceptive [marketing] about alcohol content is dangerous to consumers and a high priority for the FTC.” Last fall, the FTC and Federal Drug Administration required the company to remove caffeine from

established itself as the rambunctious bar, which one bouncer once described as “like the bar scene from Star Wars only a lot wilder,” Mullineaux said. It consistently packed its doors with as many as 2,000 patrons per night and went through 400 kegs of beer in a weekend.

Originally located where today’s suites are on the east side of the Stamp Student Union, The Pub outgrew its small space and moved to LeFrak Hall a year later. In 1975 it expanded to the South Campus Dining Hall, where it served students for the next nine years.

But the campus bar scene was not just limited to The Pub. Students looking for a classy, date-night atmosphere would wine and dine in The Terrabac Room — a nicer bar with a full kitchen and “fairly sophisticated wine list” located where today’s North Campus Snack ’n’ Shop and Cambridge

the alcoholic beverage after a public outcry deemed the combination dangerous to consumers. “[The mixture of caffeine and alcohol] affects your ability to tell how drunk you are,” Arria said.

“The perceived intoxicated feeling prevents you from engaging in risky behavior.”

Several students said labeling accurately can help students moderate their alcohol consumption.

“If a person’s going to drink Four Loko, they should know what’s in it,” said freshman engineering major Kevin Jones.

Additionally, the cans will feature “new can closure technology” to make the cans resealable, according to the press release.

The FTC sought to allow consumers to “save some for later if they want to,” Lordan wrote in an email.

The revamped resealable cans will help consumers realize that

Nearly 40 years ago, the drinking age in the state was 18, and there were three bars on the campus to supply legal students with the beverages. COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

Community Center lie, Mullineaux said.

According to Mullineaux, the Terrabac Room was also transformed into a dinner theatre for one month out of the semester, where student-produced plays and movie screenings were commonly showed.

Here, students could use their meal plan to enjoy anything from pizza and salads to crepes and fondue and could get a draft of Heineken for a mere 85 cents.

Stamp was also home to The Chicago Room — or, as it was known to students, “The Hole in the Wall.” Mullineaux estimated the bar stood near where Panda Express lies today. Because “The Hole in the Wall” only had a maximum capacity of 40 students, the venue was in high demand, Mullineaux said.

“It was open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and it was packed from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through

Friday,” Mullineaux said. “[Students] were waiting when you opened the door at 8 a.m., and we had to kick them out at 8 p.m.”

On top of these bars, alcohol played a role in other university events. Nickel draft beers were offered along with dinner specials, such as Oktoberfest or Thanksgiving in the dining halls.Dining Services and Resident Life offered a keg of beer to the floor with the most votes in the Student Government Association’s elections.

Dining Services made some of its space available — what is currently occupied by 251 North — for student groups looking to have mixers.

“We supplied the ice for the kegs,” Mullineaux said of the informal events.

Once the drinking age was increased to 21 in 1982, university officials said stricter enforcement would be needed, and it just wasn’t worth keeping bars on the

the beverages should not be drank in one sitting, according to Amelia Arria, this university’s director for the center on young adult health and development.

“The FTC is asking for it to be resealable because four to five drinks is not one serving,” she said. “It would be understood by the definition of binge drinking as one can.”

Despite the FTC’s claims about the company’s misleading marketing, Phusion Projects officials stated in a press release that they never marketed the product as “the equivalent of 1-2 beers.”

“We don’t share the FTC’s perspective, and we disagree with their allegations,” the press release stated. “We don’t believe there were any violations.”

Junior business major Nina Shaw said people new to the drink will not take such warnings to heart, and that they are most vulnerable to the negative side effects.

“I think the risk of Four Loko is more pertinent toward people who have never drank before, and they think it’s just a can, which it’s not,” she said.

Phusion Projects declined to comment further on the matter.

Owners of Number 1 Liquors, Village Pump Liquors, Parkways Liquors, Town Hall Liquors and College Park Liquors could not be reached for comments last night.

This episode marks the second time in a year Phusion Projects has taken heat from federal regulators for its product. bach@umdbk.com

Academy Stadium Theatre Week of October 7 6198 Greenbelt Rd. Center Court of Beltway Plaza Mall

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ALL SHOWS STARTING AT 11:59 AM OR EARLIER ARE PRICED AT $5.00 PER GUEST – “EARLY BIRD SHOWS” ALL SHOWS BETWEEN 12 PM AND 4:59 PM ARE MATINEES ALL SHOWS STARTING AT 5 PM OR LATER ARE REGULAR PRICE Children $6.00, Seniors $6.50 Adults $8.50, Students $7.50

Lion King 3D IN 3D/NO FEE G Dolphin Tale PG Dream House PG-13 Abduction PG-13 Real Steel PG-13 Money Ball R Killer Elite R What’s Your Number R 50/50 R

campus — despite the financial hit.

“It cost us a good deal of money because we were making a profit on all those places, which was subsidizing the meal plan,” Mullineaux said.

“But it was more a case of, ‘There aren’t enough students to justify being open, so we’re not going to risk serving anybody underage.’”

Although hotspots like The Pub are long gone, their remnants remain. The walk-in refrigerator that could tap up to 200 kegs at once in the South Campus Dining Hall is now used by the bakery, and the lines that transported the beer from the kegs to the bar now rest on the ceiling of Dining Services’ business offices.

Some students said they were surprised to learn bars existed where they now eat their meals.

“That’s amazing,” said junior finance major Chris Levy when told of the campus bar scene. “If they were here now,

REMINGTON from page 1 to conduct a national search for Remington’s successor, according to Loh’s Chief of Staff Michelle Eastman.

With Remington at the helm, University Relations coined the term “Fear the Turtle,” and expanded the university’s alumni base dramatically. Under former university President Dan Mote, Remington also oversaw the Bold Vision, Bright Future campaign, which fundraised $456 million — $100 million more than its original goal.

In the final year of his tenure, Remington said he will reach the $1 billion fundraising goal of his Great Expectations campaign. The university still has $135 million to go before December 2012.

“Of course we have concerns about the darn economy, and the stock market goes down, down, down, a little up and then down,” he said. “But we’re optimistic and determined.”

With the Great Expectations campaign’s end on the horizon, Remington said a fresh face should help lead the university into its next era of fundraising.

“You know it when you feel it. … I might not be in a position to give 100 percent, and this is a job where you have to give 100 percent or you’re not going to be suc-

cessful,” Remington said.

With Great Expectations holding the title of the state’s largest public institution campaign, university officials said Remington has contributed more than enough to the university over the last decade.

“Not too many can say they’ve completed a $1 billion campaign to help a university, so he should be proud of that,” said university Marketing Director Brian Ullmann.

And money aside, Ullmann said Remington had an impact on staff, students and the university’s network of more than 300,000 alumni that stretched far beyond dollars raised.

“He certainly values the friendships he’s made,” Ullmann said. “When you deal with alumni the way Brodie does, you get with them on a personal level, you know about their kids, where they went to school. It really is about relationship building and it’s a big part of what he’s built here at Maryland.”

Additionally, during his last several months at the university, Remington said he will prepare a “framework” for the department that will ultimately restore the department’s staff and operating budget to its prerecession levels.

“The framework will be a rough starting point from which the new vice president

FRIDAY – SATURDAY Money Ball

11:55 3:00

6:20

Dolphin Tale

11:45 2:15 4:50

9:30 7:40 10:20

Lion King 3D IN 3D/NO FEE 11:45 1:50 4:00 6:15 8:15 10:30 Real Steel

12:25

3:20 6:35

Dream House

11:45 1:50 4:00 6:10 8:15 10:30

Abduction

11:35 2:15 5:05

7:50 10:20

Killer Elite

11:35 2:15 5:05

7:40 10:20

50/50

11:45 2:25 5:10

What’s Your Number

9:30

7:40 10:10

SUNDAY – THURSDAY Money Ball

11:40

4:00

Dolphin Tale

11:40 2:20

4:55 7:30

Lion King 3D IN 3D/NO FEE 12:15 2:45

5:25 7:35

Real Steel

12:10

Dream House

12:15 2:45

5:25 7:35

Abduction

11:55 2:40

5:10 7:35

Killer Elite

11:40 2:20

4:55 7:30

50/50

11:45 2:50

What’s Your Number

4:15

7:00

7:00

5:10 7:35

“[Students] were waiting when you opened the door at 8 a.m., and we had to kick them out at 8 p.m.”

JOE MULLINEAUX SENIOR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR DINING SERVICES

I bet the nightlife would be that much better.”

For Mullineaux, the years he spent as a student at this university and a Dining Services employee in the bars represent a bygone era, and some of the best years.

“You bring back a lot of good memories,” he said. “It was a very fun eight years.” israel@umdbk.com

“Not too many can say they’ve completed a $1 billion campaign to help a university, so he should be proud of that.”

BRIAN ULLMANN UNIVERSITY MARKETING DIRECTOR

can decide how best to shape the organization and deploy resources in order to position [University Relations] for the challenges and opportunities ahead,” he wrote to his staff.

In an email to the university community, Loh thanked Remington for his success in leading fundraising campaigns during an unforgiving economic climate.

“He performed his most important job with an energy, a dedication, and a commitment that were recognized and appreciated by all who worked with him,” Loh wrote.

Looking forward, Remington said the university should not have any trouble attracting qualified and innovative candidates with the necessary experience to take the university’s fundraising to the next level.

“People go to the Yankees, not someone at the bottom of the barrel. Now Maryland has arrived, it is great and it can be even greater … and it’s going to be a terrific professional opportunity for my successor,” he said. lurye@umdbk.com

4

THE DIAMONDBACK | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

THE DIAMONDBACK

0pinion

LAUREN REDDING EDITOR IN CHIEF

YOUR INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK PHONE: (301) 314-8200 | FAX: (301) 314-8358

ALEX KNOBEL

MIKE KING

MANAGING EDITOR

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3150 SOUTH CAMPUS DINING HALL | COLLEGE PARK, MD 20742 NEWS@UMDBK .COM | OPINION@UMDBK .COM

CHRISTOPHER HAXEL

ALISSA GULIN

OPINION EDITOR

OPINION EDITOR

Staff editorial

Letters to the editor

Accept the exchange

Occupy this

I

The university, which owns the fraternity housing, supports the developt appears the City of College Park has taken a dumb approach to smart growth. Although a formal vote won’t take place until Oct. 11, ment. Furthermore, there is a building of similar footprint and height — a the City Council voiced its opposition to a proposed mixed-use parking garage recently constructed by the city — located about one-tenth development on the current site of the Mar yland Book Exchange of a mile away.

“The community expressed they were not in favor of undergraduate housduring Tuesday’s work session. While the council’s decision isn’t binding, it’s sure to influence the Prince George’s County Planning Board, which ing at that location as the primar y use,” claims City Planning Director Terr y Schum. The “community” Schum refers to is probably reports to the county council for a final vote. the Old Town Civic Association, which last fall The proposed development — a six-stor y building released a hysterical letter opposing the development, with LEED Silver certification — would house more claiming the group would “be completely marginalized than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students. In Building a student housing and without hope should this project go for ward,” and addition to ground-floor retail space for the Mar yland Book Exchange and other tenants, it would bring complex at the Maryland Book that “the influx of up to 1,000 more undergraduates symbolize ‘kiss of death,’ for College Park’s more than 320 parking spaces below and within the Exchange site makes practical would downtown.” complex. The site’s location places it directly across sense and would mitigate a It seems the 24 association members — yes, all two from the campus and within walking distance of downdozen of them — who unanimously opposed the develtown businesses. handful of persistent issues in opment are most concerned about students In short, it’s a perfect antidote to problems such as “[swelling] the ranks of house parties that are already traffic congestion, a graduate student housing shortage the community. straining our ner ves.” and the suburban sprawl that has plagued the Route 1 What’s most ironic is that the city’s rent control policy — which the city corridor for decades.

But apparently the council and city’s planning and development staff are code states is intended “to strengthen College Park neighborhoods by more concerned about other matters, such as whether the building comple- reducing the number of single-family homes that become rental properties” — is designed to force students out of rental homes and into apartment ments the character of the surrounding neighborhood.

Officials claim the proposal doesn’t mesh with the non-binding Route 1 complexes like the one being proposed. The city’s own strategic plan indiSector Plan because it doesn’t feature a tapered height — called a step-back cates a desire to “create more off-campus student housing adjacent to the — that will help the building transition into the surrounding area. To argue campus.”

This is the ultimate case of “Not in my backyard” syndrome. Residents the building’s appearance would negatively impact the character of the and city officials want students out of houses, but only if they move far away neighborhood is absurd.

The Book Exchange site, which currently features an unattractive park- from Old Town. It’s time for College Park residents and officials to realize ing lot with more than 100 spaces, is situated on a busy road directly across that smart-growth proposals like this one are good for all of College Park — from the campus and surrounded by Fraternity Row, a police substation, a not just students.

Maybe it’s the City Council that will be College Park’s kiss of death. church and a line of businesses, including Papa John’s and Wasabi Bistro.

Our View

Editorial cartoon: Ben Stryker

“

We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.”

With this excerpt from Occupy Wall Street’s collective statement in mind, I am limited to responding only to those aspects of Joey Lockwood’s Oct. 6 editorial cartoon that are just mature enough to deserve a response. It is clear he has no comprehension of the Occupy movement.

The Occupy group’s collective statement addresses issues from predatory banking practices, unjust wars, universal health care, a racist justice system, environmental health and much more. What all of these have in common is that they show how the intrusion of corporate money into the political process replaces the collective will of democracy with an unjust system where the purchasing power of only a very few people triumphs.

In his cartoon, Lockwood repeats the same rhetoric used by illegitimate cable news anchors to criticize Occupy Wall Street: The protest is unorganized; the protest has no clear goals. With every display of popular democratic civil discourse comes the attempt by corporate elites to repel our First Amendment freedoms.

In claiming the protest is unorganized, they ask us to reject real direct democracy and to instead find an easily targeted leader to brainwash his or her followers. This is also perfectly exemplified by the tea party movement. In claiming that movement has no clear goals, they ask us to summarize the global breach of freedoms by the wealthy elite into one small newscycle-friendly sound byte in order to suppress our civil discourse. But they will not undermine us that easily.

JONATHAN COHEN SENIOR CIVIL ENGINEERING

Fact vs. fiction

L

DiamondBACKTALK: What do you think of the new downtown bar scene?

“As someone not old enough to drink, it sucks there are no longer bars I can get into. As someone who values the overall cleanliness of the community and wants it to look nice, it’s good that sleazy and disgusting trash like Turtle is no longer here.”

“I don’t go to downtown College Park a lot. I have a car, so I go down to D.C. … There are so many other places than Route 1 to go to have fun. There should be places for just upperclassmen to go.”

— Paul Wlodkowski, freshman mechanical engineering

— Will Friedman, junior letters and sciences

“I’ve been to the Barking Dog. It doesn’t have as many people as Turtle did. Cornerstone seems to be the bar with the most people, even if they are cracking down. People always find a way around that, but overall it’s good the bars are stricter.”

“From what I’ve heard, it’s become a lot more strict with law enforcement. My hopes of going downtown have mostly diminished. It seems like security has increased and it’s dramatically more uptight.”

— Alex Shipp, freshman business

— Frances Quick, senior behavioral and community health

SGA funding: Solving the paradox

A

fter last year’s financial fiasco left organizations such as WMUC on the verge of disbanding, and this semester’s secondary allocation process was canceled due to a lack of funds, the Student Government Association is finally tackling the student group funding crisis.

The SGA’s single most important job is allocating the $1.5 million that comes from our $32 student activity fees. How well they carry the process out affects every student on the campus.

Props to the SGA for establishing the Financial Reform Commission to find solutions to this monster of a problem, and for being transparent and inclusive enough to invite the student body’s participation.

Applications for the commission are now closed; candidates are being interviewed and meetings will begin in the coming weeks. According to Gursean Singh, SGA’s assistant vice president of finance and the man heading up the commission, the group has a “very broad mandate,” and “nothing is off the table.”

BEN SIMON Singh says the commission’s central objective is greater efficiency, asking: “How can we do more with what we already have?”

Having led three student groups, I can attest to several problems with the current funding system. Some groups have no funding source beyond the SGA, which puts extra pressure on the communal pot. A second problem is that organizations frequently apply for much more funding than they need in anticipation of the SGA making uniform cuts to groups’ allocations, regardless of whether groups ask for a modest amount or a preposterous sum.

Yet, there is one problem that absolutely needs to be addressed: the late April paradox.

Many of you will recall what hap-

pened on April 20, when 13 student groups submitted appeals requesting more funding from the SGA (although some of you, for different reasons, may have no recollection whatsoever of that day). There was a limited pot of $50,000 available, and the competitive tension was palpable as groups made desperate pleas and sat together in rows like defendants awaiting their verdicts.

Despite the huge shortage for groups’ 2011-12 budgets, there was an excess of money student leaders were frantically trying to spend before the 2010-11 term ended. Much of this money was spent on programming that was not fully essential. As the year winds down, student leaders are sometimes forced to circulate co-sponsorship requests saying things like, “in case you have any last minute money you need to get rid of…”

Thus, in late April, the student group community is excessively rich and hopelessly poor — simultaneously. Singh hopes his commission would address what he calls a “frenzy to spend.”

I have two recommendations.

First, we need to squash the fear among student group leaders that if groups have money left over, the SGA will hold it against them next time. This is a huge misperception, and the SGA needs to get the word out that it’s absolutely natural (and actually good) if groups have leftovers, because excess money goes into the communal pot for secondary funding.

Second, the SGA should implement a partial rollover system. If a group has money left at the end of the spring term they get, say, 25 percent of it back in September. A new incentive structure would allay fears and reward responsible spending.

I hope the commission takes its responsibility seriously and that my proposal sparks some conversation. We have a huge challenge and opportunity to fix the system. After all, this is not $1.5 million of Monopoly money we’re dealing with.

Ben Simon is a senior government and politics major. He can be reached at simon@umdbk.com.

aura Frost — I won’t say I agree with the opinions espoused in your column, “The soundtrack for our conformity,” yesterday, but hey, that’s what opinions are all about. But there are two facts in there that you are quite mistaken about.

First, you describe atheism as a lack of a belief system. Your view of atheism portrays (presumably, anyway — it’s a bit hard to tell what you’re talking about) belief in “God” as the default. Well, shucks, if atheists don’t believe in God, it must not be a belief system! Actually, atheism (specifically my own) is a rejection of the sacred and a belief in the equality of all. Hmm, I’m no expert, but it seems I have a set of values on which I guide my actions. Sounds a lot like a belief system to me, but like I said, I’m no expert.

Second, you say: “Legalizing marijuana is not a ‘sensible drug policy.’” It sounds as though you are referring to the aims of Students for a Sensible Drug Policy — an organization whose goals include reducing harm to drug users. Don’t forget that alcohol was once illegal, and thousands of people lost their lives when exploitative criminal enterprises took over production and distribution of alcohol from legitimate businesses. When Prohibition was repealed, guess what stopped almost overnight? If you guessed violence related to illegal alcohol production, then give yourself a nice pat on the back.

Why would the same not be true of marijuana? There is no reason it shouldn’t be legalized. Annually in the United States, tobacco smoking is responsible for 443,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; alcohol is responsible for 79,000 deaths. However, marijuana caused — drumroll please — zero deaths. Not almost zero when compared to 400,000-plus deaths, but zero — as in, nobody has ever died from smoking marijuana.

To me, that is a statistic that cannot be ignored. So what I find to be not “sensible” is keeping a perfectly harmless drug with proven medicinal benefits illegal, while tobacco is sold on every street corner and in every grocery store.

The rest of your column is, as they say, your opinion, but please, I just wanted to get a couple of facts straight. Thank you.

PATRICK HAYES JUNIOR GEOGRAPHY

POLICY: Signed letters, columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the authors. The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Diamondback’s editorial board and is the responsibility of the editor in chief.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011 | THE DIAMONDBACK

5

Features HOROSCOPESTELLA WILDER

CROSSWORD ACROSS 53 Noodle concoction 1 Deadly (2 wds.)

7 Candle drippings 10 Group knowledge 56 Get pooped out 57 Hot time in 14 Smart Quebec 15 Lime cooler 58 Slushy beverage 16 Rara — 62 Unlucky time 17 Hong Kong 63 Hearing aid? dwelling 64 Budgetary 18 Enjoyment 65 Robin’s residence 19 Small change 66 House buzzer 20 Lawn decoration 67 James Doohan (2 wds.) role 23 Pandemonium 26 Hgt. DOWN 27 “Sour grapes” 1 Flour sack abbr. coiner 2 Historical time 28 Plows into 3 Jaunty cap 29 Comic Louis — 4 Safari sights 30 Website clutter 5 Writer — Nin 31 IOC member 6 Gayle’s sis 32 Scary yell 7 Hedge 33 Honey sources 8 Man or stallion 37 Geol. formation 9 Lawless role 38 Versatile vehicle 10 Most frilly 39 Turkish title 11 Home appliances 40 Tampa Bay pro 12 Fab Four member 41 Like Fidel 13 Block, legally 43 Domino dot 21 Won the fight 44 Poetic tribute 22 Reckless 45 Build on to 23 Ant’s morsel 46 Hirt and Pacino 24 Hurry-scurry 47 Tied 25 Fridge maker 48 Dog owner’s 29 Made mention of purchase 51 Before, in combos 30 Auspices 32 Gautama — 52 Caution

© 2011 UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE

Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved:

TODAY’S CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY:

33 Mediterranean port 34 Overhead 35 Not as civil 36 Fragrance

42 Least thought-out 46 Major highway 47 Border town (2 wds.)

48 Caesar’s tongue 49 Drop syllables

50 “— moi de deluge” 51 Corolla part 52 Mr. Goldfinger 54 Complaint

55 59 60 61

Switch positions Interest amt.

Apply makeup England’s Isle of —

orn today, you have a way of looking ahead to tomorrow while immersing yourself completely in today’s affairs — and this will allow you to embrace all manner of opportunities in a way that affords you a keen view of what is, what was and what will be. Indeed, you are able to amaze those around you with an uncanny sense of events that have not even transpired yet, and you are able to remain at least one step ahead of others as a result. You almost always know what makes another person tick.

B

You may be able to make quite a bit of money in your lifetime, but you had better associate yourself with someone who knows how to manage it — or you will find that what you make will slip through your fingers with remarkable swiftness.

Also born on this date are: Taylor Hicks, singer; Toni Braxton, singer; Simon Cowell, producer, critic, former “American Idol” judge; Yo-Yo Ma, cellist; Vladimir Putin, Russian president; John Mellencamp, rocker; Bishop Desmond Tutu, equal rights advocate; June Allyson, actress; Niels Bohr, atomic physicist.

To see what is in store for you tomorrow, find your birthday and read the corresponding paragraph. Let your birthday star be your daily guide.

tions, and avoid carelessness.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Happiness and sadness may be strangely commingled today — as a result of nearing the end of a phase that has brought you contentment.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You may not have any more opportunities to enjoy what you’ve been imagining — but much depends on the willingness of another.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — What you can imagine you can transform into a pleasing reality — provided you are working within realistic expectations.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — You may find yourself being jealous of one who enjoys neither your position nor your record of accomplishment.

What is at work here?

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — You can put more on display than usual without the risk of being overexposed in some way.

Enjoy a little more freedom.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — You’re likely to be in the spot-

light, whether or not you choose to be. Be ready to turn what you know how to do into lessons for others.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You’ll get a second chance of sorts — so take care that you don’t simply repeat yourself and make the same mistakes.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — You may have overcome a major emotional or psychological obstacle recently; today you can demonstrate to others that you’re back to normal.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Someone may say no to you, but that’s not the end of the story; you’ll have time to persuade him or her that you are in the right.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — You will be able to acknowledge another’s achievement today without minimizing your own.

Now is the time to share the credit.

COPYRIGHT 2011 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE SPONSORED BY:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — You’re in the mood to have some fun — and you feel as though you haven’t had fun in quite some time. You can go out and get what you want!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Even a minor error can have major repercussions, so be sure to take all necessary precau-

STRANGE THOUGHTS

WILL McGOWAN BEAR ON CAMPUS

TUNG PHAM

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9.

Previous Day’s Puzzle Solved:

Degree of Difficulty: HARD

TODAY’S SUDOKU PUZZLE SPONSORED BY:

6

THE DIAMONDBACK | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

BEST BET

Diversions

LES SAVY FAV @ 9:30 CLUB Every opportunity to see Les Savy Fav is one you should take. The band’s energetic and tuneful post-punk is only enhanced by the absurd antics of frontman Tim Harrington. Harrington typically sings partially nude and runs around the venue. He’s been known to kiss attendees and steal multiple eye glasses from the audience, only to wear all those glasses at the same time.

The group is playing at the 9:30 Club in Washington tonight. Trans Am and The Psychic Paramount open. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $20.

arts. music. living. movies. weekend.

REVIEW | THE IDES OF MARCH & REAL STEEL

REAL DISAPPOINTMENTS

Ryan Gosling stars in The Ides of March, alongside director and co-writer George Clooney. The film is an adaptation of Beau Willimon’s play, Farragut North. PHOTO COURTESY OF MOVIEWEB.COM

Real Steel, starring Hugh Jackman, is as dumb as its premise sounds. Unlikable characters fill the film, which is only redeemed by exciting robot fight scenes. PHOTO COURTESY OF MOVIEWEB.COM

Lack of insight fails a pretty March

Only robot violence uplifts Real Steel

stand-in of the movie.

Gosling’s character, predictably, suffers from a loss of At heart, The Ides of March is faith and moral crisis when it is nothing more than a half-baked revealed Morris isn’t the morality play about the corrupt- squeaky clean, Christ-like figibility of power in politics. The ure he appears to be. Exactly writers, including director-actor why Morris makes for such a George Clooney (The great candidate and person is American) and playwright Beau never really explained, though Willimon, offer nothing new. Clooney handles his role’s The script explores themes that duality quite well.

Gosling, working from a have already been thought rather prethrough in dictable greater detail character in Mike arc, does a Nichols’ much Effective only on a dragood-tofunnier 1998 matic level, The Ides of great job as film adaptation the impresof Joe Klein’s March is a disappointingly sionable but Primary Colors shallow meditation on corcharming and in Shakeruption and politics. young lad, speare’s Julius handling Caesar.

That’s the bad news. The himself well in front of the good news? The slick, sleek much more experienced exterior around which this Phillip Seymour Hoffman lame political exposé has been (Jack Goes Boating) and Paul Giamatti (Win Win). wrapped is compelling stuff.

Hoffman and Giamatti, as two Clooney has assembled an impressive cast and equally rival, conniving and equally paraimpressive crew, all of whom noid campaign managers, are execute commendably. Ryan both excellent, as usual. It is, Gosling (Drive) stars as a however, disappointing that the young, idealistic media genius movie never actually features a charged with handling the head-on confrontation between presidential campaign of Gov. the two acting giants.

All of this is captured beautiMike Morris (Clooney) leading into the Ohio primaries, fully on film by Clooney and Phedon Morris being the Obama cinematographer

BY WARREN ZHANG Staff writer

VERDICT:

Papamichael, and accompanied by Alexandre Desplat’s (The Tree of Life) atmospheric riff on patriotic music and moody jazz.

The stellar cast and production values may have been enough to keep the movie going if Clooney and his cowriters weren’t so assured of the depth and uniqueness of their insight.

Unfortunately, the movie frequently devolves into pointed monologues on power and trust or extremely heavy-handed shots involving American flags.

The Ides of March has a surprising amount of profanity. It’s a little off-putting — as if the writers gleefully inserted every fand s-bomb (especially following televised debates) to highlight the moral depravity and unctuousness of those highfalutin political types.

Perhaps the biggest issue with The Ides of March is its timing: We’re already in the cynical, dysphoric, post-“Yes we can” era. Some Obama-like presidential candidate with secret, deep-rooted hypocrisies doesn’t strike audiences as novel or interesting anymore — it’s just business as usual. chzhang@umdbk.com

BY WARREN ZHANG Staff writer

Put simply, Real Steel is an atrocious exercise in slapping robots about, and has less overall entertainment value than playing with Transformer action figures while taking a bath.

Admittedly, the boxing sequences are well thought out and exciting. Good sound design and skillful editing make for fights as exciting as any from Rocky or Transformers. It’s a bit surprising, considering director Shawn Levy’s previous work (the Night at the Museum franchise).

Watch any other scene, though, and you’ll find Levy’s grubby mark all over the place.

Real Steel follows the tale of a down on his luck former boxer turned robot boxer trainer (Hugh Jackman, X-Men Origins: Wolverine). After spectacularly losing a fight and his last robot due to excessive hubris, Jackman comes into temporary custody of his estranged son (Dakota Goyo, Thor).

Said son comes across a robot in a heavy-handed sequence in a junkyard (think a biblical amount of torrential rain) that the two eventually repair and enter into a series of fights. Surprise, surprise — the trashed robot wins a few

matches, becoming the under- ludicrous and overwrought as dog you’re supposed to root Michael Bay’s Transformers series, but it doesn’t have the for in a sports film.

I suppose Jackman also good sense to take itself as counts as scrappy underdog, such. Whenever the characthough you’ll more likely be ters are being loathsome, the rooting for his son to be taken movie gets smothered in the away than for him to succeed. sheer ridiculousness of its See, every one of the charac- conceit and how seriously the ters in Real Steel share a glar- filmmakers take themselves.

I didn’t know whether or not ing flaw: They’re all equally to laugh at the scene in which and massively unlikable.

The relatives with legal cus- the movie intends for us to root for Jacktody of Jackman, previman’s son are ously estabunlikable lished as an because Thanks to spectacularly immensely they’re bourawful characterization, irresponsible geois snobs. and permaJackman is Real Steel is less pleasant nently in-debt unlikable to endure than getting a father, to take because he is root canal. custody of his an insensitive annoying jerk with the common sense of a mentally brat over rich, responsible and challenged mole rat. You can’t loving relatives.

The fights, though thrilling, even take sadistic pleasure in seeing Jackman’s character get lack any significance or value beaten down in the first half when taken in context of the because the villains are, some- nauseatingly awful characters and cliché-ridden storytelling. how, even more unlikable.

The son is unlikable because If robot-on-robot action is the Goyo leans on the precocious only thing you’re looking for, 10-year-old throttle way too consider renting Real Steel on hard. The generic love interest DVD and fast-forwarding to is unlikable because she solely the good bits. Otherwise, just exists to spout expository dia- go play with some Voltron logue developing Jackman’s action figures. unlikable character.

Real Steel is every bit as chzhang@umdbk.com

VERDICT:

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011 | SPORTS | THE DIAMONDBACK

7

SCHNEIDER from page 8

Running back Davin Meggett, right, and the Terps know they’ll face a tougher test than Towson tomorrow in Atlanta. No. 13 Georgia Tech boasts one of the nation’s most explosive offenses and a capable defense. CHARLIE DEBOYACE/THE DIAMONDBACK

Towson, it might be time to reconsider your offensive approach.

Coach Randy Edsall and quarterback Danny O’Brien both hinted at the possibility of slowing down the breakneck speed of the offense, one that has held onto the ball for less than 25 minutes a game this year.

Edsall wouldn’t comment further on the pace Thursday, but slowing down the Terps’ offense would be a wise move. If the Terps want any chance against the Yellow Jackets, they’ll have to eat up some clock.

And even if they move the ball effectively, they’ll have their hands full against Georgia Tech’s rushing attack.

Flash back to the Terps’ debacle against Temple. I’m sure you’ll remember it as the game in which the Owls went for nearly 300 yards on the ground. The Terps knew exactly what was coming that day: a smash-mouth, straightforward power running attack.

And they still couldn’t stop it.

Against Georgia Tech, it won’t be any easier. Not only are the Yellow Jackets more talented than Temple, but their triple option is much more complicated and difficult to slow than what Temple used to blow out the Terps.

Edsall talked Thursday about how no one has been able to stop the triple-option offense

since it was invented. If the Terps hold Georgia Tech to around 300 yards, Edsall said, they will have done “a pretty good job.”

Three hundred yards? Well, actually, as bad as it sounds and as horrific the Terps have been against the run this year, the smart money is on the over. The fact they’ve reacted to play action this year like it’s some sort of trick play they’ve never seen before doesn’t bode well, either.

But maybe, just maybe, the Terps can turn it around all of a sudden. They should be able to score a bit on the Yellow Jackets’ defense. And the Terps did handle the triple option well against Navy in last year’s season opener. But that was a year ago, with a much better linebacking corps and a lot more time to prepare.

This time around, the odds are against them. The Terps’ matchup against the Yellow Jackets is not a favorable one, and their offensive and defensive shortcomings play directly into Georgia Tech’s strengths.

The forecast for tomorrow afternoon in Atlanta is sunny, with temperatures in the 70s.

But if you’re heading to Bobby Dodd Stadium, you might want to bring an umbrella.

Because as much as the Terps want to get their second ACC victory, the perfect storm for a Georgia Tech blowout seems to be brewing. schneider@umdbk.com

MEN’S SOCCER

From spurned to starring In-state Stertzer showing Cavs what they missed this season

BY CONNOR LETOURNEAU Staff writer

For John Stertzer, tonight’s game at Virginia is more than another heated matchup against an ACC rival. It’s a reminder of what could’ve been.

Growing up in Oakton, Va., two hours from the Cavaliers’ campus, the Terrapins men’s soccer midfielder considered the possibility of him ultimately wearing Virginia’s orange and navy from an early age.

But when the time finally arrived for colleges to start contacting recruits, Stertzer never heard from the in-state powerhouse. Stertzer, The Washington Post’s 2007 All-Met Virginia Player of the Year and a teammate of two Cavaliers at Flint Hill School, even sent Virginia several personal letters of inquiry.

But Virginia never responded, and Stertzer ultimately took his talents up the Capital Beltway to play for the defending national champion Terps.

“I’ve always kind of wondered why they never recruited me,” Stertzer said Wednesday. “But everything worked out perfectly.”

Settling into coach Sasho Cirovski’s attacking midfield slot, Stertzer has played a key role in the No. 2 Terps’ best start since 1968. He is tied for third in the ACC with nine goals and has joined forwards Patrick Mullins and Casey Townsend to form a lethal three-headed attack this season.

The Terps’ “big three,” as Cirovski calls them, have accounted for more than 80 percent of the goals of the ACC’s top-ranked offense.

“Every time we have a free kick or a set piece, you always think Stertzer is going to get on

the end of it,” Townsend said.

“He’s dangerous on a lot of set pieces, and he’s a dangerous scorer every game.”

That clinical finishing touch was on display during the Terps’ last visit to Charlottesville, Va., last fall. Making his first collegiate start in front of friends and family, Stertzer helped secure a 2-0 win in the 48th minute when he headed midfielder Matt Kassel’s free kick past Cavaliers goalkeeper Diego Restrepo.

“He didn’t let me know he was going to be starting,” said John’s father, David Stertzer, who was there with about five other family members. “He told his mom, but not me. I think he was worried I’d make him more nervous. But when he got that goal, that was just really exciting for all of us.”

Since that chilly night in late October, Stertzer hasn’t missed a single start. The player once spurned by his home state’s flagship university has developed into a leader on a team replete with MLS-caliber talent.

But Stertzer had to mature before he could get to that point.

Like many underclassmen, he struggled with his focus during his first two seasons in College Park. He showed numerous flashes of the player who tallied 105 goals in high school, but he often relied too heavily upon his talent to carry him through practices or games.

With the departure of seven starters from last season’s ACC Championship team, however, Stertzer knew he’d play a significant role in the Terps’ plans this year.

Losing focus didn’t fit in to those plans.

“He didn’t always have the

Midfielder John Stertzer, left, scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season Tuesday night in a 2-1 win against Rutgers.

After a start to his career marred by immaturity, Stertzer has emerged as a star this season. JEREMY KIM/THE DIAMONDBACK

highest [level] of concentration — not only through a full practice, but also sometimes through a whole season,” Cirovski said. “And we challenged him to grow up and be the kind of player he can be. It’s taken a few heart-to-hearts, but he’s flourishing right now. He’s totally bought in.”

Cirovski demonstrated his trust in Stertzer moments before an Aug. 29 win over West Virginia. Recognizing that he possessed the mental tough-

ness for such a pressurized situation, the 19th-year coach asked Stertzer to take a penalty kick if one came up.

In the 54th minute of the Terps’ 3-1 win that night, the junior calmly netted the first penalty kick of his career.

“When he told me that, it gave me a lot of confidence,” Stertzer said. “It showed me that he had that kind of confidence in me, and that’s helped out a lot.”

Stertzer has found himself

in more than a few high-stakes situations since that early-season night at Ludwig Field.

After misfiring on a penalty kick in the first overtime period against UMBC last month, he headed in the game winner with just seven minutes remaining in the second sudden-death overtime.

And Tuesday, Stertzer celebrated his 21st birthday by notching another game winner during overtime of a 2-1 win over Rutgers. It was his

second goal in little more than an hour.

“It was a great birthday present he gave to the team,” Cirovski said after the game.

Now three years after the surprising snubbing by his local state school, Stertzer feels Virginia gave him a gift, as well.

“I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else but Maryland right now,” Stertzer said, “so I’m glad they didn’t [recruit me].” letourneau@umdbk.com

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Despite ACC Championship loss, Terps say revenge isn’t on mind vs. Deacons

BY DANIEL GALLEN Staff writer

Eleven months ago today, the Terrapins women’s soccer team walked off the field at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., having just lost the ACC Tournament final on penalty kicks to Wake Forest.

The loss denied the Terps their first-ever ACC Championship, stopped a five-game winning streak and marked yet another loss to the Demon Deacons.

But that doesn’t mean tomorrow night’s game at Ludwig Field has a revenge factor.

“We haven’t talked about it and, honestly, in my mind, there’s not a ton,” coach Brian

Pensky said. “Unfortunately for us, Wake won the ACC Championship. Winning Saturday doesn’t change that.”

The No. 17 Terps start the second leg of their ACC schedule with the No. 5 Demon Deacons, a game that has enough significance to begin with for the players. The matchup doesn’t need to be more than what it already is.

“It’s the ACC final, it’s tough to get there and just to lose on [penalty kicks] is unfortunate,” forward Jasmyne Spencer said.

“But it’s no different than any other team in the ACC. Every game is like a rival game.”

A win tomorrow would be the Terps’ marquee victory to date, but history is as much an

opponent as Wake Forest itself.

The Terps (8-2-3, 2-2-1 ACC) haven’t defeated the Demon Deacons (11-1-1, 4-0-1) since 2005, Pensky’s first season at the helm in College Park.

“Our kids are very aware of that, especially our older kids who have been around for some of those tough losses to Wake,” Pensky said. “Certainly, Wake’s a team we’d like to beat.”

And despite Wake Forest’s high ranking, it’s the team, not a number, that motivates the Terps.

“Right now Wake is No. 5, but if you look two weeks ago, we were No. 3, so every game at this point is just a big game,” Spencer said. “You’re just competing with the best teams in

the country at all times.”

Added forward Hayley Brock: “I think that always motivates people. It’s always easier to get up for a game against a UNC, BC, Wake Forest than an N.C. State game or a Clemson game just because [of] who they are, no disrespect.”

Wake Forest boasts some of the ACC’s top talent, particularly forward Katie Stengel, who leads the conference in goals per game (1.0) and points per game (2.31).

Goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe, who stifled the Terps in the ACC Championship almost a year ago, ranks third in the conference in goals against average, allowing 0.45 per game.

But despite the stars on the other side of the ball, the Terps

“It’s no different than any other team in the ACC. Every game is like a rival game.”

JASMYNE SPENCER TERRAPINS WOMEN’S SOCCER FORWARD

know they have talent and an advantage they haven’t had in quite some time: rest. The Terps last played Sept. 29, giving them over a week between games and allowing them to actually practice instead of simply preparing and recovering for games.

“I think people are starting to smile again, to be honest,” Pensky said.

The Terps appeared to get their offense jump-started in a 2-1 win against Clemson, but Pensky and the players still see room for improvement. While revenge seems to be far from the minds of some players, the hunger for a win remains.

“Even though we got the win last week, some of us didn’t really feel like it felt like a win,” Brock said. “I think this time off is really going to help us refocus and join together. I think we also needed the rest. I just feel like we’re going to do good things on Saturday.” dgallen@umdbk.com

8

THE DIAMONDBACK | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Sports

Terps’ Tate doubtful to play Starting Terps football linebacker Kenny Tate was listed as “doubtful” to play on the team’s injury report last night. Check out the details at TerrapinTrail.com.

TERPSGAMEDAY

THE MATCHUP

Maryland Terrapins

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

2-2 (1-0 ACC)

5-0 (2-0 ACC)

WHEN: Tomorrow, noon WHERE: Bobby Dodd Stadium T.V.: ESPNU LINE: Yellow Jackets by 15 DATA: Georgia Tech has thrown at least two touchdown passes in four games this season.

They managed to do so just once last season.

TERPTRACKER 2011 TEAM STATS TERPS Passing (YPG) Rushing (YPG) Total (YPG) Points per game Opponents’ PPG Avg. Time of Possession

242.2 145.5 387.8 24.5 25.5 24:40

GT 208.8 378.2 587.0 51.6 25.8 31:42

TECH’S MAESTRO The Terps are certainly aware of Georgia Tech’s potent triple-option attack, which coach Randy Edsall said the team would be happy to hold under 300 yards rushing. But they also know the throwing ability of quarterback Tevin Washington.

Though Washington has guided the offense with ease this season, amassing gaudy numbers on the ground, the junior is also one of the ACC’s most effective passers. He has a 10-to-1 touchdown-interception ratio this season and the Yellow Jackets ranked No. 1 in the nation in passing efficiency.

“They get a lot of big plays off of the play action,” Edsall said. “He isn’t the typical triple-option quarterback. He throws the ball well and has good receivers who go up and get the ball.

The biggest thing is for us to read our keys because he is a guy who can hurt us running and throwing the ball.”

LIMITED RETURNS A consensus All-ACC preseason selection at the beginning of the year, wide receiver and return specialist Tony Logan entered the season with high expectations after a phenomenal junior campaign.

Logan, right, provided some of the most exciting plays for the Terps on special teams last season, leading the conference and ranking third in the nation with an average of 18.1 yards per punt return. His 560 total punt return yards from last season stand as second all time in Terps history.

The senior has struggled to break away this season, but he hasn’t had many opportunities. Logan has returned just four punts this season for a total of 20 yards, a figure he surpassed on his very first punt return a season ago.

SERIES HISTORY ALL-TIME SERIES Yellow Jackets lead 13-6 LAST MEETING 2007

LAST MEETING 2007 — (H)W, Terps 28, Yellow Jackets 26

KEY MATCHUP

Georgia Tech B-back David Sims is part of a potent rush attack averaging close to 400 yards per game.

TRY AND STOP IT No one’s been able to halt Georgia Tech’s triple option this season. Can the Terps?

BY CONOR WALSH Senior staff writer

Georgia Tech’s offense can’t be stopped. Even Randy Edsall knows it.

With a vaunted triple-option attack that has put up 51.6 points per game and run for a nation’s-best 378.2 yards per game, the No. 13 Yellow Jackets have proven that they’re going to move the ball and get their points.

All the Terrapins football team — and its coach — can do is hope to contain it.

“You’re not going to stop them.

Nobody’s stopped this offense since it’s been invented,” Edsall said yesterday. “This is an offense that you try to control it, but you don’t flat-out stop it.

“If you can keep them under about 300 yards rushing, you’ve done a pretty good job.”

The triple option is inherently unpredictable. With every snap, Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington can hand the ball off to his fullback up the middle, pitch it to a wingback off the edge, run it himself or drop back for a pass.

The offense feasts on confusion, forcing opposing defenders to stick

to their assignment and make one-onone tackles in the open field — two things the Terps have struggled with this season.

It also grinds down the clock. The Yellow Jackets have kept the ball on the ground 82 percent of the time this season.

But perhaps most importantly, it thrives on the big play. The Yellow Jackets have scored eight touchdowns this season on the first play of a drive, including three touchdowns on their first play from scrimmage.

Many of the Terps aren’t strangers to the triple-option, having seen it against Navy to open last season.

The difference now — the Yellow Jackets’ more explosive potential notwithstanding — is that the Terps have only a week, not an entire preseason, to prepare for the unique attack.

“Everybody in the nation knows the triple option is one of the hardest offenses to stop,” linebacker Kenny Tate said. “We know the things that we did last year, everybody knows what they’re going to try to do. It’s just all a matter of execution. This is going to be a hard week to prepare for.”

As they did in preparation for Navy last season, the Terps practiced Tues-

day without a ball to reinforce how important each individual defensive assignment becomes against the tricky offense.

But with a sole week to prepare and a defense that has struggled against the run, ranking 11th in the ACC with 177.5 rushing yards allowed per game, the Terps are hoping they can turn things around against perhaps the most prolific attack they’ll see all season.

“I truly don’t think it’s that hard, you just have to do your job,” defensive tackle Joe Vellano said. “When it comes your way, it comes your way.

That’s what they try to do: get everybody out of position.”

Where the Terps may be able to capitalize defensively is in forcing turnovers. While the Yellow Jackets have controlled the ball for the most part, losing just six turnovers through five games, the triple option can be prone to changes in possession. That could be good news for the Terps, who have the conference’s best turnover margin.

“One thing I noticed about teams that have played them and been successful, they get them to turn the ball over a lot, and that’s one thing we’ve done as a defense pretty good, I

think,” linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield said.

On the other side of the ball, the Terps may have another advantage.

The Yellow Jackets rank 10th in the conference in scoring defense and surrendered 35 points last weekend to a 2-3 N.C. State squad. And with the possible absence of two Georgia Tech starting linebackers, the Terps will look to get their offense back to the level it was at against Miami last month.

For the Terps to have a chance to improve to 2-0 in conference play, they’ll need quarterback Danny O’Brien and the offense to find a rhythm, control the ball and get on the scoreboard.

Because if the Yellow Jackets have shown one thing, it’s that they’re going to score.

“You can hold them down and you can control the ball and keep them off the field, but you’ve got to score points while you’re doing that,” Edsall said. “The conference games have a little bit more meaning to them. … I think we’re prepared and we’re ready to go and we just have to go out there and do it on Saturday.” cwalsh@umdbk.com

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Stirring up a HEAD Jacket’s nest HEAD JEREMY

TERPS RUSH DEFENSE VS. GT TRIPLE OPTION Running coach Paul Johnson’s tripleoption attack, Georgia Tech leads the nation in rushing offense and is second in total offense.

Five Yellow Jackets have rushed for at least 240 yards and three have scored four or more touchdowns on the ground in just five games.

A-back Orwin Smith, who has scored seven touchdowns on 28 carries this season, leads the Yellow Jackets and averages a gaudy 15.1 yards per carry.

“They’re going to make plays on you, and when they do, you’re going to come back and they’re going to run the same thing,” defensive tackle Joe Vellano said.

“There really isn’t too much trickery, it’s just assignment football.”

The Terps have struggled defending the run all season, ranking next to last leaguewide in the category. They gave up a career-high, and MACrecord, five touchdowns to Temple’s Bernard Pierce two weeks ago, so tomorrow could be dicey for linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield (right) and the Terps.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTIN FOOTE/TECHNIQUE

SCHNEIDER

A

fter an inconsistent and disappointing start to its 2011 season, maybe all the Terrapins football team needs is to get away. Perhaps the pressure of ACC play will restore the sense of urgency we saw in the season’s opening game against Miami. Traveling to No. 13 Georgia Tech could be what kick-starts the Terps’ season.

Considering what the Yellow Jackets have done this year to ascend the national polls, that isn’t very likely.

Tomorrow’s game could be the perfect storm for a Terps disaster: one of the most electric offenses in the country versus a defense that can’t stop the run. An offense that eats up time of possession facing one that can’t give the ball back fast enough. A team that has had six plays go for 70 yards or

more, and 40 plays of 20 or more yards, playing one that hasn’t had a huge play since the first game of the year.

And just to make things even worse, Georgia Tech runs the type of offense you hardly see in the college game anymore: the triple option.

Can the Terps keep up with the Ramblin’ Wreck offense?

The better question might be, will they even have the ball long enough to try?

The Terps are ranked 117th in the nation in time of possession. One-hundred seventeenth! That puts them in the same breath as Idaho, Air Force and Tulsa. Not exactly what the Terps had in mind when they installed Gary Crowton as offensive coordinator.

His fast-paced offense looked good against Miami and methodically moved down the field, but it hasn’t found the same success since. The Terps are playing with fire, and they’ve been burned. The style tires out the defense if it fails to find a rhythm and pick up first downs. And when you lose the time of possession battle to

see SCHNEIDER, page 7

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

The Yellow Jackets haven’t scored fewer than 35 points in any of their first five games of the season, and they put up a staggering 66 against Kansas on Sept. 17. Nationally, they rank second in points per game, first in rushing yards per game and second in total offense.

While Georgia Tech doesn’t have the same firepower on defense as it does on offense — but then again, who does? — the Yellow Jackets are still better than the Terps, who allowed 31 first-half points to Temple two weeks ago. The Owls scored just 13 the next week against Toledo at home.

SPECIAL TEAMS

COACHING

Terps kicker and punter Nick Ferrara may be the unit’s lone bright spot this season. The junior is second in the ACC with a 43.8-yard punt average and has converted five of eight field goal attempts. Neither team, to this point, has shown a potent return game this season.

One of the nation’s most innovative offensive coaches, Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson has found immediate success with his triple-option attack in the ACC. In his first two seasons, Johnson compiled a 20-7 record, and he now has the Yellow Jackets at 5-0 and ranked in the top 15.

INTANGIBLES

PREDICTION

The Terps may be facing a divided locker room in the wake of one player’s decision to speak out anonymously against coach Randy Edsall in the media this week. An energized Yellow Jackets fan base certainly won’t help smooth over any team conflicts at Bobby Dodd Stadium tomorrow.

42 24 Want an explanation? Go to TerrapinTrail.com.