Nov. 30, 2002

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Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen:
"I thought our staff put together a very good game plan on all sides - offense, defense, and special teams. I was so proud of the way our kids played in the first half. I think that's the best we've played all year. We kind of went to sleep in the second half and didn't play as well and didn't have the same focus. But we were able to get it back. The thing I liked about the offense was when we had to run the ball at the end of the game, we were still able to make first downs and move the ball. And that's the sign of a good football team.

"I thought Bruce ran the ball really hard today. He was very physical . I thought Scott McBrien played a great game and our receivers made plays. Defensively I thought we did very well on first downs, which I felt we had to do against Wake Forest because they are an excellent running football team. We put them in third and nine and third and 10's; that was the difference in the game, because they didn't get the third and four and third and fives that they usually convert.

On the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: "I'm hoping we take the same amount of people we took to the Orange Bowl [in excess of 25,000]. It makes a difference. We're known now as a team that travels, and when these bowls get down to the nitty gritty on team selection, it weighs in our favor. The fact we supported our team at the Kickoff Classic and the Orange Bowl really speaks volumes for us as far as getting into a major bowl.

"Scott McBrien is doing an excellent job with play action, and Coach Charlie Taaffe called a great game. Scott was really reading the right men and going to the right person; he was very decisive and very accurate, and was running the offense the way I like it to be run.

On getting ready for the bowl game: "I told the kids today that I'm going to give them a week off. No running, no lifting....they need to concentrate on their studies. This has been a long season, and we're beat up and tired. We just need to get away from football for awhile, then we need to analyze how we're going to handle our exams and work that out with what our practice schedule will be.

On this year's seniors: "I can't thank them enough. It was maybe even harder this year than it was last year because when you're dealing with expectations and a young football team, senior leadership is the reason why we were successful. I think they will always be remembered by me but they need to be remembered by the Maryland faithful for two great seasons of Maryland football.

Scott McBrien
On rebounding from last week's loss:"It was important for us to get a fast start after last week. We weren't very happy with that performance. We went into the second half a little shaky but since we got that fast start, which was one of our goals, we were able to keep rolling in the fourth quarter."

On his passing game:"I was feeling it today...I was hoping to keep it going. The second half we were looking to run the ball, run a little time off the clock so I got out of sync a little bit. The first half was a great half, the receivers ran great routes, the line did a great job-we made great plays."

E.J. Henderson
On Maryland's improvement:"I think we worked for it. The first two years [of my career] we were mediocre. The second two years, my good years, we were a great team. That is definitely the way to go out. I have no complaints."

On this season:"To have the opportunity to play in a post-season game is a great accomplishment for this team. Having ten wins is a great accomplishment. To finish how we did was great for the seniors. Being in Atlanta on December 31 will be great."

Brooks Barnard
On his tenure at Maryland:"I'm really picky about what I do, I take a lot of pride in what I do. I knew that if I got on the field that I would be able to shine. I just needed an opportunity. I got that opportunity my second year and I wasn't going to let it go. All the hard work I have done has paid off."

Scooter Monroe
On playing his last game at Maryland:"I am not sad, I am happy. I'm happy that I was able to be a part of this and that I got the chance to be on a winning football team. There are no tears for me. I just wish the Terps so much luck in the future."

On going to the Peach Bowl:"I wanted to go to Atlanta from the start. We are really excited about it. I hear that the Peach Bowl is a great bowl. We'll have fun down there."

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