Tech's D.C.-area players pumped for today's game with Terps

It can’t be a good omen when a new jersey combination is the No. 1 reason to get pumped for a game, can it?

As sure as rain is wet, Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams said Tuesday that he’ll be excited to play ACC Atlantic Division cellar-dweller Maryland today at Byrd Stadium in College Park, Md., because of the all-white jerseys and white helmets the 20th-ranked Hokies will be wearing.

Then again, Williams is a pretty unique dude. He follows his own system for getting hyped for football games, and who’s to question a guy who’s rushed for 1,109 yards and 11 touchdowns in nine games this season?

“It’s just another game, and another game I’ve got to help the team win,” Williams said.

For many other players, today’s contest against the Terps (2-7, 1-4) provides them with a unique opportunity to play in front of family and friends that may not have seen them play before.

For guys like senior linebacker Cody Grimm, who is one of eight players on Tech’s two-deep roster from Maryland or the D.C./Northern Virginia area, there’s plenty to get excited for.

“We’ll be ready to go for sure,” said Grimm, a Fairfax, Va., native who had 12 tackles and a sack to help lead the Hokies (6-3, 2-3) to a 16-3 win over East Carolina last Thursday. “The majority of our team is from up around that area, so there’s going to be a lot of family members there. We’re going to be ready to go. I’d say we’re more excited for this game than a lot of other games.”

Tech’s coaches hope that’s true, because a game like this, sandwiched between contests with seemingly more at stake, could be dangerous.

The pressure was on last week, as Tech tried to break a two-game losing streak on the road at ECU. Next week’s game against N.C. State is the last home game for the Hokies’ seniors, and then they close out the regular season at in-state rival Virginia.

This week? We’re talking jerseys and playing in front of family. Not to mention there’s no TV. Only those lucky few with access to ESPN360.com can watch.

One person who won’t underestimate Maryland is Tech coach Frank Beamer.

From watching tape of the Terps, he’s noticed a team that’s fallen on some hard luck this season. Three of their losses have been decided by a touchdown or less, and one of their wins came at home against Clemson, which is now one of the hottest teams in the conference.

“I think you turn on the video and you see the difficulty they bring you and how close they’ve been,” Beamer said. “I certainly know (Maryland coach Ralph) Friedgen, and he’s a good coach, and they’ve got a good staff, and this is one we’ve got to be ready for, for sure.”

There’s also the unknown of who will play quarterback for the Terps. Senior Chris Turner, a three-year starter, sprained his left knee last week against N.C. State and is listed as doubtful for today.

Dual-threat sophomore signal-caller Jamarr Robinson played in relief last week and could be called on to make his first career start.

“The thing about him is I think he can do it not only with his arm, but with his feet,” Friedgen said of Robinson, who passed for 27 yards and rushed for 38 more over the course of four possessions. “He brings that mobility that Chris doesn’t have.

“Maybe that will help us. We’ll have to see. I think if he were to have some early success, I think that would help a lot for him.”