Maryland Minute 8.20.09 - More on Parker, Football Mock Scrimmage Notes

High Praise for Parker
Stuff that's good to hear from Tony Squire, Parker's AAU coach:

"I’ll say this lightly, because I don’t get caught up in prose when kids are in high school because I believe you have to crawl before you walk and take the necessary steps," Squire said. "But he reminds me of a similar version of Ray Allen at this stage in the game. Ray just had that demeanor back in high school. Certain games Ray would take over, and in other games he would just be a good player, and I think that’s the thing with Mike right now. ... [I’ve seen him] take over games on several occasions, and that’s the part of Mike’s game that’s going to come with maturity, being more consistent. He can be the type of kid to take over the game."

I'd take Ray Allen. Yeah, that should be good.

More on Parker Commit
A few quotes, nothing ground-breaking other than the fact that Ross played a huge role in it.

Boosters help Terps ditch buses for planes
Wow, cool.

While booster money has been used for many other football expenses - including X-ray machines, video equipment and knee braces for linemen - it is not common practice for the travel budget to be supplemented in this way. The fundraising comes at a time when the University System of Maryland has announced plans to cut $37.8 million from the 2010 budget.

 

The $46,000 will enable the team to take charter flights to and from the games as it did in the past, according to the university.

Great to see boosters doing this for the school and the team. Props to the MGN.

Robinson "Will See Playing Time"
Interesting note from the mock scrimmage today:

Robinson, like several other backup quarterbacks in the ACC, is going to see playing time. Friedgen made that clear today, but wasn't sure as to whether those snaps would come early or late in the season. He does like Robinson's ability to scramble and make a play.

I mentioned this on Twitter, but why not call his package the Jaguar? Y'know, instead of the Wildcat...cus his name starts with a J....get it?

Kenny Tate ready to be 'a force' at safety
I'm ready to watch Kenny Tate dominate some unexpecting ACC fools.

"He does it all," Friedgen said. "He's like a one-man band. One minute you see him intercept a play, the next minute he's rushing the passer. The next he's playing linebacker. ... I told him the other day after practice, 'I don't usually say this to a player, but when we recruited you, you told me you wanted to be an impact player.' I said, 'Right now, you're an impact player. If you keep playing the way you're playing, you're a force.'"

Stats From Mock Scrimmage
One thing really caught my eye:

One play of note: A touchdown pass from Da'Rel Scott to Chris Turner. Hmmm.

I like it. Also:

Kevin Dorsey: 5-61-TD
Jamari McCollough: 4 tackles, 2 sack, INT

Dorsey coming up big is good news; he could be special. McCollough has been overshadowed by Kenny Tate so far, but won't be overtaken with performances like that.

Jahvid Best a Bit Sore?
Probably nothing, but can't hurt, right?

Cal running back Jahvid Best missed the first scrimmage of training camp Tuesday because of a sore toe and hasn't taken a rep in practice since Friday. Cal coach Jeff Tedford said the injury is not major and the team simply wants Best's aches and pains "to calm down" before unleashing him at practice again. Best, the nation's returning leading rusher who has emerged as a top preseason Heisman Trophy contender, had offseason surgery on his elbow and foot and missed all of spring practice.

Zags - Notes on Leslie, Smith
Kind of sounds like Leslie has a top three that Maryland isn't in, but at the very least they look to be top 4.

Leslie, a 6-foot-8 small forward out of Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God Academy, listed North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and Maryland as the schools recruiting him the hardest. "I’ve been to UNC a couple of times because they’re right in my back yard. I haven’t been to Florida or Kentucky yet," he said.

Maryland wasn't mentioned in Smith's writeup, surprisingly. Feeling slighted by the Parker commit, perhaps?

Damontre Harris to Visit Maryland Sept. 25 - Kornblut
Like I said before, it can't hurt having someone who used to live 2 hours from Harris on board. It might not make an impact, but it might be a small boost. If he joined the group, this class would be loaded and it would assure guys like Jones, Roscoe, Tobias Harris, and Leslie that there would be another big man on the team if a fifth 'ship happened to present itself.

Kouandjio Doesn't Sound Too Excited About Maryland
From the Rivals AMP video (which is free, BTW):

Well, uh, Maryland's not...that...not that involved, but yeah, they're always gonna be on my list, because they're the home school.

Well, at least they made the cut, right?

Titus Till on ESPNRise's Maryland Dream Team
Good, he deserves it.

Till recorded 65 tackles last season while helping the Pumas to their first-ever playoff berth and an appearance in the Class 4A state semifinals. Till was such an impressive athlete that Army made him an offer during his sophomore season, thinking he was a junior. Maryland made an offer during his junior season, and the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Till is committed to the Terrapins. Till was named to the big school all-state honorable mention team last year.

Robinson, Cheeseboro on Dream Team, Too
Good to Robinson getting some props; he might be a great sleeper. Also, Brandon Coleman, Robbie Havenstein, and Arie Kouandjio - all of whom are considering Marlyand, though Kouandjio's comments weren't exactly reassuring - made the list.

So, About Calipari...
Yep, you guessed it. Memphis is forced to vacate the 38 win year, the Final Four appearance, and will get three years of probation. Ha.