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For Maryland football, ‘EXCESSIVE JUICE’ is more than just a sign

It started with strength coach Rick Court, and it’s spread to the team and its fans.

By Thomas Kendziora Updated

Editor’s note: This story was initially published on Sept. 12, during Maryland’s bye week.

Over two million people watched Maryland football upset Texas on Sept. 2, and while most of the reaction when the Terps’ 51-41 victory went final centered on the Longhorns’ struggles, Maryland earned plenty of recognition for itself—and for its juice.

On the Terps’ sideline that afternoon was a sign that blazed through the internet.

The sideline antics are incredible, but the sign itself turned into the real star.

It’s become some sort of a rallying cry for Maryland fans at this early juncture of the season, and doesn’t seem to be a one-game wonder at all. There are shirts to be bought, and when the Terps returned home Saturday and beat Towson by 46 points, the sign had made its way to the student section.

So where did this all start? The catchphrase tracks back to Maryland strength and conditioning coach Rick Court. “It’s just about how we come in [to the weight room], we have to come in with excessive juice,” sophomore running back Jake Funk said on Glenn Clark Radio last week. “We have to come in with a whole bunch of energy and just a whole bunch of craziness to continue that throughout the game.”

Court is perhaps Maryland’s most energetic coach, as detailed in The Washington Post this summer. He was DJ Durkin’s first addition to the Maryland coaching staff, and he’s been throwing around “juice time” and “juice zone” mottos since arriving in College Park.

“Everything with that is him,” sophomore guard Terrance Davis said Saturday. “He oozes juice all the time.”

So far this season, Maryland’s juice has spilled out in the form of 114 points in just two games and 112 offensive plays. The Terps are currently on their bye week, but will look to improve to 3-0 on Sept. 23 against UCF.

The juice will be in excess on that afternoon, too.

UPDATE Sept. 30: Maryland couldn’t find its juice in a 38-10 loss to the Knights, but it’s back in full force as the Terps take on Minnesota.

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