Associated PressCOLLEGE PARK, Md. ó Two-faced. Jekyll and Hyde. Schizophrenic.
Each can be used to describe the Maryland football team ó and to a lesser degree, No. 21 Wake Forest.
The Terrapins have won four straight against ranked opponents, including victories last month against California and Clemson. They have also lost to Middle Tennessee State, been manhandled 31-0 at Virginia and barely beat Delaware at home.
Sometimes, Maryland looks like a Top 25 team. Most times, not.
“We are 4-2 and I don’t think we’ve even come close to playing at our potential as a team,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “We probably should feel fortunate to be where we are right now. But I am still waiting for us to play to where I think we can play.”
Friedgen can only hope that happens today in a key ACC game against the Demon Deacons, who know all about stumbling against a lesser opponent. After beating Baylor, Mississippi and then-No. 24 Florida State, Wake Forest (4-1, 2-0) committed six turnovers in a home loss to Navy.
So what can the Terrapins (4-2, 1-1) expect after watching the Demon Deacons defeat Clemson last week?
“I think they’re probably looking at us the same way, wondering if they’re getting the team that got beat by Navy or the team that beat Clemson,” Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said. “They’re probably saying the same things about us. I think every team’s starting to figure out that there are no givens in this deal. You’ve got to go play.”