The Military Bowl: It Is What It Is

With all due respect to the Military Bowl, Maryland’s fan base was dissed and their recruiting hampered when they were invited to a bowl game in a cold weather city just 20 minutes from campus. What, no palm trees?

“It is what it is. We have to make the best of it. The toughest thing is that it's in our own backyard," said Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen on his 8-4 Terps slide from #3 in the conference to last in the bowl pecking order. The Terps were hoping to get an invitation from the Champs Sports Bowl after their win against N.C. State, but…no.

Meanwhile, Kevin Anderson, Maryland's first-year athletic director, said he was "disappointed" with the process and how bowl berths were determined. Anderson said he did not know why Maryland slid to the eighth slot. He added that Maryland officials have spoken to the ACC office and Anderson wants to talk to conference officials further about the process at future league meetings.

The Terps are No. 9 in the nation in pass efficiency defense and will face former Boston College quarterback Dominique Davis, who has thrown for 36 touchdowns and 3,699 yards, the fourth-most in the nation, while completing nearly 65 percent of his passes.