Morgan State makes its first trip to Byrd Stadium on Saturday. Towson, the state's other Division I-AA team, will visit College Park in 2011.
That's probably a good thing for the state. In a lot of ways, if a school is going to play a lower-division team, it can make a more positive impact if it is against a local team.
Of course, Ralph Friedgen is just glad the Terrapins are playing at home.
"It's good for them because they get a good payday," Friedgen said. "What I don't like is playing those games away. That's a tough shot. It's like you go to a Middle Tennessee or FIU or Eastern Michigan or Northern Illinois ... they're laying in wait for you in those games. You go in there and it's just a different atmosphere and those guys are pumped. That's not an easy out. I know that. Try telling those kids that. I'm worried about this one."
The Bears (1-0) are coming off a 14-7 defeat of Bowie State. Former Rutgers tailback Jourdan Brooks is in the backfield (he had 17 carries for 56 yards when the Scarlet Knights visited Byrd last year) for Morgan State, which kicked four field goals in its opening victory.
This will be the Bears' fourth game against a major-college opponent in seven seasons, and third in as many years. A rundown on those results:
2004: San Jose State 47, Morgan State 28
2008: Rutgers 38, Morgan State 0
2009: Akron 41, Morgan State 0
Those outcomes aren't particularly scary. Still, Friedgen is wary --- especially with his team on short rest and receiving kudos after winning its opener.
"Morgan's going to come in here and play like crazy," Friedgen said. "This is their Super Bowl [and] BCS championship. We have everybody patting us on the back. I tell these guys we have to come to play or you'll get your butt beat. I've been telling them that all week. We'll see what happens. ...
"They're going to come in here sky high and they're probably going to blitz the heck out of us because they have nothing to lose. it's a dangerous game."
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