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O'Brien: "I'm here. I'm here to stay."

Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien said Wednesday he will remain with the Terrapins despite the firing of Ralph Friedgen and the departure of offensive coordinator James Franklin to Vanderbilt.

"A lot of people kind of overspeculated --- whatever you want to call it," O'Brien said. "When the news happened, it was shocking. I didn't do any interviews, but people around me were saying we weren't going to overact. Before I even decided to come to Maryland, before I signed, my family sat down and said if I'm going to commit here, I'm going to graduate from here. My goal is still to graduate from the University of Maryland and continue to play three more great years no matter which direction we go in. I think I have to kind of assume a leadership role. Whatever decision Kevin Anderson decided to go in, I'm going to support it, because it's not something I can control."

Anderson is the first-year athletic director who opted to buy out the final year of Friedgen's contract. He also told Franklin he wasn't guaranteed to become the head coach, which helped precipitated the 38-year-old's decision to leave Maryland.

That was a particularly jolting departure for O'Brien, who said he visited with Franklin and his family before Franklin left for Nashville.

"With Franklin leaving first, he was a huge reason I came here," O'Brien said. "He recruited me, obviously. I can't say enough about how important he was in my develop, because we really saw eye-to-eye from day one on the game of football, life, whatever. ... I'm here. I'm here to stay. Whatever we do, I'm behind it."

O'Brien's analytical approach to things --- seen regularly on Saturdays --- helped him with handling the uncertainty of the last few days.

Still, having something to fill his time, namely practice and the chance to be around his teammates, has him feeling up upbeat about the Dec. 29 Military Bowl --- and what will happen beyond that.

"I think everything that's going on, whatever I say or do, I can't control what's going to happen, so I have to sit back and see and kind of evaluate things," O'Brien said. "Today was emotional for me. Being back in the huddle with everyone, practicing and preparing, reminded me of why I came to Maryland and why I love it so much. It was fun just to play football and not worry about all this stuff. That was special today. This is the best day for me in the last two weeks."

A student of hoops history, Terps QB O'Brien not tolerating Penn State trash talk

From everything teammates and coaches say and reporters get to see, Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien is a laid-back, mild-mannered guy. There's no evidence to the contrary, and teammates have sworn by the guy since he took over as the Terrapins' starter back in September.

But something --- namely a little brushing over of history --- fired up the ACC's rookie of the year.

O'Brien found out about a #MdHateWeek hash tag created by Penn State fans on Twitter. Reasonable enough, he figured.

Then he discovered it was about basketball, a puzzling development to the redshirt freshman who knows a bit about the history of both programs. And certainly in recent years, there isn't much of a comparison.

So he acknowledged the obvious truth hanging over hyping the game: Maryland has as many national titles in basketball in the last decade as Penn State has NCAA tournament appearances.

That would be one.

"I had to do it," O'Brien said. "Just because I heard about --- I forget where I heard about it --- the MdHateWeek. I thought it was for football at first and I said 'That would make sense.' Then it was like 'Oh, we play them in basketball.' So then I go 'It's not --- you can't do that.' I'm not the trash-talking type. I don't talk trash on the field that often. I decided to let it be known while this is building up steam, just to put them in their place a little bit."

That's a decidedly high-profile rebuke. Still, O'Brien --- who clearly enjoyed this particular part of our give and take yesterday --- knows it would help if the basketball team could give him an assist tonight.

"I'm not necessarily regretting it," O'Brien said. "It was controversial, maybe, but I had to put it out there just to let it be known where they sit compared to us.  Hopefully we can go out and win now and back it up so I don't look too dumb. Otherwise, I'll have to delete the tweet."

One thing is for certain: Count the QB as yet another interested party in how Gary Williams' bunch does tonight.

Smith, Perez, O'Brien earn ACC player of the week honors

Maryland collected three player of the week awards from the ACC in the wake of Saturday's 38-31 defeat of N.C. State.

Wide receiver Torrey Smith was voted the offensive back of the week after catching 14 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns.

Quarterback Danny O'Brien earned his fifth rookie of the week honor after completing 33 of 47 for 417 yards and four touchdowns. Maryland had won five rookie of the week honors total between 2000 and 2009.

Meanwhile, Antwine Perez picked up his second defensive back of the week honor after collecting 11 tackles (one for loss) while breaking up a pass and forcing and recovering a fumble.

MARYLAND ACC OFFENSIVE BACKS OF THE WEEK, 1999-2010

Oct. 25, 1999: TB LaMont Jordan
Nov. 22, 1999: TB LaMont Jordan
Sept. 22, 2001: TB Bruce Perry
Oct. 8, 2001: QB Shaun Hill
Oct. 22, 2001: QB Shaun Hill
Nov. 19, 2001: QB Shaun Hill
Oct. 19, 2002: TB Chris Downs
Nov. 9, 2002: WR Steve Suter
Nov. 17, 2003: TB Josh Allen
Dec. 1, 2003: TB Bruce Perry
Oct. 16, 2006: TB Keon Lattimore
Nov. 13, 2006: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey
Oct. 1, 2007: QB Chris Turner
Nov. 12, 2007: QB Chris Turner
Oct. 20, 2008: QB Chris Turner
Nov. 29, 2010: WR Torrey Smith

MARYLAND ACC ROOKIES OF THE WEEK, 1999-2010

Sept. 13, 1999: QB Calvin McCall
Sept. 20, 1999: QB Calvin McCall
Oct. 7, 2002: RB Josh Allen
Nov. 4, 2002: LB Shawne Merriman
Sept. 26, 2005: LB Trey Covington
Oct. 30, 2006: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey
Oct. 5, 2009: LB Demetrius Hartsfield
Sept. 27, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien
Oct. 25, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien
Nov. 1, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien
Nov. 15, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien
Nov. 29, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien

MARYLAND ACC DEFENSIVE BACKS OF THE WEEK, 1999-2010

Sept. 20, 1999: CB Lewis Sanders
Oct. 7, 2000: S Shawn Forte
Sept. 22, 2001: S Tony Jackson
Oct. 8, 2001: CB Tony Okanlawon
Dec. 1, 2003: S Madieu Williams
Nov. 29, 2004: S Chris Kelley
Nov. 14, 2005: S Milton Harris
Nov. 6, 2006: LB Erin Henderson
Nov. 13, 2006: CB Josh Wilson
Sept. 7, 2010: S Kenny Tate
Oct. 25, 2010: S Antwine Perez
Nov. 29, 2010: S Antwine Perez

O'Brien cracks top-10 of all-time ACC freshman passers

Danny O'Brien's strong first half has vaulted him even further up the ACC's freshman passing charts.

O'Brien has 190 yards on the day and 2,030 for the season, making him the 10th ACC freshman to reach the 2,000-yard plateau.

The rundown:

1. Drew Weatherford, FSU (2005): 3,208
2. Philip Rivers, NCSU (2000): 3,054
3. Chris Rix, FSU (2001): 2,734
4. T.J. Yates, UNC (2007): 2,655
5. Kyle Parker, CU (2009): 2,526
6. Thaddeus Lewis, DU (2006): 2,134
7. Riley Skinner, WF (2006): 2,051
8. Ben Bennett, DU (1980): 2,050
9. Dave Shinskie, BC (2009): 2,049
10. Danny O'Brien, UM (2010): 2,030

By game's end, there's a strong chance O'Brien checks in at No. 6 on this list.

Danny O'Brien: Best freshman QB in the ACC since Philip Rivers?

Here's a working theory that will be tested on the fly: Is Danny O'Brien the best freshman quarterback the ACC has seen since Philip Rivers.

For those who define "best" as "winningest," that's a no. Riley Skinner and Chris Rix jump to mind as obvious guys who will trump O'Brien.

But if the definition of "best" is a little more sophisticated than merely team success, well, he's got a chance. Let's take a look at the guys from the last 10 years who ranked in the top 15 in league history in freshman passing yards coming into the season, plus O'Brien:

Player (Year)	Comp-Att	Yards	TD	INT	Rating	Rush-Yds-TD
Philip Rivers, NCSU (2000)	237-441	3,054	25	10	126.1	73-(-85)-2
Chris Rix, FSU (2001)	165-286	2,754	24	13	156.6	99-389-3
Darian Durant, UNC (2001)	142-223	1,843	17	10	149.4	58-128-2
Charlie Whitehurst, CU (2002)	123-214	1,554	10	6	128.3	43-(-20)-2
Reggie Ball, GT (2003)	181-350	1,996	10	11	102.8	139-384-3
Drew Weatherford, FSU (2005)	276-469	3,208	18	18	121.3	67-(-28)-3
Thaddeus Lewis, DU (2006)	180-340	2,134	11	16	106.9	99-(-74)-1
Riley Skinner, WF (2006)	171-260	2,051	9	5	139.6	52-(-71)-0
T.J. Yates, UNC (2007)	218-365	2,655	14	18	123.6	73-(-123)-2
Russell Wilson, NCSU (2008)	150-275	1,955	17	1	133.9	116-216-4
Kyle Parker, CU (2009)	205-369	2,526	20	12	124.4	61-135-1
Dave Shinskie, BC (2009)	149-288	2,049	15	14	119.0	30-(-74)-1
Danny O'Brien, Md. (2010)	146-268	1,840	17	6	128.6	28-(-39)-1

O'Brien has a real chance to join Rix and Parker as the only freshmen to throw for 20 touchdowns since Rivers came along. Both of those guys had a dozen interceptions, a number O'Brien seems unlikely to reach with just two games left in the season.

In terms of efficiency, O'Brien is actually better than Rivers was a freshman, in a similar neighborhood to Wilson, a step behind Skinner and well behind Rix and Durant.

(Aside: One thing learned from this little project was rediscovering just how solid a player Darian Durant really was).

Ultimately, the answer to the question is no: O'Brien is not the best ACC freshman quarterback since Rivers. Rix, blessed with a plethora of pro-caliber talent around him on a team coming off a trip to the BCS title game, was statistically the best. Frankly, it's very difficult to correct for quality of teammates in making this comparison, but it's safe to say Rix had more help than anyone on this chart as well.

But O'Brien at least will land on the tier with Durant and Skinner, and might even surpass Wilson (whose one-interception freshman season coupled with his rushing performance probably makes him the No. 2 freshman in that span) with a couple strong games to finish. The best is still to come in O'Brien's career, but the beginning of it stacks up very well compared to recent quarterbacks who got an early start in the ACC.

O'Brien named ACC rookie of the week --- yet again

Danny O'Brien was named the ACC's rookie of the week for the fourth time this season after completing 18 of 28 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns while running for another score in Saturday's 42-23 defeat of Virginia.

Yes, that means O'Brien has earned rookie of the week honors after four of his seven starts --- and four of his five victories. The only time a Maryland win didn't coincide with an O'Brien honor was after the Oct. 2 defeat of Duke.

What's more, O'Brien now has as many rookie of the week awards as Maryland's offensive players have combined to win in the last 11 years.

Needless to say, O'Brien is on his way to winning the conference's rookie of the year honor. A scenario in which he doesn't collect that award is very, very difficult to envision.

Sept. 13, 1999: QB Calvin McCall
Sept. 20, 1999: QB Calvin McCall
Oct. 7, 2002: RB Josh Allen
Nov. 4, 2002: LB Shawne Merriman
Sept. 26, 2005: LB Trey Covington
Oct. 30, 2006: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey
Oct. 5, 2009: LB Demetrius Hartsfield
Sept. 27, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien
Oct. 25, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien
Nov. 1, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien
Nov. 15, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien

Freshman QB vs. freshman QB suddenly normal for Maryland

Maryland fans know Danny O'Brien has started five straight games (and will make it six in a row Saturday against Miami barring catastrophe).

But look at the last two opposing quarterbacks and the one likely to come Saturday:

Chase Rettig. Tanner Price. Stephen Morris.

All are freshmen. And not just freshmen, but true freshmen.

Which means O'Brien actually has an experience advantage to work with for the third straight week.

Amazing.

But what's even crazier is that before this season, only one time in Maryland's history did it start a freshman quarterback --- and have an opposing team counter with one as well.

That was back in 1999, when North Carolina paid a visit to Byrd Stadium and turned in a comically bad first half in a 45-7 loss to the Terps.

Calvin McCall was 8-for-14 for 76 yards and a touchdown, but he didn't need to be much better than that --- mainly because the Tar Heels did nothing to help Luke Huard.

The Forgotten Huard threwa first-quarter interception that Marlon Moye-Moore brought back 51 yards for a 10-0 lead. North Carolina fumbled away the next kickoff, setting up an 11-yard touchdown drive. The Tar Heels then fumbled away another kickoff, forced a punt and allowed Huard to be sacked on three straight plays.

Huard was then yanked, only to see a little time in the fourth quarter. He was 2-for-5 for five yards and a pick.

Advantage: Maryland.

And it's been that way the last two weeks, too. Take a look:

BOSTON COLLEGE, 2010

Danny O'Brien (UM): 27-40-182-3 TD
Chase Rettig (BC): 18-33-189-1 TD-2 INT

WAKE FOREST, 2010

Danny O'Brien (UM): 13-20-168-4 TD
Tanner Price (WF): 16-31-156-1 TD-1 INT

That's some good history for Maryland, which would have to be quite pleased if it remains unbeaten in freshman-vs.-freshman quarterback matchups after Saturday's visit to south Florida.

O'Brien appears on way to ACC rookie of the year honors

With Maryland at 6-2 and all-conference award voters notorious for tying individual awards to team success, the Terrapins actually have a chance to factor into a few races in the ACC this season.

Probably not offensive player of the year. That looks like a duel between N.C. State's Russell Wilson and Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor, and rightfully so.

Probably not defensive player of the year, since Da'Quan Bowers' performance is so strong, it would be tough to vote for anyone else.

Maybe coach of the year, which Ralph Friedgen is a candidate for (along with N.C. State's Tom O'Brien, Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer and --- maybe --- Virginia's Mike London).

But definitely the ACC's rookie of the year, which amazingly no Maryland player has ever won since the award was instituted in 1975.

Danny O'Brien won his third rookie of the week award this week; no other ACC player has more than one. And while it's not completely a idiot-proof method, it makes sense that the rookie of the year probably will have at leats one week where he's the best freshman of the bunch.

So let's look at the seven players who have won the honor so far this season:

QB Danny O'Brien (UM): 95-167 (56.9 percent), 1,148 yards, 13 TD, 3 INT; 1 reception, 4 yards, 1 TD
QB Tanner Price (WF): 83-156 (53.2 percent), 879 yards, 7 TD, 4 INT; 48 rushes, 127 yards, 3 TD

RB Lamar Miller (THE U): 46 carries, 252 yards, 2 TD, 5.5 ypc; 6 receptions, 49 yards; 5 kickoff returns, 167 yards, 1 TD
RB Mustafa Greene (NCSU): 102 carries, 495 yards, 4 TD, 4.9 ypc; 20 receptions, 181 yards
RB Josh Harris (WF): 73 carries, 457 yards, 5 TD, 6.3 ypc; 5 receptions, 53 yards

WR DeAndre Hopkins (CU): 18 receptions, 186 yards, 1 TD; 2 punt returns, 33 yards

LB Christian Jones (FSU): 11 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks

So, uh, yeah. O'Brien has to be considered the decided favorite, with Greene and Harris next in line. Given how much N.C. State uses the short passing game as an extension of its rushing attack, much of Greene's receiving total is de factor rushing yardage. Harris, meanwhile, did more than half his damage on the ground in a single game.

O'Brien's started five games, and his smart play has helped Maryland avoid turnovers and already triple its win total from last year. It would be a little presumptuous to say the award is his, but it would take either a major push from someone (likely Greene) or a substantial decrease in production from O'Brien in the next month to produce a different outcome in the voting at season's end.

O'Brien the ACC's rookie of the week --- again

Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien was named the ACC's rookie of the week for the third time in the last six weeks.

O'Brien completed 13 of 20 passes for 168 yards and four touchdowns in Saturday's 62-14 rout of Wake Forest. O'Brien became the first Terp to throw for four touchdowns in a game since Joel Statham did it in 2004 against Duke.

O'Brien had 13 touchdowns and three interceptions and has made made five starts.

With three rookie of the week awards, he's matched the total Maryland had won over the previous seven seasons combined.

MARYLAND ACC ROOKIES OF THE WEEK, 1999-2010

Sept. 13, 1999: QB Calvin McCall
Sept. 20, 1999: QB Calvin McCall
Oct. 7, 2002: RB Josh Allen
Nov. 4, 2002: LB Shawne Merriman
Sept. 26, 2005: LB Trey Covington
Oct. 30, 2006: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey
Oct. 5, 2009: LB Demetrius Hartsfield
Sept. 27, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien
Oct. 25, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien
Nov. 1, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien

O'Brien, Perez earn ACC weekly honors

Maryland's Danny O'Brien and Antwine Perez earned ACC player of the week honors for their performances against Boston College on Saturday.

O'Brien completed 26 of 39 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns as the Terrapins collected a 24-21 victory. It was his second rookie of the week honor, and he's the first to collect the award twice since Calvin McCall did it in 1999.

MARYLAND ACC ROOKIES OF THE WEEK, 1999-2010

Sept. 13, 1999: QB Calvin McCall
Sept. 20, 1999: QB Calvin McCall
Oct. 7, 2002: RB Josh Allen
Nov. 4, 2002: LB Shawne Merriman
Sept. 26, 2005: LB Trey Covington
Oct. 30, 2006: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey
Oct. 5, 2009: LB Demetrius Hartsfield
Sept. 27, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien
Oct. 25, 2010: QB Danny O'Brien

Meanwhile, Perez had a hand in three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble recovery). He also had four tackles (one-half tackle for loss).

Perez had his first multi-interception game of his career, and the first by a Terp since Cameron Chism had two interceptions against Middle Tennessee in 2009.

Kenny Tate was the ACC's defensive back of the week earlier this season. It is only the second time in the last nine years Maryland collected the honor twice in a season.

MARYLAND ACC DEFENSIVE BACKS OF THE WEEK, 1999-2010

Sept. 20, 1999: CB Lewis Sanders
Oct. 7, 2000: S Shawn Forte
Sept. 22, 2001: S Tony Jackson
Oct. 8, 2001: CB Tony Okanlawon
Dec. 1, 2003: S Madieu Williams
Nov. 29, 2004: S Chris Kelley
Nov. 14, 2005: S Milton Harris
Nov. 6, 2006: LB Erin Henderson
Nov. 13, 2006: CB Josh Wilson
Sept. 7, 2010: S Kenny Tate
Oct. 25, 2010: S Antwine Perez