Big Turnout for ‘Big Noon Kickoff’

Asking Terps roll out of bed before 8 a.m. on a Saturday requires something special. The chance to show off Maryland spirit on national television more than qualified.

Hundreds swarmed LaPlata Beach for the broadcast of FOX’s “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame show on the University of Maryland campus. It was the show’s first time in College Park, timed for the Big Ten matchup between the Terrapins and No. 3-ranked Michigan Wolverines.

By the time host Rob Stone and analysts Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, Mark Ingram and Urban Meyer went live at 10 a.m., Terps were in high gear, and that didn’t mean their attire. They wore giveaway red cowboy hats, mugged for the cameras and waved homemade signs, many mocking embattled Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh.

Ingram, a former Baltimore Raven, led Maryland cheers and crowdsurfed with his young son. Students chanted “Seven Nation Army’s” base line as if they were already in SECU Stadium.

The Terps (6-5) scored the most points against the Wolverines (11-0) this season and came within one possession of winning, but fell 31-24. Backup quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. scored all three of the Terps’ touchdowns on 1-yard rushing plunges. Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 247 yards on 21 of 31 passing on his Senior Day. It was the most passing yards allowed by Michigan this season.