Terps football beat reporter
Tomorrow should be a memorable day for A.J. Francis.
But it’s not necessarily because the Terrapins football defensive end will face a potent West Virginia squad that ranks second nationally in total offense. And it’s not just because a win over the No. 8 Mountaineers would represent the senior’s first time adding a tombstone — which symbolizes a fallen top-10 opponent — to the graveyard outside the team’s practice fields.
No, tomorrow will be special for a far more sentimental reason. For the first time in Francis’ life, his great-grandfather — who he affectionately calls “Grandpa Shaky” — will watch Francis play in person.
The 91-year-old man will make the more than four-hour trek from Gary, W. Va. — a coal-mining town of less than 1,000 people on the state’s southern tip — to see his kin play under the bright lights of major college football. He’ll watch 60,000 rabid West Virginia fans fill Milan Puskar Stadium. He’ll see 80-year-old women sporting blue and gold face paint, and he’ll probably hear the Mountaineer Mascot lead a rowdy student section in more cheers than he can count.
It will be a special moment for the Francis family, an opportunity for generations to reconnect under the guise of one of their youngest members’ athletic achievements. Francis’ parents, Michael and Carrie, will surely appreciate the mini-reunion — especially considering the difficulty involved in prying Grandpa Shaky away from his TV on Saturdays.
But don’t expect the happy vibes to continue long past kickoff. Because the truth is, a familiar face in the crowd will likely do little to cheer Francis up once he faces the Mountaineers.
West Virginia, who hopes to extend its winning streak against the Terps to seven games, is stocked and loaded for an utter blowout tomorrow. It enters the contest as four-touchdown favorites, and has the resume to back up the billing.
The Mountaineers are averaging more than 600 yards and 55 points through two games this season. Quarterback Geno Smith, the program’s all-time passing leader, directs an offense that possesses big-play potential on every down.
West Virginia spreads the field, penalizing missed tackles with 50- or 60-yard breakaways. The Terps rank sixth nationally with 124.3 passing yards allowed per game, but those numbers are sure to take a hit once the Terps take on the likes of Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey — the Mountaineers’ potent wideout duo that’s averaging a combined 310.5 all-purpose yards per game.
And on the off chance the passing game falters? No problem. Smith will use quick shovel passes to get Austin and Co. involved in the run game.
“Where they get a lot of yards that people don’t realize is these little dump plays to Tavon or one of their other players on the team,” said Francis, who isn’t shy about his disdain for the border-state rival. “It ends up being a rush, and that’s when you get in trouble. Because at that point, their playbook is wide open.”
It’s a daunting task for a Terps team that has been forced to rely heavily upon a crop of fresh-faced rookies this season. Rookies have accounted for all 10 of the team’s turnovers, and the Terps rank second-to-last in the FBS in passing.
Add in the fact that freshman quarterback Perry Hills will have his first taste of Mountaineer Nation, and tomorrow figures to be a straight rout.
Forget the possibility of a Stefon Diggs showcase. Forget all of coach Randy Edsall’s optimism. There’s simply no way the Terps — at this stage of their development — can compete against West Virginia.
Of course, that’s nothing against the Terps. They’re doing the best they can with what they have available. They shrugged off a rash of preseason injuries, and notched season-opening wins over William & Mary and Temple. They even gave a decent UConn squad a tough fight last week.
But the Mountaineers are unlike any team the Terps have faced this season. They’re just deeper, more talented and more athletic.
And that’s why tomorrow’s reunion may be a bit bittersweet for the Francis clan. Sure, Grandpa Shaky will be in the stands — Jheri curl, walking cane and all — to see his great-grandson line up for the Terps.
But the postgame embraces likely won’t be to congratulate Shaky for making a difficult commute. They’ll be to console Francis, who will probably need some time to get over the shellacking he and his teammates are sure to endure.
letourneau@umdbk.com
