The image is vividly cemented in the minds of the players on the Terrapin football team. The Terps, a huge favorite, were backed up on defense at their own goal line for one final play, trying to survive an enormous scare from a team that eventually went 0-12 last season.

Florida International was in striking distance of pulling off a monumental upset before the Terps escaped on the final play of the game. A Christian Varner interception sealed the Terps’ 14-10 win over the Golden Panthers last year at Byrd Stadium.

The Terps don’t need to be reminded any more than they already have been of that game, which is the biggest reason not to look past Florida International, a team that was ranked No. 119 out of 119 Division 1-A teams this preseason. Last weekend, the Golden Panthers were trounced by Penn State 59-0.

“That’s all the motivation we need,” senior defensive lineman Carlos Feliciano said of last season’s game. “We’re looking at last year and realizing it was too close to call.”

For the past couple weeks, the Terps have stressed getting out to a good start by beating up on the weaker teams. Against Villanova, they started sluggish but feasted on the Wildcats in the second half. The 31-14 score was closer than the game itself.

Tomorrow is another chance to feast on an inferior team – that is, as long as the Terps don’t take them as lightly as it appeared they did last year.

And with a solid all-around performance tomorrow, the Terps could gain some more confidence heading into the game that everyone has had circled since the schedule was released – Thursday against West Virginia in primetime on ESPN.

“We need to go out and clean these teams up real quick so when we do hit the meat of the schedule, we’ll be at a fast pace,” senior safety J.J. Justice said in the week leading up to the Villanova game.

When discussing upsets, the Terps – who are 24-point favorites tomorrow – don’t need to look much further than Ann Arbor, Mich., where Michigan was shocked and embarrassed by Division I-AA Appalachian State.

Since last Saturday, the Wolverines have become a running joke around the country. The Terps certainly don’t want to hear their name in that same sentence.

“Every one of these games counts,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “Last year we won the game, but we kind of got off to a slow start. I’ve told them we have to get better every game and every game is an important one. We have to approach it one game at a time.”

zuckermandbk@gmail.com.