Welcome to The Diamondback Sports Digest, your weekly all-access pass to everything Maryland athletics.
Happy Big Ten football season! Sports editor and football reporter Michael Howes sat down with freshman quarterback Malik Washington ahead of the season to talk about Washington’s life outside of football. Keep reading to learn more.
Plus, myself and deputy sports editor Jake Kauderer sat down with Maryland’s new athletic director for an exclusive interview. We talked about football attendance, early thoughts on the men’s basketball program and more.
Our pick of the week
Pool balls clicked as Malik Washington racked the table.
It was just past 9 p.m. inside Washington’s quiet College Park apartment. After a long practice day, the freshman quarterback unwound with a game of billiards.
Down the road, bars hummed with student life — just like the football program’s buzz with talk of Washington.
The freshman is Maryland’s most heralded recruit in years, but those who know him said he stands apart from the hype. He’s grounded in family, fueled by creativity and defined by a desire to give back. He’s the entertainer who was Buddy the Elf and Simba in middle school plays, the avid reader and musician teaching himself guitar.
“Malik knows who he is outside of football,” said Kiana Teixeira, Washington’s mother. “He would tell people all the time, ‘I’m just a regular teenage kid that happens to be really good at throwing a football.’”
Now, he’s restored hope into the Maryland football fanbase with a strong start to his freshman campaign. Could Washington be the program’s new face?
The highlight reel
- Athletic director Jim Smith wants students to stay at SECU Stadium past halftime. He told me Maryland isn’t “the only university trying to figure this situation out.”
- Maryland football is off to a 3-0 start, but hasn’t faced a power conference opponent yet. The Terps’ first real test comes this weekend at Wisconsin, where Washington could face his predecessor.
- Maryland women’s basketball binge-watched the popular dating show “Love Island” together this offseason. It was a fun bonding effort for a nearly brand new roster.
- Maryland women’s soccer coach Michael Marchiano admitted that his group needs to have a “near-pefect” defense in conference play to make up for a talent disadvantage compared to other Big Ten squads.
- Midfielder Leon Koehl’s versatility is a key asset for a talented Maryland men’s soccer program hungry for a successful season, like in 2018.
Quote of the week
Maryland football freshman Sidney Stewart quickly became a fan-favorite with his on-field tenacity and “Yung Bull” nickname. The defensive end dropped a gem when asked about one of Wisconsin’s quarterbacks, Danny O’Neil, and the possibility of facing him Saturday.
“Nameless, faceless objects,” Stewart said Tuesday. “I really don’t even know his name, but I do wish the best to him. We just going to get after him like we would anything else. It’s like, a dog don’t know your name when it’s chasing you.”
Up next
🏈Football plays Wisconsin in the cheese state on Saturday in its first Big Ten matchup.
🏑No. 10-ranked field hockey faces No. 16-ranked Penn State in its Big Ten opener Friday.
⚽️Both soccer teams host, with the men playing Pitt on Friday and the women’s squad facing Purdue on Sunday.
