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Maryland Football: A look back at the history with Minnesota

By Chris Bengel

Nov 1, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; General view of a Maryland Terrapins helmet on the field prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Maryland defeated Penn State 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; General view of a Maryland Terrapins helmet on the field prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Maryland defeated Penn State 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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We’re less than two months away from the Maryland football team’s season opener against Howard on September 3.

As we learned on Tuesday, the Terrapins will be heavy favorites in their opener and really have an easy nonconference slate.

Maryland hasn’t faced several of their Big Ten opponents very much throughout the program’s history. Just like Purdue, the Terps have only faced Minnesota one time in their history and it took place in a bowl game.

The Terps and Golden Gophers faced off in the 1977 Hall of Fame Classic.

Minnesota entered the game with six wins while Maryland was seeking another eight-plus win season under heralded coach Jerry Claiborne. Up to this point, Claiborne had accumulated a 48-20-3 record during his time in College Park.

Claiborne would go on to be the second-winningest coach at Maryland as he put together a 77-37 mark during his 10 seasons with the program.

The 1977 Hall of Fame Classic got started with Minnesota gaining the early upper hand.

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    • Golden Golphers tailback Marion Barber rushed for a one-yard touchdown in the opening quarter to give his team a 7-0 lead. Barber is the father of former Minnesota and Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber III.

    The Terps really settled in after allowing the early Minnesota touchdown.

    Maryland shut out Minnesota over the final three quarters and only allowed the Golden Gophers to accumulate 69 yards of total offense in the second half.

    The Terps received two second quarter rushing touchdowns from tailback George Scott. Scott rushed 75 yards on 24 carries in the Maryland victory in Birmingham.

    Kicker Mike Sochko added a 32-yard field goal in the first quarter.

    The Terps held the advantage in both rushing yards (120-113) and passing yards (211-155). The Golden Gophers actually recorded 17 first downs to just 15 for the Terps, but Maryland was able to keep them off the scoreboard.

    Next: Taivon Jacobs looks to stand out

    Maryland finished with an 8-4 record and was tied for third in the ACC for their efforts during the 1977 season. The Terps would only have one losing season over the next four years before Claiborne left for Kentucky.

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