Friedgen shuns sentiment in return to Atlanta

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - It&#39;s been three years since he served as an assistant football coach at Georgia Tech, yet Ralph Friedgen still has a home and dozens of close friends in Atlanta.<br> <br> His familiarity with the Yellow Jackets is such that he knows standout wide receiver Jonathan Smith is nicknamed ``Fred&#39;&#39; because his favorite cartoon is The Flintstones.<br> <br> Time hasn&#39;t done much to diminish Friedgen&#39;s feelings toward the school where he spent nine seasons. But all that sentiment will be pushed aside Thursday night, when Friedgen leads Maryland into Atlanta to face Georgia Tech in a pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference game.<br> <br> ``We&#39;re going on a business trip. They&#39;re not going to be real nice to me, and I don&#39;t plan on being real nice to them either,&#39;&#39; Friedgen said Tuesday.<br> <br> Maryland&#39;s head coach is certain to run into plenty of people with whom he formed a tight bond while serving at Georgia Tech from 1987-91 and 1997-2000.<br> <br> ``Atlanta has been so good to me; Georgia Tech has been good to me,&#39;&#39; Friedgen said. ``I&#39;m going to retire there, so it&#39;s always a special place for me.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> This trip, however, will be all about leading Maryland (5-2, 2-1) to its sixth-straight victory.<br> <br> The game is somewhat reminiscent of a meeting two years ago in Atlanta, when Maryland recorded a 20-17 overtime victory en route to its first ACC title since 1985.<br> <br> ``Beating a nationally ranked opponent at their place gave us the confidence at the time that we could win those kind of games,&#39;&#39; Friedgen said. ``That win really helped this program.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> An encore Thursday night would enable the Terrapins to remain in second place in the ACC and keep them on course for a third-straight bowl appearance following the 10-year drought that preceded Friedgen&#39;s arrival.<br> <br> Coming off a bye week, the Terrapins are rested and ready to extend the league&#39;s longest winning streak. Running back Bruce Perry, hampered by a high ankle sprain the entire season, is ``as healthy as he&#39;s been in a long time,&#39;&#39; Friedgen said.<br> <br> Perry and Josh Allen will be testing the 19th-ranked rushing defense in the nation. That might mean more throws for Scott McBrien, who has performed well this season but still hasn&#39;t matched his stellar play in practice.<br> <br> That might change Thursday night.<br> <br> ``He has been very, very in tune this week,&#39;&#39; Friedgen said. ``Scott doesn&#39;t talk to be a lot, but he mumbled something to me yesterday in practice. I said, `What did you say?&#39; and he said, `This week.&#39;<br> <br> I said, `This week what?&#39; and he said, `This week I&#39;m taking it from the practice field to the game.&#39;&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Having Perry behind him can only help. Perry, a 5-foot-10 senior, has thus far only shown flashes of the form he displayed as ACC offensive player of the year in 2001.<br> <br> ``If we can get him and Scott playing to their top of their ability, I think our offense will really pick up,&#39;&#39; Friedgen said. ``I hope Bruce is able to finish his career the way I know he can play. I know it&#39;s been frustrating for him.&#39;&#39;