Friedgen wary of Irish mystique

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - Ralph Friedgen knows what happens when a football team becomes blinded by the aura of Notre Dame. <br> <br> As an assistant at Georgia Tech in 1998, Friedgen watched an inexperienced Yellow Jacket squad freeze up at the prospect of upsetting the Irish on the road in an early season game. <br> <br> ``It was a young team, like we have today,&#39;&#39; Maryland&#39;s head coach said. ``We had opportunities to win. We just couldn&#39;t do it. I really think those kids didn&#39;t believe they could beat them at Notre Dame. We did it a year later in the Gator Bowl, pretty much the same team.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Therein lies the challenge Saturday night for No. 21 Maryland the Kickoff Classic. Even if the Terrapins have an edge in talent, there&#39;s no telling how they&#39;ll react to seeing Notre Dame&#39;s gold-painted helmets shining under the lights in the Meadowlands. <br> <br> ``I have a little bit of a concern about that,&#39;&#39; Friedgen said. ``It&#39;s special when you play Notre Dame. The mystique they have, the tradition they have, is undeniable.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Friedgen is a former Maryland lineman who returned to his alma mater last year with designs of building the struggling football program into a powerhouse such as, well, Notre Dame. <br> <br> Friedgen guided the Terrapins to a 10-2 record, the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and a berth in the Orange Bowl. That storybook season is precisely why Maryland will face storied Notre Dame for the first time in the final Kickoff Classic. <br> <br> Finally, the Terrapins are worthy of facing the Irish. Friedgen hopes it turns out to be a positive experience. <br> <br> ``That was one of the reasons I accepted the game, because I wanted our kids to have an opportunity to play against that type of school, that type of tradition,&#39;&#39; Friedgen said. ``But it also kind of pointed the way that we want our program to go.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Notre Dame. For some, the words epitomize college football. <br> <br> ``Growing up, you either want to play against Notre Dame or play for Notre Dame,&#39;&#39; Maryland guard Todd Wike said. ``This is a huge game for our program. I think everybody knows that.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> A huge challenge, too. Friedgen is having a hard time getting a read on the Irish, who have a new coach, former Stanford head coach Tyrone Willingham. <br> <br> ``Offensively, we really don&#39;t know what we&#39;re getting,&#39;&#39; Friedgen said. ``It&#39;s hard to watch Notre Dame&#39;s personnel and Stanford&#39;s offense on film. I can tell you this: Stanford had a lot of good wide receivers.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Willingham, who took Stanford to four bowl games while going 44-26-1 in seven seasons, is seeking a Freidgen-like turnaround at Notre Dame. The Irish went 5-6 last season, yet are slight favorites arguably because of the Notre Dame mystique.

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