Maryland, Matt Canada "thinking about Jordan" after victory

Maryland, Matt Canada "thinking about Jordan" after victory (Photo: USA TODAY Sports) An emotional Matt Canada could have taken h...

Maryland, Matt Canada "thinking about Jordan" after victory

(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

An emotional Matt Canada could have taken his post-game national spotlight in a dozen different directions after his first-career win as acting head coach. When given the chance for his first comments after a 34-29 victory over No. 23 Texas, Canada brought it right back to where the game started.

Canada spoke first about Jordan McNair, who passed away tragically over the summer after a team workout. After beating Texas, Canada mentioned McNair before anything else.

“We’re thinking about Jordan,” Canada told Bruce Feldman on Fox Sports 1’s post-game coverage. “The guys are talking about it over there. It was a hell of a win for those kids. They’ve been through a lot. The defense did a great job. We didn’t do our job on offense at the end. The defense did a great job. Our kids are special. Our kids are special. They did a great job, and I’m so proud.”

The Terrapins pulled off their second-consecutive upset over Texas, this time thanks to a game-ending interception throw by Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Maryland finished strong after a long weather delay could have iced either team at FedEx Field.

“They knew they were going to win,” Canada said. “They believed. I don’t mean that like ‘they knew,’ but they believed they were going to win. They didn’t lose their focus. They talked about how they were going to win and they did.”

Maryland quarterback Kasim Hill led the way with poise and 222 passing yards, but a new star was born in true freshman Jeshaun Jones. Jones touched the ball three times, went 101 yards and scored the first two touchdowns of the season. Asked about Jones specifically, Canada said, “I don’t think we saw anything (specific in Texas’ defense). We ran our plays. We took our shots. Obviously, I did it with the sneak and put our defense a bad spot. That was on me. But our kids played well. We have great talent and we did a great job.”

Earlier in the game, Maryland and Texas both paid tribute to McNair. On the first offensive snap of the game, Maryland intentionally ran out the clock with no player lined up at right tackle. In response, Texas declined the 5-yard penalty in what eventually became the first of two touchdowns for Jones.

The win marks two straight season-opening losses to Maryland for Tom Herman. After last year’s loss, Herman told his players, “I told our guys to never get used to this feeling, but that if we all thought that we were going to come in here and in nine months, sprinkle some fairy dust on this team and think that we’ve arrived, then we were wrong. And the only way we know how to fix things is to work harder. And we have a mantra around here of 1-0 for a reason because good or bad we’ve got to rest, recover and Sunday get up ready to work and improve.

“We’ve got to figure out the way. We have to figure out the way. And the only way to do that is to work and put your nose to the grindstone and get back after it, flash this game, learn from the mistakes, learn from the positives, which there were quite a few and get ready to go next week.”

Source: Google News Canada | Netizen 24 Canada