Is NCAA’s Substitution Rule Affecting College Soccer?

By Sebastian Obando

Maryland’s women’s soccer in action. (Photo credit: WoodleyWonderWorks)

With Maryland leading San Diego 2-0 with less than 20 minutes remaining in the second half, San Diego’s head coach Seamus McFadden made a late substitution. The sub was McFadden’s seventh change of the game, a move that would not have been allowed professionally.

In NCAA soccer, coaches are allowed 11 substitutions per game. The unique aspect to the NCAA sub rule is if a player is substituted in the first half, the coach must wait until the second half to put that player back onto the field, and each player is allowed only one reentry per game. Following FIFA rules, coaches are allowed only three substitutions per game and there’s no reentry.

“The liberal substitution rule is almost a necessary evil in college soccer because of the compressed schedule and the lack of rested recovery in between games,” Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski said. “[Reducing number of subs] would actually increase the number of injury to an astronomical level.”

Melo Trimble’s junior year will make or break his NBA career

By Peter Hailey

Maryland junior point guard Melo Trimble addresses the press (Photo courtesy of Melo Trimble, via Instagram)

Melo Trimble’s first name is a homophone for a word that means easygoing and relaxed. However, for the junior point guard with NBA aspirations, he can’t afford to be laid back in what’s shaping up to be a huge season, and one that will go a long way in determining his future.

Trimble averaged 16.2 points and three assists a night during a sterling freshman year for an upstart Maryland squad. The Upper Marlboro native also shot 41 percent from three-point range and asserted himself as one of the sport’s brightest young players.

Terps football: where are the fans?

By Jack Chavez

Maryland’s homecoming game crowd was disappointingly low (Photo credit: John McGinnis)

Early in the fourth quarter of the Maryland Terrapins’ homecoming evening matchup against the Michigan State Spartans, the home team was down by three and driving. Sophomore running back Ty Johnson had just rattled off consecutive rushes of 44 and 18 yards to put the Terps at the Spartans’ 3-yard line. The Terps were in perfect position to snatch the lead late in the game. It was a pivotal moment during a primetime game against an opponent with a marquee name, and the crowd was loud and engaged—at least those who were there.

The first dozen or so rows along the field were mostly filled, with some stretches of empty seats visible behind them. But if you looked up a little higher—to the upper deck—the sight was bleak: entire columns of rows along either end completely bare. Empty silver benches, some stretching from end zone to midfield, clearly outnumbered the few clusters of spectators sporadically dispersed across the upper deck.

Kaepernick: Hot-Button QB

By Jojo Dominick

We asked two members of our team to write columns giving their opinion of Colin Kaepernick’s protest of The Star Spangled Banner. 

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (Photo Credit: Seatacular/Creative Commons)

On August 14, 2016, Colin Kaepernick decided to sit during the singing of the national anthem.

This latter gained tons of attention, which sent both positive and negative feelings throughout the country.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said.

While many may disagree, I agree with what Colin Kaepernick has done and is continuing to do.