This Week's Sights From Terpland

As part of my coverage of the Terps this football season, I will be bringing along my camera to the games I attend to add a little bit of photography to the mix. This is the first installment of the season from the Navy game on September 3. Hopefully my eye and the photography improve as the season goes on.

M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore served as the location for the Maryland's season opener in 2005.



Bmore, my former home during law school, put on its late summer best and tantalized the fans with perfect weather for the first meeting of the Terps and the Mids since 1965.

With weather like this, how could one pass up the chance to tailgate? Maryland fans didn't, regardless of what Mayor Martin O'Malley thought about it.

We spent the majority of the afternoon prior to the game at our favorite Baltimore bar, Ropewalk. In the shadow of Ronald Reagan's bust, we enjoyed a couple local brews. Four beers and $9.50 later (gotta love Bmore, hon!), and we were ready to head over to the stadium.

Midshipmen and women took positions outside Camden Yards before the start of the game, looking good in their dress whites.

Midshipman fans showed their support.

As a prelude to the start of the season, the Naval Academy student body filed into the stadium as only they can.

Once the Middies took the field and the national anthem was played, the always classy Academy turned towards the Maryland section, and let out a hearty, "M-A-R-Y-L-A-N-D, goooooooooo Terps!" before doffing their caps to Terrapin fans' side of the stadium.

One by one, each company fell out and took the stands. The game began only after the confusion of thousands of hyped-up Mids trying to get the best seats sorted itself out.

But no game against a military academy would be complete without the customary flyover.

Festivities completed, and all the patrons seated, it was time for some football.

Navy fans:

Terps fans:

The sun eventually set on the Mids chances for victory as Maryland scored an improbable TD late in the 4th quarter to snatch the win from the Naval Academy.

Next game: Clemson at Byrd Stadium, Noon ET, Saturday September 10, 2005.