Maryland football looking to prove changes under Aazaar Abdul-Rahim lead to different results

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After a last-second loss in game one under interim head coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, Maryland football will now look to end its Big Ten losing streak on the road when they take on Purdue with kickoff set for 12:30 PM ET.

While the Boilermakers will look to climb back to .500 in conference play when they host Maryland, it also marks a meeting among two of the worst defensive teams in the Big Ten with both teams ranked among the bottom four in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense. While Maryland will look to limit quarterback Ryan Browne, who enters Saturday ranked 24th nationally averaging 245 passing yards per game, Maryland will also look to prove that the changes under the interim staff can lead to changed results.

Starting center Michael Hershey admitted the condensed version of the day-to-day responsibilities under Abdul-Rahim has made the renewed process, "a lot more mental."

"He took a lot off of our bodies but he also made sure that we got all the work in for situational awareness and everything gameplan-wise for Illinois. I could definitely see improvements out on the field and every aspect of special teams, offense and defense," Hershey said. "I think it worked really well and I like the way he's approaching practices. We do a lot more walkthroughs and it's helpful when we get to walk through the rep, it really helps you focus your mind on what you're doing and the small little details of the play

Linebacker Daniel Wingate sees a "more physical approach" playing under a defensive-minded head coach while his position coach, Zac Spavital, calls the defense.

"Just with competitiveness. He's kind of emphasized the fact that we need to be more competitive in our situational battles and being able to win those situational things," Wingate said.

Cornerback Jamare Glasker has also pointed to the early preparation that Abdul-Rahim has maintained through his final season, watching his position coach keep the locker room focused.

"It’s a mentality thing he has. He’s always encouraging everybody, he always cares for other people. He wants to see the team be successful and it shows, coming up here at five in the morning and I’m meeting with him at seven in the morning, going over tape. His routine doesn’t change," Glasker said.

Yet with the head coaching search ongoing and a resolution hoped to be reached by the end of the month, Abdul-Rahim is looking to showcase why he deserves a shot at the permanent job.

"I think we'll refine what we have, but we're not going to change," Abdul-Rahim said of the team's first road game. "It won't be a new message. It's going to be the same message. It should be plain Jane, keeping the main thing the main thing. So that's kind of the focus. I think we've got the infrastructure of what we want to get accomplished these next four weeks, and we want to continue to refine that infrastructure.”

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