Upsetting to upset

Just football, but win over No. 23 Texas had special meaning In first game since McNair’s death, Terps stun Texas once again

LANDOVER t’s important to acknowledge that nothing that happened Saturday at FedEx Field changes anything about the tragic circumstances that put the Maryland football team in a “missing man” formation to honor late teammate Jordan McNair at the start of its game against No. 23

ITexas.

But that doesn’t suggest the Terps’ 34-29 victory over the Longhorns is without special meaning for the university and everyone connected to it who has suffered through a summer of sadness and scandal.

This victory bore almost mystic similarities to last year’s season opener against the also-then-No. 23 Longhorns, who were

LANDOVER – A Maryland football season that seemed to take forever to begin — after offensive lineman Jordan McNair died in June and third-year coach DJ Durkin was placed on administrative leave in August amid allegations of a “toxic” culture surrounding the team — opened with a game that seemed to take forever to end.

Saturday’s game began with a moment of silence to remember McNair, the former McDonogh School standout who died of heatstroke at age 19, from the announced crowd of 47,641 — as well as the Terps honoring him by lining up against No. 23 Texas with only 10 men on their first snap.

But after a nearly 90-minute delay because of lightning in the fourth quarter that cleared the stands at FedEx Field, and more than five hours after the game began,

PATRICK SEMANSKY/ASSOCIATED PRESS Maryland offensive lineman Ellis McKennie celebrates the Terps’ win over Texas with teammate Taivon Jacobs as he waves a flag in remembrance of offensive lineman Jordan McNair, who died of heatstroke suffered during a team conditioning test.

PATRICK SEMANSKY/ASSOCIATED PRESS Maryland wide receiver Jeshaun Jones looks back at Texas defensive back B.J. Foster as he runs for a touchdown in the first half of the Terps’ season-opening win.