Mike Locksley on home-field advantage vs. Syracuse: 'This is the type of game where we're going to need our fans'

Maryland began the 2019 season with a 79-0 win over Howard.

It wasn’t much of a contest.

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For Week 2, the Terrapins are going to face a much tougher team (no offense, Howard). No. 21 Syracuse is coming to town and Vegas lines are showing that the game is anticipated to be a close one. Currently, Maryland is favored by 1.5 to 2 points.

Earlier in the week, Maryland coach Mike Locksley addressed the media with his weekly press conference. He talked about how the Terps will need the fans this upcoming week in a home game against the Orange:

“This is the type of game where we’re going to need our fans,” Locksley said. “This is a ranked opponent coming in. This is a team that has been a traditional rival for us over the years. When we have these opportunities, I know our players and I hope that we can find a home field advantage in games like this. This is a great opportunity for our team to play a really good Syracuse team. I know we’re excited about the opportunity.

“We need to get our students out there early and staying late. A game like Syracuse, they’re a ranked opponent, very deserving of their ranking, and we get to play them at home, which is usually not the case, to be playing a ranked opponent at home. I hope that we can take advantage of coming out and seeing a good football game. And I hope our guys play with the effort we need to play with and the discipline we need to play with against a really good team.”

Locksley makes a good point that a home-field advantage would be nice to have against a team like Syracuse. He’s also likely pointing at the fact that he wants to build tradition at Maryland. He wants the fans to be engaged in every game, no matter the start time.

It all starts with games like this, when a top 25 team is coming into Maryland Stadium in the non-conference.