Smell of Wine and Cheap Perfume

My iPod collection largely consists hip-hop and general 1980s classics, but there is definitely a place for Journey. And there is definitely a place for Journey in Maryland’s practices. Coach Ralph Friedgen said he needs to get players to focus more and perform better during the latter stages of practice, so he has turned to music as a motivating device. Remember, he’s trying to nix that consistently inconsistent label.

So on Tuesday, if you’d walked around Maryland’s practice field, you would have heard Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” which has become somewhat of an anthem at all levels of athletic competition, as well as in Jersey mob dramas on HBO.

“He was playing some Journey and Zombie Nation,” Maryland’s Chris Turner said. “It was a madhouse. It was kind of ridiculous. It was fun, though. It definitely gave us a little boost in the end. Practices are just long. For people who don’t realize it, 24 periods take a long time. You can’t help but be kind of drained by the end of it.”

What’s the effect?

“I just think of Bentley’s, to be honest,” Turner said. “Everyone says, ‘Bentleys!’”

No word if Ralph will cue up RATT anytime soon. What’s the perfect song for Maryland’s season? I have to think about this one.