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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- DJ Durkin knows exactly what is expected from him in his first season as Marylands head coach.Improving upon last years 3-9 record is a good starting place. Being relevant in the Big Ten is certainly a goal.Mostly, its about providing a measure of hope for a program that never fulfilled expectations under Randy Edsall, who went 22-34 with the Terrapins before being fired six games into the 2015 season.Hired in December, the 37-year-old Durkin is the youngest Maryland head coach since 1954. The former defensive coordinator at Michigan launches a new era on Saturday at home against Howard.I really feel that we have a talented enough team to go play well this year. What equals that, I dont know, Durkin said. I think fans and media equate it to wins and losses. For us, obviously we know the game is about winning.Howard, which went 1-10 last year, probably wont provide the Terps with steep competition. But the game will provide a glimpse of what Durkin accomplished during a tough summer camp.Most of all, Durkin will get a chance to see if the team can play defense the way the Wolverines did under his direction. A year ago, Maryland yielded 413 points.The guys have been filled with a lot of energy, defensive coordinator Andy Buh said, Im really pleased with how their progress has been in the defense.---Some things to know about the Howard-Maryland matchup:PERRYS BACK: New offense, same quarterback. Fifth-year senior Perry Hills returns as a starter, looking to pile up points and cut down on his turnovers. Hills ran for 535 yards and threw eight touchdown passes last year, but he also was intercepted 13 times. He emerged as the winner in a competition during the summer, in part because he proved to the best at being mistake-free. All the things that hes going to have to bring to the table outside of his skills, hes done the best job of taking care of the football, offensive coordinator Walt Bell said. Hes done the best job in terms of mastery of the offensive, operating the line of scrimmage, eliminating a lot of the unforced errors.LIKELY TO SUCCEED: Senior William Likely is widely considered to be the best athlete on the team, and the Terrapins intend to take advantage of that quality. Likely will return kicks, play in the defensive backfield and occasionally line up as a wide receiver. If a guy can play and help us somewhere, were going to use him, Durkin said. Likely started at cornerback last year but also ran the ball 11 times, caught five passes, returned 23 punts and took back 35 kickoffs.EXPERIENCE BEHIND CENTER: Howard quarterback Kalen Johnson threw for 1,174 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Hes also capable of tucking the football and running downfield. Hes a dual threat, Durkin said. He can create plays with his feet and throw the ball.BACKFIELD IN MOTION: Senior Ty Johnson stands atop the depth chart at running back, but Durkin intends to shuffle several players at the position on game day. We have three or four guys that you could make a case for to be the starter, Durkin said. Ty worked really hard and earned the opportunity to be our starter. But well have a good rotation going at that position.CLOSE BY, BUT STILL STRANGERS: This will be the first football game between Maryland and Howard, even though the schools are separated by only 7 + miles. Maryland last played a school based in the nations capital in 1955, when it beat George Washington 19-0. Matt Joyce Braves Jersey . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Dale Murphy Jersey . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. http://www.baseballbravesproshop.com/ender-inciarte-braves-jersey/ . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Phil Niekro Braves Jersey . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Chipper Jones Jersey . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. The promise of more mountains to climb has tempted Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Steve Hansen into extending his contract with New Zealand Rugby until the 2019 tournament.Hansens unparalleled record of 52 wins from 57 Tests made it easy for the board to reach a unanimous decision, NZR chief executive Steve Tew said on Monday.Steves winning record is unsurpassed in the modern era, he said.Hansens ability to grow the team through selection and to inspire players to reach greater heights played a key part in the NZR boards decision.Hansen told media he had thought long and hard about standing down following the All Blacks 34-17 Rugby World Cup final win over Australia in October last year.I often get asked, why would you go back when youve climbed the mountain? he said.The simple answer, as I had more time to think about it, was that I dont know if we have climbed the highest mountain.There are still mountains to be climbed - we can still get better, and I can still get better as a coach.Hansen said his decision took time, as he thought it through to make sure it was right for hiis family, for himself and for the team.ddddddddddddI had to ask a couple of questions - did I have the energy, passion and commitment to get up and drive this team the way it needs to be driven?The recent Welsh series, won 3-0 by the All Blacks, confirmed that he did, and the lure of winning a third successive Rugby World Cup, at the 2019 event in Japan, provided extra incentive.Three in a row - its never been done before, and its a challenge this team will really enjoy.Hansen, who was appointed head coach in 2012, wouldnt entirely rule on the possibility of staying on for the 2023 World Cup, pointing to 94-year-old New Zealand athletics coach Arch Jelley as an example of what was possible.But theres only one Arch Jelley, so I wont be coaching at 94, I can promise you that.Its not even worthwhile me thinking about that. I think the contract runs through to March 2020, and Im comfortable with that.After the World Cup in 2019, therell be decisions to be made. ' ' '