Unfortunately for the Terps, the memory of this game will not be so easy to wipe away.

Hoping to use the final installment of the Kickoff Classic as an opportunity to erase the painful memory of a humbling loss to Florida in last year's Orange Bowl, the Terps fell to Notre Dame, 22-0 before a crowd of 72,903 and a national television audience.

The game marked the first time the Terps have been shut out since falling to Clemson 23-0 on October 10, 1998. Notre Dame (1-0), which picked up a victory for new coach Tyrone Willingham, out-gained the Terps 356-133 in total offense. That total was the lowest offensive output for Maryland since being held to 127 total yards by Virginia on November 1, 1997.

"We didn't play very well offensively," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. "I knew Notre Dame had a good defense. We had some kids that may have lost their poise, and didn't make many plays. Notre Dame played better than we did. They did some things differently than we anticipated ... but it wasn't what they did it's how they did it. We didn't win a lot of one-on-one battles. They did."

The Terps offense looked nothing like it did last season. In addition to missing injured tailback Bruce Perry -- last season's ACC offensive player of the year -- the Terps rarely ran the option that was such a staple of last year's production under the leadership of then-senior quarterback Shaun Hill.

Scott McBrien, whose start at quarterback was almost a game-time decision by Friedgen, saw several of his passes dropped as he completed just nine of 23 passes for 84 yards with two interceptions.

McBrien received virtually no support from the running game as the Terps rushed for just 16 yards on 21 carries.

All-American candidate Brooks Barnard, who was clearly favoring his left ankle which he sprained on Thursday, shanked his first punt of the game, sending it just seven yards. Despite the injury, he remained busy the entire game, punting seven times for a 37.6 yard average and a long of 48 yards.

Perhaps the best news for the Terps was that the defense didn't allow an offensive touchdown by the Irish. That stat proved little consolation when facing a kicker in Nicholas Setta, who set Kickoff Classic records with five field goals, including a record-tying 51-yarder on his way to earning game MVP honors for the Irish.

True freshman D'Qwell Jackson led the Terps with 14 tackles. Senior AA candidate E.J. Henderson (who was questionable after undergoing off-season back surgery) and Jamahl Cochran each had 11 tackles.

The defensive play of the game for Maryland, however, was made by defensive back Curome Cox. The junior made a touchdown-saving tackle of Notre Dame quarterback Carlyle Holiday at the 1 yard line after Holiday evaded tacklers for a 14-yard run. The Irish settled for their third field goal of the game to take a 9-0 lead.

"The situation we were put in we came through and made sure that we kept our goal and kept our focus and didn't want to let them score," Cox said. "Regardless of whatever happened we shouldn't let them get in a position to kick field goals. But that happened. Overall I thought we never gave up today on defense."

"I look out there on defense and we've got some bright spots," Friedgen said. "We have three true freshmen -- Shawne Merriman, D'Qwell Jackson and William Kershaw -- lining up against a senior-laden Notre Dame football team ... they went right in there. I thought our defense played hard. We just wore down a bit."

Setta's record-setting field goal gave the Irish a 3-0 first-quarter lead and began a string of five straight field goals and gave him some confidence after missing his first attempt of the game from 54 yards.

Even as the Terps trailed the Irish 6-0 midway through the second quarter they still had to consider themselves fortunate. But an offense that was already struggling sputtered even more, as the Terps went four straight possessions without a first down between the second and fourth quarter and only managed seven first downs for the game.

The game's only touchdown left another painful taste for the Terps. A 76-yard third-quarter punt return by Vontez Duff ended a Maryland streak of not allowing a punt to be returned for a touchdown that dated back to 1991.

The touchdown put the Irish ahead 16-0, but the Terps looked like they might answer right back when Steve Suter returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards to the Notre Dame 47.

Maryland failed to pick up a first down, however, and turned the ball back over to the Irish when Mario Merrills was tackled for a three-yard loss on a fourth and four play at the Notre Dame 26.

On Maryland's next possession, Friedgen replaced McBrien with Chris Kelley, whose return from reconstructive knee surgery happened faster than almost anyone could have predicted.

Then, quicker than you can say "How could this game get any worse" it almost did for Kelley and the Terps. Kelley -- who entered the game not having thrown a pass in a college game, dropped back to pass and was smothered for a heart-stopping nine-yard sack by Cedric Hilliard.

Kelley played three series and completed three of nine passes for 33 yards and an interception.

"Not having Bruce (Perry) hurt us pretty good, but they got a good defense," Kelley said. "They were 14th last year. We just weren't ready for what they threw at us. It felt good to get out there and get my feet wet."

While Kelley's feet got wet, Friedgen thinks both of his starting quarterback candidates might also be a bit wet behind the ears.

"You've got to try to put them in situations where they're going to be successful," Friedgen said. "Right now one of the things we have to do is probably cut back on the things we do offensively. We felt like the other guys can handle it but I don't think our quarterbacks can and that's where it all starts. We've got to probably simplify and get them to make quicker and faster decisions."

The evening's frustrations were probably best summed up late in the fourth quarter, after most of the crowd had already headed for the exits.

In an attempt to salvage a little bit of pride, and perhaps even some points, the Terps went for it on fourth down and five and the remaining Maryland fans in attendance made as much noise as they could in an attempt to inspire a surge.

Instead, Notre Dame's Shane Walton intercepted his third pass of the game, as he ended Maryland's last possession and the Irish ran out the final 99 seconds.