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For ex-MIami QB Belton, Maryland feels like a perfect fit

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By Chick Ludwig, Staff Writer Updated 2:07 AM Wednesday, September 2, 2009

It was love at first sight the moment Clay Belton stepped on the University of Maryland campus for a visit Friday, Aug. 28.

The former Miami University and Northmont High School quarterback was officially admitted into the Atlantic Coast Conference institution in College Park, Md., on Tuesday as a business management major.

He’ll sit out the 2009 season and have two years of playing eligibility for the Terrapins, whose offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach — James Franklin — has known Belton for four years.

Franklin joined the Terps’ staff in December 2007 after spending two seasons at Kansas State, where he recruited Belton with a scholarship offer. Belton turned down an opportunity to learn under Franklin once, but not this time.

“Maryland came up on the radar because of Coach Franklin,” Belton said. “I was pretty familiar with him and felt very comfortable coming out of high school with him. So I gave him a call.”

Belton said he was welcomed “with open arms” by head coach Ralph Friedgen, the coaching staff and players. Belton cited Maryland’s school spirit, the team’s “close-knit family environment,” Franklin and the opportunity to compete for the starting quarterback job as major factors.

“Maryland is a lot farther from home, so I can almost see (Franklin) as being a father figure,” Belton said. “Not only the guy who can talk to you about football, but other things as well.

“The biggest thing is knowing that I’m going to get a shot to compete for the starting position. It’s a fresh start.”

Clay Belton

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