Recollections of Sept. 11, 2001

The sun was shining brightly on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 in College Park as many Maryland staff members were at or on the way to meetings on campus. An undefeated football team was preparing for a big non-conference home game vs. West Virginia scheduled for that Saturday. Other Terrapin teams were preparing for contests across the country from Denver to Massachusetts, but that all quickly changed. Sept. 11, 2001 turned into a day of horror as the United States was under attack in New York City, Pennsylvania and just a few miles from campus at the Pentagon. 

Through the eyes of 14 current Maryland staff members, who were on campus in 2001, relive their recollections of that fateful day.

Heather AriannaIn 2001: Assistant Director, Academic Support and Career Development (Coordinator of Football Academics)Now: Associate Director, Gossett Center for Academic and Personal Excellence

September 11, 2001 started the same the way most mornings did in College Park.  We had football study hall at 7:30 a.m., and the coaches had their normal meetings. As I made my way back to my office at the end of study hall (this was before the “new” academic center was built so my office was the corner that is now the walk-through into the Academic Center), I heard our video guy yell something out.  My office was right across the hall so I hurried into his office to see what was wrong. He always had multiple TVs on and together we watched the replay of the first plane hitting the North World Trade Center Tower. 

We didn’t talk — we just watched, completely stunned. Before we could even begin to process what had happened, the second plane struck the South Tower as we were watching on live TV. I remember tears running down my face as I thought of all of those people in the Towers—some who were friends.  

I grew up in Central New York and went to Syracuse University. I had a ton of friends from Long Island, NYC and the surrounding areas. I remember going back to my office to call my mom who had recently moved to Atlanta. We had all been at the Kickoff Classic just days before at the Meadowlands and had spent much of our time in NYC.  My dad had retired from Syracuse and was then the Head Athletic Trainer at Georgia Tech and the two had played each other, so our whole family had made the trip.  

Our video guy yelled again and I ran in to see a plane in the side of the Pentagon.  This shook me even more because it was getting way too close to where we were.  There was a lot of talk about the planes that were still in the air and where they might be heading.  College Park is only miles from Andrews Air Force Base, the Capitol, and the White House.  We were literally along the flight path.

At this point, one of our players, Aaron Smith, came in to meet with me.  He had no idea what was happening.  As I mentioned the Pentagon, he became visibly shaken.  He said to me, “Ms. Heather, my dad works at the Pentagon.”  Then he started to get upset.  We tried calling his dad and then his mom to no avail. I hugged him and told him that it was going to be okay and that he could stay until we got in touch with his parents. 

Another student came in so I excused myself for a moment to go let the coaches know.  As I was talking with Coach Locksley and Coach Franklin, another student, Melvin Fowler Jr., who was from Long Island, came in very upset.  His brother was supposed to be at the WTC, working.  No one could reach him.  Once we finally talked to him, we got Melvin under control as much as possible, and Coach Locks took him into his office.  Then another student came in, Sal Aragona, who was from Staten Island. Same thing.  His mom worked in the WTC as well.  He went with Coach Franklin.  As I passed Coach Brattan’s office, his door was shut.  We made eye contact and he waved me in and told me that he also had a family member there.  The next few hours were spent going office to office checking on the players.  We kept them separated just in case someone got bad news.  

Classes had been cancelled and people were leaving campus in droves, but I don’t remember anyone leaving our building.  People were scared, but we were trying to keep things calm for the kids.  Coach decided to have practice to try and keep things as normal as possible. He got a lot of flack for this, but I really think he just wanted to try and get people’s minds off of what was happening.  He was from New York as well.  It affected him.  

After practice, we were supposed to have a meeting with the students to assign tutors. We had them all in the big team meeting room and just tried to keep things as light as possible.  None of us had any answers.  The three players had all heard about (or from) their family members at that point and all of them were okay.  Each had a story about how they survived.  One was at a meeting at a different location, one had stopped on the way to work to light a candle at church for a sick family member, and one had been at a meeting in another part of the building and was able to get out. 

The games scheduled for that weekend were postponed, but we kept the kids around to try to create some normalcy.  Many criticized Coach Friedgen for doing that, but I really think he was doing what he thought was best.  And then two weeks later, a tornado went through campus killing two people and causing destruction.  

These things brought us closer together though. We all became a tight knit family that fall and built relationships that have lasted - and we even won a championship. 

To this day, every year on September 11, I get a message from Aaron Smith whose dad worked in the Pentagon just telling me that he is thinking about me or thanking me for sitting with him for hours until we knew his dad was okay. Those are the things that mean the most.  #TerpFamForever  #NeverForget

Matt CharvatIn 2001: Assistant Athletic Trainer, Football and Women’s Basketball Now: Associate Head Athletic Trainer, Men’s Basketball

I remember being in the football athletic training room and just finishing morning treatments on the guys.  Hearing the news, I walked up to the film room to see what was going on and I was standing right beside Coach Friedgen just as the first tower fell.  We were all in disbelief.  Then I remember walking to the top of Maryland Stadium’s upper deck and seeing the smoke from the Pentagon.  I remember everything so vividly.

Sasho CirovskiIn 2001: Head Coach, Men’s SoccerNow: Head Coach, Men’s Soccer

Sept. 11, 2001 started out as a spectacular routine Fall day. Then BOOM. The world changed. I heard about the first plane in my car. The initial report was vague. I saw the second on the television in my office. No vagueness anymore. This was intentional. I remember screaming in denial, swearing in disbelief, and like everyone else … freaking out. I called my wife and kids. I called the team. We didn’t have training that day. A day later our team went to the Pentagon to serve by providing water and Gatorade to our first responders. We didn’t have games for the next 10 days. There were no planes in the sky. It was a scary and eerie time.

Beth DeskinsIn 2001: Director of Operations, Women’s Basketball Now: Director of Development Administration

I remember walking into a head coaches meeting that morning in Tyser Tower and one of the coaches said there was a plane that crashed into the World Trade Tower.  There were no TVs in Tyser and this was before smartphones and texting, so we had no clue what was happening in “real time” until after the meeting. When the meeting ended, I walked across the street to our offices in Cole Field House. When I walked into my office suite, the story had changed drastically and my co-workers looked stunned.  

I shared an office with an assistant coach, Jocelyn Katsock, who was an alum of NYU and had coached there prior to Maryland.  We had a TV in our office and the other coaches were standing there watching it.  My first glimpse was the TV and the very vivid sight of the burning towers and the unnatural gaping holes in the towers.  Soon after that, Jocelyn’s cell phone stopped working because the New York City area code was jammed with people calling loved ones.  Then we saw the news about the Pentagon and then Shanksville.  We had staff and student-athletes that had family near the Pentagon, so another wave of folks not knowing about their loved ones.

Then we watched the first tower fall.  Jocelyn was in tears.  She started telling me what was there prior to the tower falling and the image of so many folks in that area on a Tuesday morning.  I remember her saying “you don’t understand how many people are in there and under there.”  I had no words to comfort her.

They cancelled classes the rest of the day and the next day.  We had several local kids that wanted to go home. I decided to stay at work, while others left, just to be there.  I remember walking out of Cole that evening and the sky was so blue and it was so quiet-no traffic, no airline noise, nothing.  

At the time, as a staff, we wanted some normalcy for our student-athletes so the team came in the next day for a work out. DOBOs (Directors of Basketball Operations) were not allowed at workouts back then.  I remember Coach Weller coming back into the office after the team run, and I asked how the players were doing.  She told me that Arek Deng --  a student-athlete from the Sudan -- where her family had fled from violence years before said, “This happens in my country, not here in the U.S.”  

The fall competitions were cancelled that weekend.  My officemate spent the next few weeks attending funerals in New York.  Our world had changed. I think about that day a lot during these days of COVID. Everything stopped and there was so much unknown.  We adjusted how we went about life and we had new challenges like team airline travel.  I do remember in the months afterward that we as a nation, a community, a team, a family made it through, stronger, more grateful and we were better people because of it.

Kerry DziczkaniecIn 2001: Assistant Coach, Women’s Soccer Now: Coordinator for Olympic Sports

Thinking back to Fall 2001 … it was an amazing beginning to early August preseason as we travelled as a team on an international trip to Europe to play five games in Germany, Holland and returned to campus unified and experienced from the trip. The team and staff were excited about the fall 2001 season and began the year 3-1 with an upcoming trip out west to Colorado for two games the week of September 11th.

Tuesday, September 11th, that morning I was at a 9 a.m. coaches meeting at Tyser Tower at the football stadium.

I lived in locally in Greenbelt, so I told coaches Shannon (Cirovski) and Katherine (Remy) that I would plan on going to staff meeting to represent women’s soccer so they could come in a little later if they had other appointments, given we would be traveling as a team in two days to Colorado. 

At the end of the staff meeting around 9:45 a.m., I was walking out of the football stadium back to Cole Field House and it was an amazing fall day on campus, clear blue sky, cool temperature. I was truly in awe of how nice it was out, that’s when I noticed off in the distance, direction south toward D.C., little curls of brown and black smoke in the sky. I did not think much of it because when the visibility is clear like that you can see stuff happening in D.C. and around the area. So, I continued on to Cole Field House, where our soccer offices were, and walked into our office suite just before 10 a.m. I greeted a hello to our administrative assistant, ‘Linda B’ (Barbour) who was sitting at her desk glued to her little black and white TV (which was a little funny as she usually only watched her “shows” on her lunch break) and so I said “Linda B what the heck are you watching this early at 10 a.m., I thought your “shows” come on later during lunch?

I was kind of being silly with her, but she did not respond, did not move an inch, she continued to watch silently, that’s when she said “oh my god.” I said ‘what Linda B?’ I moved closer and looked at the screen and wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at, it was a tall building on fire, lots of smoke, more smoke than fire and then watched with her the building just pancaked down within seconds. Linda B. was still seated and I was standing next to her and I said, ‘What is going on? Where is that?’ She told me it was New York City and the World Trade Center, and she said both were hit with airplanes a little while ago and she said there was a report that the Pentagon was hit as well. That’s when I was like ‘OMG, the pentagon was hit, Linda B.?’  

I just walked across the  parking lot from the football stadium and told her I saw smoke in the direction of D.C. Both us just sat there in disbelief and asked out aloud, “what is going on?”

Afterwards I called Shannon, our head coach, to see if she had seen the news (cell phones back then were not what they are today). It took me a while to reach her because I kept getting ‘all circuits are busy.’ 

I immediately thought of one of our recent alums Jackie Mynarski who was attending law school in D.C., at Catholic University and tried to reach her to see if she was okay because there were other reports of another plane heading toward D.C., with the White House and the Capitol as  targets. Being familiar with D.C., both targets were not far from Catholic University. Once I reached Jackie, I remember her saying it was ‘chaos in D.C., sirens, emergency vehicles, cars, people on the streets just trying to get the hell out of D.C.’ Also, I know she was really worried because she is from the New York City area and had family working in Manhattan that morning, and believe she was not able to reach anyone. I told Jackie to make her way to College Park if she could as we would be here and likely gathering the team at our practice time around 3 p.m., to check in with everyone. 

From 10:30 a.m., on it was all a blur. Shannon wanted to gather with the team at our 3 p.m. training time to check in with everyone and then anyone that wanted to get a brief session in on the practice field at Varsity Team House. On my way from Cole Field House to VTH, I remember walking by Stamp Student Union and people were just streaming out, hugging, crying, many, many astonished faces of disbelief. 

Once I got to the VTH, we met in the locker room with the team and Shannon spoke with the team about gathering, wanting to check in with everyone, making sure they knew if they needed anything to let us know, and the best place to be at that moment, was to be together. We then went outside to the grass fenced-in practice field next to VTH, our plan was to just warm up and play a little. As we were setting up the field, the SOUND we heard approaching was unreal, it was deafening. We were frozen in our tracks. Everyone looked up and I believe it was two or three F-16 fighter jets literally just above us. They literally looked like they were flying just above the high-rise dorms next to our field. Honestly, after that I do not remember a damn thing, except we were safe and together as a team.

Cheryl HarrisonIn 2001: Assistant Athletic Director, Major GiftsNow:  Associate AD - Principal & Planned Gifts

I was in my office in Cole talking with a donor on the telephone when he yelled — he was watching television in his office in Bethesda as the second plane flew into the World Trade Center. I wasn’t aware anything was happening, so he told me about the first crash. I pulled out an old, very small black and white television I had in the office and turned on the Today Show. Other staff members came in and watched, but most soon left because I couldn’t control my sobbing. 

One of my best friends worked in the WTC and I wasn’t able to get her on the phone to make sure she was okay. I didn’t remember exactly what floor her office was on, but I knew it was a high one. An hour or so later, my mom called to let me know she had spoken with my friend’s mother, and my friend thankfully was late to work that day, and was just nearing her garage as the plane hit the tower.

I remember how we were walking around Cole like zombies, scared to death. Some were wondering aloud about our vulnerability as a campus. Many wanted the campus to close early. We also worried about all of the Terrapin Club members and alumni in that area, as well as the families of students from that area.

By the early afternoon, I couldn’t take it anymore … I needed to hold my niece/daughter, so I left to pick her up from school. She didn't know what was going on, but being taken out of school early made her suspect that something bad had happened, and I didn't do a good job of masking how shaken I was. I remember how blessed I felt to be able to hold her and my dog when we got home. I also remember the rush of patriotism I felt. I think I hummed God Bless America for weeks.

Johnny HollidayIn 2001: Voice of the Terrapins Now: Voice of the Terrapins

It's hard to believe it's been almost 20 years since Sept. 11, 2001. To me, it seems like it was only yesterday. The Terps had defeated Eastern Michigan and were set to play West Virginia that Saturday in a big game. Things were good but that was about to change. I was in my office at home when the phone rang close to 9 a.m. It was a friend of mine who in a frantic voice said, ‘Are you watching television?’ I was not. But, I quickly turned it on and stood in front of the tube wondering if I was in the middle of a bad dream, a nightmare. All I could do was shake my head in disbelief. My wife, Mary Clare, joined me and together, neither of us could believe what we were seeing. 

Terrorists attacking from the air, first the North Tower, then the South Tower of the World Trade Center. People jumping from the flames, all captured on live television, buildings collapsing, absolute panic from everyone. The first responders did their best to rescue those trapped in the rubble. The Pentagon was hit by another hijacked plane. It was absolutely unreal what we were witnessing. 

I would find out later,  neighbors of ours, just down the street, The Heidenbergers, their sister-in-law Michelle was one of the flight attendants on that flight. Then another flight went down in Shanksville, Pa. Innocent lives were lost, men, women, children, all at the hand of terrorists.

To this day I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried as did millions of others around the world. It might have taken place September 11, 2001 but to me 9-11 seems like yesterday. It's a day we should never forget and forever remember those that lost their lives.

Michael LocksleyIn 2001: Running Backs Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, FootballNow: Head Coach, Football

It’s hard to forget that day. I remember sitting in our offensive staff meeting when Coach Friedgen stepped out. We continued to work on the game plan for our next opponent, West Virginia. Our Executive Assistant, Karyl Henry, came in a few minutes later and told us that there was a plane crash in New York City and that the World Trade Center was hit. We all thought it was an accident, not an attack.

A little later, Karyl came back in and said that another plane crashed and that now both towers had been struck. We all became really concerned. About 30 minutes after that we learned that a plane struck the Pentagon and we knew it was an attack. We couldn’t believe this was happening so close to campus now.

From then on, we were glued to the TV. Getting that news sent shockwaves through our building. I remember Coach Friedgen bringing in some of the guys on the leadership team to talk about it.

We had quite a few kids on the team from New York and our first instinct was to connect with them and their families to see if they were affected. I think one of our players, Sal Aragona’s dad owned a hot dog stand near there. I remember trying to get in touch with Melvin Fowler and his family because Melvin’s brother worked in one of the towers. It wasn’t until later that night that we were able to confirm that everyone associated with our team was safe.

Missy MehargIn 2001: Head Coach, Field HockeyNow: Head Coach, Field Hockey

When recalling Sept. 11, 2001, what I remember most is trying to be a leader at a time of chaos, fear and uncertainty. In some ways, I feel similar today with the pandemic to what we felt then. 

We were supposed to travel to UMass to play the Minutewomen and Louisville, but the ACC cancelled all matches for the weekend. Our women wanted to play and I wanted to support them in whatever way I could. I called my college teammate and longtime friend, Anne Wilkinson, who was head coach at Ohio State. We scheduled a matchup with Michigan State at Ohio State for Sept. 17. Since airports were shut down, we bussed out there and won, 4-1. I just remember we were given amazing support from our university to do what the players wanted to do.

Looking back, it’s about turning potential chaos and fear into organization and leadership. That's what I remember. In many ways, it’s the same numbness we feel today during this pandemic and as leaders, you have to lead and try to do the best you can.

Cathy ReeseIn 2001: Assistant Coach, Women's LacrosseNow: Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse

I remember the morning of Sept 11, 2001 getting ready to go to work. I ate breakfast and was packing up to walk out of the house and head to work when my boyfriend at the time (now husband - Brian) called and said turn on the TV and don't go anywhere. I turned on the TV and remember watching the replay of the plane hitting the first tower. Then I remember watching live the second plane hit the second tower and being terrified as our nation was under attack.  

Over the next few hours I just stared at the TV watching all of the horrific scenes as the towers collapsed. I checked in with other members of our staff, and then started to call our team to make sure everyone stayed inside and safe and there was such a feeling of fear and uncertainty. I remember staring at the TV just watching, crying, and not understanding what was happening in the world. I watched so many people run to help and so many people doing everything they can to try to save lives. Definitely something our nation will never forget.

Yvette RooksIn 2001: Primary Care PhysicianNow: Head Team Physician and Assistant Director in the University Health Center

I was not at Maryland in College Park on Sept. 11, 2001. I was in my office in Baltimore and when I heard the news I tried to reach my daycare and all lines were busy.  I left work and picked up my then-4-year old. I held her tight for three days.  She had no clue what was happening but remembered she could not go to "school."

Matt SwopeIn 2001: Senior Outfielder, BaseballNow: Head Coach, Baseball

I remember that day vividly. I was sitting in my apartment on Knox Road watching the news in disbelief. Like most watching, it didn’t seem real. My thoughts went from what people in New York must be feeling to immediate fear when I heard a plane hit Washington D.C. I immediately went to panic as my dad was a D.C. police officer at the time. I was able to contact him and find out he was safe. Once I heard it hit the Pentagon, I realized my girlfriend’s mom worked in the building at the time and that set off another few tough hours until she was contacted to learn her mom was okay. 

A lot of emotions went into that day, from disbelief to fear to relief and finally anger at the attack on innocent Americans. We ended up canceling practice that day and I just remember everyone banding together trying to make sense of it all.

It was a tragic day I will never forget.

Gary WilliamsIn 2001: Head Coach, Men’s Basketball Now: Senior Managing Director for Alumni Relations and Athletic Development

On Sept. 11, 2001, I was in my office in Cole Field House. At 8:30 a.m., a friend called and said to turn on my television. Shortly after, I saw the second plane crash in the Twin Towers and then came the news of the plane hitting The Pentagon. 

Two months later, we played in Madison Square Garden in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. The head coaches involved were taken to Ground Zero. It was incredible to see the devastation and sadness but also, it was impactful to see the work of the rescuers. 

Three months later, we were in Atlanta for the National Championship Game. For the National Anthem, the tattered flag from Ground Zero was marched onto the court. It was a very emotional moment and something I will never forget.

Jason YellinIn 2001: Assistant Media Relations Director/Publications Director Now: Associate Athletic Director/Strategic Communications Officer

I can vividly recall the sun shining brightly as I was driving down Greenbelt Road -- right behind my fellow media relations officemate, Kevin Messenger -- on the way to our office at Cole Field House and hearing the radio DJs talking about a plane hitting the World Trade Center. I remember thinking from what they were saying it didn’t sound like a big plane, of course that wasn’t the case. I remember Kevin and I running into our office via the side door of Cole only to see what was going on via the small TV we had in our office. 

As we walked into the office, the second plane crashed into the Towers just after 9 a.m. There was such sadness and disbelief at what we were watching. Being a native New Yorker, I immediately started wondering who I might have known who was in New York City that day, hoping they were OK. I tried calling my parents and brothers - all of whom were in New York at the time, but the phone lines didn’t work. I can remember that sound of a constant busy signal. Eventually, I was able to connect with them and learned everyone was alright. We continued to watch the terrifying footage on TV and couldn’t believe it as we watched the Towers collapse. 

Then word came of another plane crashing into The Pentagon. That really frightened us, being so close to the campus. Kevin reminded me that we tried to call off the normally-scheduled Tuesday football press conference but we couldn’t contact the media because the phone lines weren’t working. This was long before everyone had a cell phone - texting wasn't an option - and email wasn’t as widely used. So the press conference was still on for later that morning. Once we got to Tyser Tower, we knew the press conference wouldn’t actually happen. All of the media and our staff were glued to the televisions, watching with sadness. We didn’t talk football, we knew this bigger and wondered where else might be targeted. Later that day, I remember going to the top rows of the upper deck at then-Byrd Stadium, to see the smoke billowing out. It was truly surreal. 

Every Sept. 11, I take time to remember and never forget the terrorist acts on that day in 2001. Our family has visited Freedom Tower several times and we always take time to reflect on that sad day.