Greg Schiano responded to a charge by Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen that Rutgers safety Joe Lefeged intentionally tried to injure Terps quarterback Jordan Steffy last week by saying the remark was "a very big assumption to make." "That's the beauty of this country -- freedom of speech," the Knights' head coach said after practice yesterday. fter seeing the tape of Lefeged's helmet-to-helmet hit on Steffy, which sent the Maryland starter to the sidelines with a concussion and shoulder injury late in the first half, Friedgen said at his Monday press conference that "(Rutgers) went after him (Steffy). They were trying to take him out of the game." No penalty was called by the all-ACC crew, which the league said was a mistake on the part of the officials. ACC spokesman Mike Finn said Lefeged's contact was an "unintended, not purposeful hit." "People know that's not me," Schiano said of Friedgen's accusation. "I don't coach that. It's not the way it is. Everybody is allowed to state their opinion."