Change Afoot in College Park?
Reports out of both the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun are indicating there will be a meeting between Debbie Yow and Ralph Friedgen tomorrow. The Post is going further to say that there is a distinctive chance there could be a buy out of Ralph Friedgen, and even James Franklin. I don’t think I believe this is what is going to happen. I mean why would you fire a coach with one more game left in the season, after what was a generally decent game in Tallahassee?
If this is what is going to happen, I am going on record saying this is a bad idea. I know things have been tough, but we are one of the youngest teams in the ACC. You also can’t forget how things were for the Terps in the decade and a half before Ralph’s arrival, and I am much happier in the era where there is a 60% chance we go to a bowl game each year, than I am when a 6 win season was just a dream. I’m not happy about the 2009 season, but I don’t think it is a harbinger of how the next few years will be. In fact watching the FSU game yesterday, I started for the first time to feel as though next year we could be pretty successful.
I also think the Washington Post is making a mountain out of a mole hill here, and the Sun is just trying to keep up in case it turns out to be true. Now may be I’m too much of a conspiracty theorist on this, but it seems that the Post does hate us. (What’s the point of having a blog if you can’t push your own ridiculous theories that you have no evidience to support?). I guess we will find out tomorrow. But I am going to say that I am NOT in favor of any coaching move. Not yet anyway. We finish 2010 with 5 wins or less, you could talk me into turning on Ralph, but I am not there yet, and I hope Debbie Yow isn’t either.
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November 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 am
I too feel like the Post is on a witch hunt. They tried to fire Gary last year and now it’s Ralph. I’m sticking with Ralph. This has been a terrible season but injuries and the youth of the team didn’t help matters much. I liked what I saw from Robinson this past weekend and if we can get some offensive line help I think we will be ok. We will have a lot of guys back next year and I’m excited about returning to a bowl game. We are not going to win a National Championship anytime soon and I don’t expect us to be that kind of team. What I do expect is that we can win 6 or 7 games each year. I’m not sure bringing in a new coaching staff will make us a top 10 team overnight. I will stick with Fridge until his contract runs out. Debbie Yow should too. Plus, if state money is used to buy him out I want my 4 furlough days paid back.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
I seriously don’t even read the post much any more, but someone linked that article. I have mixed emotions. While I am forever grateful the Fridge got us to the level where we even care about football. However, for what he makes, and what the athletic department has put into football, they need better on field results. The truth is, the last 5 years have not been that great. So I guess I would be sad to see him go, and they better have a big time guy ready to come in. Personally I don’t see that. I think he deserves to stay, but maybe it is time for some new blood before things get worse. Like I said, I really am torn.
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
So let’s just say Fridge and his staff are let go. I want to know who the intend to bring in here and win 10 games over the next 3 years? Because if you are going to fire Fridge, that is what the new guy has got to do. Are they going to hire the guy from Central Michigan, Cincinnati, or TCU? Doubt it. Those guys will go to better programs or NFL jobs. Then whose left? Charlie Wies? If they hire him, I will no longer be going to MD football games. I saw someone suggested Tuberville. Would he really come here? So basically you are looking at an uproven assistant or a coach from a mid major college who has no connection to MD. A lot of people (Chris, John) were saying that it was time for Gary to go. Well looky, looky at his team now. They won a tournament game last year and hopes are high for this season. I will be angry if Fridge gets fired and they had better impress me with his replacement.
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I agree about Gary. I said if they got rid of Gary, they needed a big name guy. The problem with Fridge is he gets paid big time. He is in the top 25 paid coaches. When was the last time we were a top 25 team? I just wrote a long response on the D7 board about my feelings of Fridge. Go read that, I don’t feel like typing it again, but I really don’t know how I feel. I am thankful he got us where we are, but I am not sure he is the one to get them to the next level.
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Ok, so if Fridge only made $1 million a year he could stay? I said it on the D7 board, but Friedgen set the bar too high by winning 10 games his first three years. If he had won 6 games the past 9 years and gone to 9 bowl games he would have the job, no questions asked. But for some reason too many people think that this is a top 10 football school and we should be playing in the national championship every year. That is not going to happen. I’m happy with a bowl game and at best 7 to 8 wins a year. I believe Friedgen, barring injury and another terrible offensive line recruiting class can do that.
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Why am I the optimist all of a sudden. What is going on???