Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson loves saying “transformative excellence.” Translation — Terps football needs to get much better, and Anderson felt coach Ralph Friedgen couldn’t take them there.
But the real term behind this firing is “Friedgen Fatigue.” Maryland fans were tiring of the coach, as evidenced by declining attendance over the past five years. There was no juice left in the program, much less money. Anderson was forced to fire “The Fridge” despite a 10-year stint that included seven bowls and a high percentage of players graduating.
It’s not enough to simply win and stay out of trouble. It’s all about money. Maryland football was never a huge moneymaker compared to its basketball counterpart, but recently increasing Byrd Stadium’s seating capacity — combined with unsold luxury suites and crowds in the 30,000-range — meant the Terps couldn’t afford to stay with Friedgen after losing $500,000 this season alone. Anderson called it a “strategic business decision.”
Fear the deficit.
Friedgen spoiled his alma mater’s fans by winning 31 games and an ACC title during his first three seasons. Fans loved his Friday breakfasts, Terp Alley pregame walks and postgame fight songs. It all seemed perfect.
But the losing came. Whispers grew that Friedgen won through his predecessor’s recruits. Then the top assistant coaches left for various reasons. Last year’s 10-loss team was the worst in school history, and fans just tuned out Friedgen.
Maryland went 8-4 this year and will face East Carolina in the Military Bowl on Dec. 29. The game has all the makings of a disaster. Friedgen and staff agreed to coach the game despite the formation of a search committee to seek their replacements. It’s the right thing for Friedgen to do. Better to give one last week to players that he swears mean so much to him than leave the game to assistants.
But it’s as awkward as possible. The search committee began hours after the Monday news conference. Anderson confirmed former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach is on the short list of possible replacements. Certainly Leach has a strong resume and a personality that sells tickets. Anderson hopes to name a replacement by Jan. 4 that “once again energizes our fan base.” That sure sounds like Leach.
Friedgen is a lame duck in leg irons. Sure it was time for a change around College Park, but making him walk the Green Mile into RFK Stadium is excessive. Unfortunately, it beats having no coach at all for a bowl game.
Friedgen leaves as Maryland’s second-longest tenured football coach. Certainly, his reign will rank near the 1950s teams that included a national title and the Jerry Claiborne and Bobby Ross eras of the 1970s and 80s.
It badly needed to end. Unfortunately, it also ended badly.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
