The third act of the Ralph Friedgen era has started.
Act 1 was 31 wins, two bowl victories and an ACC title in the opening three years. Everyone thought the Maryland coach was the Lombardi of college football. However, Act 2 was three losing seasons in four years. Just two games above .500 overall and one bowl win. Friedgen was looking more like Norv Turner.
Redemption is near, though. With two experienced quarterbacks, 29 seniors and a new offensive coordinator, Maryland should win at least eight games this season. The Terps are sleepers for the ACC crown.
Friedgen begins his eighth season in College Park, two short of Jerry Claiborne’s 1972-81 run that’s second only to Curley Byrd (as in Byrd Stadium) among Terps coaches. Yet, Friedgen’s legacy remains uncertain. After awakening the program from a 15-year slumber, Friedgen’s recent tenure resembles Joe Gibbs II.
Friedgen has always succeeded behind a veteran quarterback and the Terps now have two with a third that might be the best of the trio. Assistant James Franklin returns after a three-year stint in Green Bay and Kansas State to update the West Coast offense. The Terps have a veteran offensive line, a fistful of receivers and one of their faster running backs in recent years.
Maryland will score lots of points. But just like Jim Zorn needs quarterback Jason Campbell to flourish for the Redskins to succeed, Friedgen’s legacy rests on Chris Turner and Jordan Steffy.
Turner seems favored to remain the starter after taking over for an injured Steffy in game five last year when leading Maryland over No. 10 Rutgers. Steffy barely played the rest of the season while Turner also upset No. 8 Boston College — the first time Maryland beat two Top 10 programs in one year. Turner and Steffy are “1A and 1B,” Friedgen said, and they’ll probably stay that way all season. If one cools, the other will play until he cools.
Friedgen needs a big year to rejuvenate the Terps faithful. The buzz seems to have left the program. In-state recruits leave for Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Penn State, Florida and other national programs. Indeed, West Virginia’s four-year winning streak over Maryland has been a double nightmare, especially after the Terps were run over last year by Steve Slaton, who vowed revenge after the Terps passed on the in-state recruit. That overslight still bothers Friedgen, who mentioned Slaton by name yesterday when saying of fleet prospects, “If they can run … I’ll find a place to play him.”
Maryland’s rebirth can’t wait any longer. An upper deck for another 10,000 fans and pricey suites is under construction for 2009. With the recession growing, filling the expensive expansion won’t be easy without winning.
Fortunately, the Terps’ rebuilding finally seems completed. At least, for now.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
