Redskins coach Mike Shanahan irritated fans and media this week, refusing to reveal his starting quarterback for Thursday’s exhibition game. Not to be outdone, Maryland coach Randy Edsall would not say on Thursday what color combination the Terrapins would wear for their opener Labor Day night against Miami. “We’ll have a helmet. We’ll have a jersey, shoulder pads, shoes,” Edsall joked. “It’s like ‘Mission Impossible.’ If the information gets out, we’ll self-destruct. I’d rather be around for a few more years.”
Edsall explained he was “sworn to secrecy” on the matter.
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It’s well known that Shanahan operates on a strict, need-to-know basis. But Edsall, too, is no less zealous when it comes to guarding information.
This preseason, reporters have discovered that access to Edsall and his team is tightly controlled. Only four practices have been open to the media, a departure from the Ralph Friedgen regime, when most sessions had some limited viewing time and reporters had virtual carte blanche afterward with players and assistants.
Like former Redskins coach Marty Schotenheimer — who didn’t allow his assistants to speak to the media — Edsall is the lone voice of the team. Two weeks ago, Maryland assistants were available en masse for roughly 45 minutes on media day, but they will be off-limits the rest of the year.
So if you’re curious about nuances on the offense, defense or special teams, don’t expect to hear anything this season from coordinators Gary Crowton, Todd Bradford or Lyndon Johnson. They can be seen but not heard.
– Kevin Dunleavy
