Ralph Friedgen was an assistant coach at the College of William & Mary in 1980. During spring practice there, the football team had to practice on a field adjacent to a mental institution.
“There was a guy who used to come to my practice and he used to say, ?Stay low, stay low!? Friedgen said. “And I said, ?Listen to the guy; he is right.? He was probably some old coach, but I feel that is where I will be some day.”
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Maryland?s head football coach laughed as he told that anecdote at his weekly luncheon Tuesday, but he was not laughing when he discussed his team?s intensity going into its season opener against William & Mary.
“I hope they are excited. I didn?t see that yet,” Friedgen said of Monday?s practice. “I know where I want to go. They have got to want to go; they have got to want to do it. I can?t make them do it.”
Friedgen said that he doesn?t think he can judge the personality of his team until it is tested in a game. But he did say he needs team leaders to step forward to make this a successful season.
“Leaders, whoever they are on this team, need to come forth and start rising up,” Friedgen said. “I have 10 seniors. I think every one of them needs to step forth and be a leader.”
Starting tailback Lance Ball said he thinks the lack of excitement Friedgen mentioned was a result of a tough training camp.
“We are ready,” Ball said. “[With] the two-a-days and the camp, we are kind of tired. The team is in good morale and has good confidence.”
Christian Varner, a junior defensive back, shares Ball?s opinion.
“A lot of guys have nagging injuries, a lot of times guys don?t complain about injuries, and a lot of times guys are just worn down,” Varner said.
Senior punter Adam Podlesh said Friedgen told the team he was not happy with the day?s practice during a team meeting Monday night.
“He said before that this was one of the best camps he has been around, so I think that it was just a day thing,” Podlesh said. “Me, [placekicker] Dan Ennis and [quarterback] Sam Hollenbach are all roommates. Last night, we were sitting in the common room, and the band was playing. They had a late-night practice. We were talking about how that is getting us hyped up for the game. College football is in the air.”
