Enough fantasizing about Mike Leach. Let’s talk first about the bloodletting.
Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen was unceremoniously fired Monday, a decision based less in results than in economics. The Terrapins averaged 39,168 fans in 54,000-seat Byrd Stadium — and failed to fill the new luxury suites — even as it became apparent they were headed to a winning season and then a bowl. The result? Maryland got shafted, falling to the eighth spot in the ACC’s hierarchy — the Military Bowl — despite a tie for third in the conference.
But Friedgen got shafted, too, and a lot of that has to do with a lack of perspective.
It seemed almost a given that the man affectionately known as “The Fridge” in College Park was on his way out after what transpired at Maryland over the summer. Athletic director Debbie Yow announced she was taking the same position at N.C. State in June, and Maryland president Wallace Loh, hired in August, brought in Army AD Kevin Anderson to replace her in September. A new president, new athletic director and the Terps’ 2-10 debacle in 2009 meant Friedgen needed to perform a miracle to stick around.
He nearly did, taking his young, 8-4 team within a game of playing for the ACC title. But for a new president and a new AD — neither of whom have any ties to Maryland’s past — that wasn’t enough.
What Loh and Anderson are missing is context. Those of us who were in College Park in the 1990s have some. We remember the prolific run-and-shoot offenses under Mark Duffner. We also remember that the offense couldn’t keep up with a defense that allowed 35.5 points a game from 1992 to 1994, including 43.5 in 1993. We recall Scott Milanovich’s gambling scandal and the 1995 team starting 4-0 and earning its first ranking since 1986 during his suspension, then his bumbled return that resulted in a 6-5 finish. And who can forget the Black Thunder goal-line offense, affectionately known as “Black Blunder”? Duffner’s biggest victory? Leading Florida State 20-17 at halftime in 1994 only to lose 52-20.
And Ron Vanderlinden was worse, winning only seven ACC games in four years.
Friedgen, meanwhile, went 74-50 in 10 years. This isn’t to say his time in College Park wasn’t coming to a close when his contract ended next year. But put into perspective, the way the ax fell just wasn’t right for the man who made football matter again at Maryland.
