Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen has seen more crossroads than Rand McNally. This time, it’s more like train tracks with the Acela Express approaching.
Maryland has lost two straight heading to No. 10 Rutgers on Saturday. The same Rutgers that was a joke until last year. An easy non-conference opponent when scheduled years ago is suddenly a two-touchdown favorite in the teams’ first meeting since 1942.
The Terrapins (2-2) are reeling. Blowing a 21-point lead in the 31-24 loss at Wake Forest this past Saturday was devastating. While the Washington Redskins get a week off to forget the stink of a comparable meltdown the following day, the Terps must quickly focus on an even tougher opponent.
This is where the rubber meets the road for the Terps. A victory revives the program and gains national respect. A loss means 2-3 and struggling to avoid a third losing season in four years. The Terps looked like a 6-6 team entering the season. Now they must earn it with two more ranked teams looming.
“[Rutgers is] a ranked team. You always want to knock off a ranked team just to show the world, all the people that do the polls, what we’re made of,” running back Keon Lattimore said.
What are the Terps made of — rubber or steel? It seems an annual question for Friedgen despite four bowl teams in six seasons. The Terps have often started slow, finished fast under him. This looks no different with a young quarterback and offensive line expected to still improve. That is, if their confidence isn’t shattered this week.
“I’ve said many times – what are you going to do?” Friedgen asked players during the Monday night practice. “I just told them I have a lot of faith in them and their character and fortitude.
“I told them there’s things in life that’s going to be worse than this that we’re going to have to deal with.”
Still, the Wake Forest loss wears on Friedgen even more than most. The tying touchdown came with three seconds remaining in regulation. One more play on offense or defense might have saved the game, rallied their confidence.
Friedgen opted for encouragement rather than punishing practices for the loss. There are enough haters on the Internet already. Better to bunker down for Rutgers and hope for redemption.
“When everybody is down on you, you have to be with [the players] and support them,” Friedgen said. “I don’t think it’s time to get on them. Kids are more resilient than coaches.”
Mostly, Friedgen is working on quarterback Jordan Steffy’s confidence. The junior walked across campus with his baseball cap pulled a little lower this week. Steffy showed great promise in the first two wins, then some indecision as the offensive line caved in the losses.
If the Terps are to swagger, Steffy has to be the dagger.
“I’m sure his confidence is not where it once was,” Friedgen said, “but I can remember when Scott McBrien wanted to come out of the game and he won 21 games.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected]
