One of Ralph's Bigger Games?

[Todd-O]

This game tomorrow is much bigger than a boarder war for the Fridge. He's hit a point at Maryland where he really needs to bring it home on National TV. The Terps have had some nice bowl games (total domination of WVU, Tenn, and the Boilermakers) if you take away that thumping in the Fed Ex Orange Bowl... and some big wins over FSU... but they have had some catastrophic failures on Thursday nights and on other nationally televised games.

Their losses to NIU... FSU... and last year's lost to WVU come to mind.

There really is no excuse not to put up a great fight tomorrow. If Maryland limps off the field, then I think folks need to start asking Ralph questions. He's had his time to recruit... and he's landed some nice players... but he's got some big national recruits from the Maryland area that need to be impressed.

[OregonBird]

I do think it is one of his bigger games, especially considering how bad the Terps were thumped last year in this game.

He's been at MD long enough to bring in his own recruits and establish his team's identity. He set the bar high for himself those first few years but the program hasn't maintained that success. I think this game is an important one and an important year. Will the Terps get back to major bowls or will the Terps simply become a program that is happy w/8, maybe 9 wins every year and going to a Champs Sports bowl?

I know its too soon to tell about Steffy, he may be the real deal, but I'm really concerned that a man w/Fridge's offensive reputation hasn't been able to bring in a quality, dual threat QB, and develop him quickly so as to significantly contribute 2-3 years to the program. I'd be content w/the lesser heralded Scott McBriens of the world and those guys are out there but for some reason we're not getting them. I think there is definitely a gap somewhere, either in recruiting the wrong guys or not developing them.

[Todd-O]

I do think it is one of his bigger games, especially considering how bad the Terps were thumped last year in this game.

He's been at MD long enough to bring in his own recruits and establish his team's identity. He set the bar high for himself those first few years but the program hasn't maintained that success. I think this game is an important one and an important year. Will the Terps get back to major bowls or will the Terps simply become a program that is happy w/8, maybe 9 wins every year and going to a Champs Sports bowl?

I know its too soon to tell about Steffy, he may be the real deal, but I'm really concerned that a man w/Fridge's offensive reputation hasn't been able to bring in a quality, dual threat QB, and develop him quickly so as to significantly contribute 2-3 years to the program. I'd be content w/the lesser heralded Scott McBriens of the world and those guys are out there but for some reason we're not getting them. I think there is definitely a gap somewhere, either in recruiting the wrong guys or not developing them.



I share the same concern... the Statham and Hollenbach era was a tough one. One of my primary concerns along those lines has been Fridge's inability (post-McBrien) to have a good QB waiting in the wings. It seems like every year between McBrien and now we've seen simplified offenses with the explanation being that the starting QB doesn't have a good enough grasp of the system. Hollenbach had a nice year last year, but the offense was a shell of what it could be under a dynamic dual-threat QB. Steffy has been on the sidelines for long enough (3 years?) that he should be able to step in and get it rolling at a much higher level. I think the Fridge put a lot of cards on Portis... in fact, I wonder if this academic infraction is the reason that it took so long to name a starter (it was looming for a number of weeks and I think the Fridge was waiting to see what the outcome would before he - potentially - would stick his neck out and name Portis the starter). All that being said, Steffy appears to be a great person and I hope he comes through.

But all of this feeds off of itself... a poor season here and a poor season there is enough to drive away those recruits that could be difference makers. Not to mention that losing a year of V. Davis, Randy Starks, and S. Merriman (and you probably could put Gaither in there) hasn't helped. And we've had some players with major academic issues.