Friedgen to return for 10th season per Baltimore Sun

[ccbird]

I actually wouldn't be suprised if this team gets back to .500 next year. Not that that is anything to be excited about.

[JohnD]

Like the other optimist on here, I see all the underclassmen who played and contributed this year and think that things can get better, even soon. A lot of that hinges on the o-line making noticeable progress so that Jamarr Robinson or Danny O'Brien have time to show the ability coaches keep hinting at. Outside of a couple of juniors on the team, everyone who contributed to this year's squad was either a freshman or sophomore.

In particular, I was happy with the way Robinson played against FSU, and the offense moved noticeably better with him running the show against BC.

But if these underclassmen don't show much improvement and the team continues to lose, then I'm willing to look elsewhere. But Friedgen's overall body of work is far and away better than any other coach Maryland has had since at least Bobby Ross, and he's taken the Terps to three times as many bowls as the three coaches who were there before him combined.

[Jules]

A lot of that hinges on the o-line making noticeable progress so that Jamarr Robinson or Danny O'Brien have time to show the ability coaches keep hinting at.

In particular, I was happy with the way Robinson played against FSU, and the offense moved noticeably better with him running the show against BC.

It boils down to the O-Line.

I am thrilled that Turner is gone as QB. Robinson was such a breath of fresh air and talent for the team. Give him the ball and let the offense control the clock to rest the D and this team can win 7-8 next year.

[Mackus]

Like the other optimist on here, I see all the underclassmen who played and contributed this year and think that things can get better, even soon. A lot of that hinges on the o-line making noticeable progress so that Jamarr Robinson or Danny O'Brien have time to show the ability coaches keep hinting at. Outside of a couple of juniors on the team, everyone who contributed to this year's squad was either a freshman or sophomore.

In particular, I was happy with the way Robinson played against FSU, and the offense moved noticeably better with him running the show against BC.

But if these underclassmen don't show much improvement and the team continues to lose, then I'm willing to look elsewhere. But Friedgen's overall body of work is far and away better than any other coach Maryland has had since at least Bobby Ross, and he's taken the Terps to three times as many bowls as the three coaches who were there before him combined.

Yeah, Fridge is definitely the victim of his own success. He's the one who raised the expectations, and while his body of work over the past 5 years or so would certainly look good compared to the performance of his predecessors, it pales in comparison to what he did in his first 5 years.

I'm really hopeful he can get us back to the level that he set the bar at, but I'm not sure I see it happening soon enough for him to save his job.

[Tony-OH]

Like the other optimist on here, I see all the underclassmen who played and contributed this year and think that things can get better, even soon. A lot of that hinges on the o-line making noticeable progress so that Jamarr Robinson or Danny O'Brien have time to show the ability coaches keep hinting at. Outside of a couple of juniors on the team, everyone who contributed to this year's squad was either a freshman or sophomore.

In particular, I was happy with the way Robinson played against FSU, and the offense moved noticeably better with him running the show against BC.

But if these underclassmen don't show much improvement and the team continues to lose, then I'm willing to look elsewhere. But Friedgen's overall body of work is far and away better than any other coach Maryland has had since at least Bobby Ross, and he's taken the Terps to three times as many bowls as the three coaches who were there before him combined.

You need to caveat that with "Vanderlinden's recruits." His recruits have stunk and continue to do so. I was not surprised by the decision to bring him back nor do I really care that much any more. The football program is back to where it was when he took over and that's too bad.

[BaltimoreTerp]

You need to caveat that with "Vanderlinden's recruits." His recruits have stunk and continue to do so. I was not surprised by the decision to bring him back nor do I really care that much any more. The football program is back to where it was when he took over and that's too bad.

Mackus makes a good point too, though. Over the past five seasons, his record is better than any five-season stretch in the decade preceding his arrival. The best of those six possible periods was 1995-1999, at 21-34. So even as bad as the team has been since 2005, it is still better at 30-34* than in the years leading to Friedgen's arrival.

*The Terps played 7 more games over the past five years than the 55 over any of those five-year periods. The overall winning percentage starting in 2005 is .469, still quite a bit better than the .382 from 1995-99. Adjusting by winning percentage gives the Terps a 27-30 record, which is basically still a win better every year.

Unless we're really only looking at last season, it's difficult to say the Terps are back where they started. Better record, still getting decent-at-worst recruiting classes, plenty of support from the people that matter; this year sucked, Friedgen may not deserve to come back, but the program is well ahead of where it was ten years ago.

[Dr. FLK]

Mackus makes a good point too, though. Over the past five seasons, his record is better than any five-season stretch in the decade preceding his arrival. The best of those six possible periods was 1995-1999, at 21-34. So even as bad as the team has been since 2005, it is still better at 30-34* than in the years leading to Friedgen's arrival.

I see your point, but is "slightly better than terrible" really an endorsement worth giving?

[Mackus]

You need to caveat that with "Vanderlinden's recruits." His recruits have stunk and continue to do so. I was not surprised by the decision to bring him back nor do I really care that much any more. The football program is back to where it was when he took over and that's too bad.

Nobody is really saying that Fridge should be back. Most realize the driving factor in him staying is there just isn't money to fire him and Franklin and bring in a top notch coach right now. If we had the cash, he'd be gone, and it'd be the right decision.

That said, the "with Vanderlinden's recruits" stuff really isn't all that meaningful. In other sports, sure, but in football coaching really has a major impact on a team. Fridge deserves the credit for the wins he had in his first 3 season, not Vanderlinden. Its not like baseball where just having the best talent is the vast majority of the equation and coaching is just a fringe thing worth a handful of wins a year. Coaching in football is by far more important than in any other sport. Taking away the accomplishments Friedgen achieved in his first 3 years is a bad argument. Those were his wins.

[Birds of B'more]

Mackus makes a good point too, though. Over the past five seasons, his record is better than any five-season stretch in the decade preceding his arrival. The best of those six possible periods was 1995-1999, at 21-34. So even as bad as the team has been since 2005, it is still better at 30-34* than in the years leading to Friedgen's arrival.

Just because it is better than before doesn't make it good. Is a 5-year record of 30-34 really the sort of standard that Maryland is aiming for and should find acceptable? I not saying MD should be among the regular contenders for national championships, because I doubt they could ever reach that category even under the best scenario......but come on, the ceiling is still much higher than what we've seen lately.

Just look at Boston College. We play in the same conference. They have facilities that are probably even with, if not a bit below, Maryland's. Like the Terps they play in a large TV market, but one where college football is an afterthought. And while it has accurately been noted that the state of MD is not a recruiting hotbed, I would safely guess the area produces more D-1 recruits than New England. But do you know what BC's record is over the past 5 seasons? 47-18. BC's last losing season? 1998. And yes, I know some of the recent years were still spent playing in the Big East...but remember, that was a Big East that still included Miami and VT. So back to my point, given that the two programs are on pretty even ground....and MD may even have some advantages over them.....should Maryland really be that much worse than BC?

[Birds of B'more]

Nobody is really saying that Fridge should be back. Most realize the driving factor in him staying is there just isn't money to fire him and Franklin and bring in a top notch coach right now. If we had the cash, he'd be gone, and it'd be the right decision.

That said, the "with Vanderlinden's recruits" stuff really isn't all that meaningful. In other sports, sure, but in football coaching really has a major impact on a team. Fridge deserves the credit for the wins he had in his first 3 season, not Vanderlinden. Its not like baseball where just having the best talent is the vast majority of the equation and coaching is just a fringe thing worth a handful of wins a year. Coaching in football is by far more important than in any other sport. Taking away the accomplishments Friedgen achieved in his first 3 years is a bad argument. Those were his wins.

Now that I agree on. The whole "Fridge only won with Vanderlinden's recruits" story makes it sound like they fired the better coach. Lest we forget, the best Vanderlinden did with those same players was 5-6.

[BaltimoreTerp]

I see your point, but is "slightly better than terrible" really an endorsement worth giving?

Just because it is better than before doesn't make it good. Is a 5-year record of 30-34 really the sort of standard that Maryland is aiming for and should find acceptable? I not saying MD should be among the regular contenders for national championships' date=' because I doubt they could ever reach that category even under the best scenario......but come on, the ceiling is still much higher than what we've seen lately.[/quote']

I should point out that I did mean to throw in a "that isn't where we want to be" or two into my post. I don't think the program is in a great place, but we are definitely in a better place than before.

[Dr. FLK]

I should point out that I did mean to throw in a "that isn't where we want to be" or two into my post. I don't think the program is in a great place, but we are definitely in a better place than before.

Sure, slightly better but still unable to compete in the AC regularly. I understand the program will have ups and downs. My biggest problem now is that Fridge hasn't shown me any ability to compete in recruiting, and I don't see the program heading in the right direction at all. If Scotty McBrien doesn't fall into his lap, Fridge is out of a job long ago.

[Mackus]

If Scotty McBrien doesn't fall into his lap, Fridge is out of a job long ago.

You mean if Fridge hadn't done such a great job coaching Scott McBrien and leading the team to a few fantastic years, he would have been out of a job long ago.

There are plenty of valid reasons for wanting Fridge gone. There is no need to cheapen your argument by needlessly taking away the credit that Fridge rightfully deserves for a job very well done in his first few years. Just focus on his failure to live up to anything near the expectations he set for the program in recent years. That alone is enough to deserve to be fired and he would have been if it was financially feasible for the university.

[Dr. FLK]

You mean if Fridge hadn't done such a great job coaching Scott McBrien and leading the team to a few fantastic years, he would have been out of a job long ago.

There are plenty of valid reasons for wanting Fridge gone. There is no need to cheapen your argument by needlessly taking away the credit that Fridge rightfully deserves for a job very well done in his first few years. Just focus on his failure to live up to anything near the expectations he set for the program in recent years. That alone is enough to deserve to be fired and he would have been if it was financially feasible for the university.

He certainly did coach the team well, no doubt. But, there are lots of guys who can coach well. That's only part of the job though. Bringing in talent is a huge part...and it's part that he isn't any good at.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Sure, slightly better but still unable to compete in the AC regularly. I understand the program will have ups and downs. My biggest problem now is that Fridge hasn't shown me any ability to compete in recruiting, and I don't see the program heading in the right direction at all. If Scotty McBrien doesn't fall into his lap, Fridge is out of a job long ago.

You mean the guy that transferred into Maryland under Friedgen?