Friedgen begins meetings with AD to discuss future

The meetings to determine Ralph Friedgen's future as the head coach of the Terrapin football team began Sunday, and Athletics Director Debbie Yow confirmed yesterday a decision will be made "as quickly as possible."

Friedgen must convince Yow his team's 2-10 performance this season — the first 10-loss season in program history — was one buried by correctable errors and inexperience, simply the darkest hour in a tenure defined by the restoration of the program's luster rather than a reason to buy out the two years and $4 million remaining on his contract.

In an emotional postgame press conference Saturday, after a 19-17 loss in the season finale to Boston College, Friedgen discussed potential systematic changes while affirming his faith and love for a team he has often referred to as one of his favorites.

"I expect to be coaching this team next year," Friedgen said Saturday. "I've put a lot of time in with these kids, and I want to see it through. But we'll have to see.

"They never quit on me," he added later, choking up. "Why would I want to quit on them? I want to be there when they're good, so we can think about these times, laugh at them."

Still, to right the ship — or even be given the opportunity to do so — Friedgen must answer substantial questions about his on-field product.

The ninth-year coach briefly discussed the possibility of opening up the offensive playbook more next season, when the Terps will replace three-year starting quarterback Chris Turner with a more mobile signal caller, be it sophomore Jamarr Robinson or one of several inexperienced options. In the past, he has referenced the possibility of a return to a pass-option offense, a set he experienced great success with as an offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech and with the Terps in his first three seasons.

Friedgen said he has discussed the possibilities of a schematic overhaul with offensive coordinator James Franklin, who in February was named coach-in-waiting to take over when Friedgen departs.

Potential staff changes and recruiting philosophies are also possibilities, should Friedgen continue as coach. And the emotional alumnus also said he wanted to emphasize more of his team's positives, citing a lack of confidence as a major weakness for this year's team. Players agreed with the importance of evaluating ways to better the team for 2010.

"That's something that needs to be done; 2-10 is not acceptable by any means," linebacker Alex Wujciak said. "We've got to look at where the problems are and fix them this offseason."

Terrapin Club President Rick Jaklitsch, an admitted "big supporter of Ralph Friedgen," said he believes Friedgen is the best man for the job, and a coaching change could derail a promising future.

"I think he's the best X's and O's coach in the country," said Jaklitsch, who added Terrapin Club funding could not be used to fund Friedgen's $4 million buyout, as the donor organization has a direct purpose to fund scholarships for student-athletes. "I don't think you can hire a guy who can help a football team and a university like Ralph Friedgen has."

Still, that is a question for Yow. As of yesterday, the 16th-year athletics director has consistently denied comment on the issue other than to say she would review the program and meet with Friedgen about its future, as she does with all coaches for all sports.

Friedgen's lawyer, Jack Reale, was reached in his Atlanta office yesterday but declined comment on the possibility of a buyout. "As far as I know, Ralph Friedgen is still the head coach at Maryland," Reale said.

Friedgen's players supported their coach. All four players — including two seniors — available to the media Saturday said they hoped Friedgen would be back next season.

Throughout the past week, as rumors circulated, players have acknowledged their lack of influence on the situation while defending the coaches who recruited them.

"This program was nothing before he came here," said Wujciak, a junior who was named to the All-ACC First Team yesterday. "He went to three straight bowl games with 10-win seasons. Since I've been here, I've gone to a bowl game every year except this year. So obviously, he knows what he's doing, and he has a lot of success doing it."

ajoseph@umdbk.com