Uncertainy dominates Terps' outlook

GREENSBORO, N.C. — When Terrapin football coach Ralph Friedgen returned to coach his alma mater in November 2000, he was charged with leading an inexperienced team to its first bowl game in more than a decade.

Now, after posting a 2-10 record last season and missing a bowl game for the third time in the past six seasons, Friedgen finds himself once again needing to lead a young team to the postseason. Only this time, his job might be at stake.

After garnering widespread acclaim for leading the Terps to an ACC title in 2001 and three straight 10-win seasons to start his head-coaching career, Friedgen, 63, is facing the possibility of being fired from the program he helped revive. And at Monday's ACC Football Kickoff at the Grandover Resort, faced with questions about his future, he couldn't help but liken the pressure to that of his first season on the job. 

"Our kids feel the scrutiny, I think our coaching staff feels it. I don't think it's something we talk about daily, but they know the score," Friedgen said.

"I think we're kind of back to where we were when I got there. When I came to Maryland, I was 32 years as an assistant coach, 53 years old, and came to a program that went to one bowl in 18 years. And we did some pretty good things. Now we've kind of come full circle."

Unfortunately for Friedgen, the questions and concerns surrounding the direction of the program likely won't be limited to the gridiron. In February, university President Dan Mote announced he would retire. Earlier this month, Athletics Director Debbie Yow, a woman Friedgen said he felt "indebted to," left to take the same position at N.C. State.

Don Kettl, the chairman of the search committee for the new president, recently said the university may not find a permanent replacement before Mote's retirement officially takes effect Aug. 31. Randy Eaton has served as interim athletics director, and Friedgen knows no candidate is likely to be hired until the search for a new president is complete.
"I think getting the president is going to be a big influence on hiring the AD," Friedgen said. "But until we get a new president, who are we going to get to want to be the AD until he knows who his boss is?"

The unstable situation has only intensified the speculation about whether Friedgen, who has two  years left on his contract, will be retained when a new athletics director is named. Friedgen admits he can't control the discussion about his job security and, for now, is focused on helping the Terps rebound after a season filled with inconsistency and disappointment.

The Terps return 11 starters and just four on defense. But Friedgen played many underclassmen on defense, especially on the front four, and the unit should be an improvement from last year's. It should also help that the defense will be more comfortable now in the second year of defensive coordinator Don Brown's blitzing scheme. Linebacker Alex Wujciak said the familiarity should make a difference.

"In our second year, we all have a better understanding of it. Everything has slowed down for us. We know what everyone else is doing," Wujciak said. "I think we'll see results."

Offensively, the road back to respectability and a bowl game begins with quarterback Jamarr Robinson.

Robinson is  one of the most athletic quarterbacks the team has had in years. He is fast and elusive, and wide receiver Torrey Smith said he's had the strongest arm on the team since he arrived. 

The question will be whether he can become more accurate and a better decision-maker, two aspects of his game his teammates have seen him improve upon throughout the spring and summer.

"He's a playmaker," Smith said. "We know it, it's just on him to prove it."

If Robinson is going to have time to get comfortable and improve, he will need an offensive line that returns just one full-time starter to become more consistent and a receiver to step up alongside Smith.

Any success this year will likely require time and patience — two things Friedgen might not have in abundance.

But Monday, fresh off an early-morning round of golf, Friedgen seemed relaxed and said his future as coach is out of his hands.

"It is what it is," Friedgen said. "I don't really think about that one way or the other. I'm going to do the best I can do. Whatever happens, happens."

lemaire@umdbk.com