Bowl games and winning seasons just aren't going to cut it anymore in the ACC. The trend started a couple of years ago when Tommy Bowden of Clemson and Chan Gailey of Georgia Tech, perennial 7-9 win coaches were let go. This year Miami fired Randy Shannon following a 7-win regular season. Now Ralph Friedgen after being named ACC coach of the year on and an 8 possible 9 win season is history.
As Heather Dinich write writes at ESPN.com Expectations have been raised at Maryland. It appears former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach is the leading candidate.
Before getting to Leach, let me just say I thought Friedgen was one of the best game day coaches in the ACC. Rarely when watching a Maryland game did I think, what kind of call was that? Friedgen's gameplan were usually solid, but he I never felt the talent at Maryland was what it could have been. Friedgen was never a noted recruiter and I think that was his eventual downfall. The Fridge was a good coach, but he hit his ceiling at Maryland. It was kind of a raw deal, but that's the way it goes in major college sports these days. You better win and you better win big and you better keeping winning big.
What about Leach? Ok From 1973 to 2000 Texas Tech won 1 bowl game. In Leach's tenure in Lubbock from 2000-2009 they won 6 of them. Leach is one of the most gifted offensive minds in college football. In his last 6 seasons with the Red Raiders he never won fewer than 8 games. He competed right along with top 10 teams from Texas and Oklahoma. You can't tell me the DC area won't be easier to recruit than Lubbock, Texas.
Leach is not without controversy. There's the well known story of the alleged mis-treatment Red Raider player Adam James. He also has a weird affinity for pirates, but you know what he wins. His programs appear clean recruiting wise, and he’ll make a bigger splash of hire than Miami did with Al Golden.
If I'm Maryland, I say go for it.
As Heather Dinich write writes at ESPN.com Expectations have been raised at Maryland. It appears former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach is the leading candidate.
Before getting to Leach, let me just say I thought Friedgen was one of the best game day coaches in the ACC. Rarely when watching a Maryland game did I think, what kind of call was that? Friedgen's gameplan were usually solid, but he I never felt the talent at Maryland was what it could have been. Friedgen was never a noted recruiter and I think that was his eventual downfall. The Fridge was a good coach, but he hit his ceiling at Maryland. It was kind of a raw deal, but that's the way it goes in major college sports these days. You better win and you better win big and you better keeping winning big.
What about Leach? Ok From 1973 to 2000 Texas Tech won 1 bowl game. In Leach's tenure in Lubbock from 2000-2009 they won 6 of them. Leach is one of the most gifted offensive minds in college football. In his last 6 seasons with the Red Raiders he never won fewer than 8 games. He competed right along with top 10 teams from Texas and Oklahoma. You can't tell me the DC area won't be easier to recruit than Lubbock, Texas.
Leach is not without controversy. There's the well known story of the alleged mis-treatment Red Raider player Adam James. He also has a weird affinity for pirates, but you know what he wins. His programs appear clean recruiting wise, and he’ll make a bigger splash of hire than Miami did with Al Golden.
If I'm Maryland, I say go for it.
