Contract extension for Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen? Not so fast, my friend.
Saturday’s 26-20 loss at Miami was an example of the Terrapins regressing toward the mean. After winning all its close games, Maryland lost when it should have won.
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The defeat also continued a trend of poor late-season play for the Terps, who have dropped seven straight games in November. In his first three years, Friedgen went 11-1 in November. In the next four, he was 6-8. In the last three, his November mark is 1-8.
Compare the Terps’ record in November the last seven years (7-16) to that of Virginia Tech (21-2), and it’s easy to see where ACC titles are won and lost.
It’s also a record that could hasten the coach’s departure a year before his contract expires. Coming off a 62-14 win over Wake Forest that left Maryland eligible for a bowl, Friedgen was rightfully toasted. But Saturday’s fall was a major step back for a Terps defense that gave up 504 yards to a team that was down to its fourth quarterback. Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien (9-for-28, 134 yards), produced just six points in three trips to the red zone.
With home games left against Florida State (6-3, 4-2) and N.C. State (6-3, 3-2) — both losers on Saturday — Maryland (6-3, 3-2) still controls its destiny in the ACC Atlantic.
Just one problem: Both games are in November.
