You can also look at NO Top 25 finishes in the last 6 years. If you're not in the Top 25 you aren't a factor on nationally.

You can also look at the trend - From the Orange Bowl to the most losses in Maryland football history - folks, that isn't just injuries, bad calls, bad luck and bad weather - that is BAD COACHING.

The records that really matter now are the 2010 W-L, the 2011-2013 W-L, and the ticket sales during those seasons. Is Friedgen the right coach to win next year and to put the program in position for success over the next few years? How will the fan base respond if he is retained? How would they respond to a Franklin promotion, or the hiring of another new coach?

Overall compared to most others, RF has a good record. He no doubt has done a lot of good things during his time.

Unfortunately whats most important today is where we've been lately and where we're headed.

> 2-10.
> Worst team in the ACC.
> Losing records the last four of six years. This year wasnt a blip, it is a declining pattern.
> Embarrasing losses to cupcakes.
> Embarrassing losses in games that count the most. The team showing up flat and poorly prepared.
> The "play not to lose" philosophy.
> The poor play calling.
> Only a few games on TV/Cable; no local TV contract
> Poor recruiting. (Lack of the desperately needed few exceptional game-changers, poor relationship with local HS coaches, and the loss of local talent)
> The steady decline in attendance (and revenue)
> RFs refusal to "man up" and take responsibility for the state of the program
> The perception that RF often throws others under the bus and blames losses on "bad luck"
> RFs loyalty to seniority - with assistants and players - you hire who can get the job done and you play who can help you win
> RFs general uncomfortable demeanor when it comes to being the face of Maryland football program

> We have become a totally irrelevent Div 1A football program. We've hit bottom.

Strangely, even with all of this, I'd like to see RF get one more shot at righting the ship.

Remove his 10 cupcake wins over the last 5 years and he is 25-38 against Div I schools for a .39 winning percentage

Terps06 - you make a lot of very good points, but one of them is off base:
"> Only a few games on TV/Cable; no local TV contract"

Neither the head coach nor the athletic director have any direct control over that. The only major college football team that has its own TV contract is Notre Dame, which is one reason why it has never wanted to join any conference for football. TV contracts are negotiated by the conferences, and the ACC is better off than some, not as good as others in their TV arrangements. All of the Terp games were available on either TV or ESPN360.com this year. I know of some bowl-eligible Big 12 teams that can't say the same thing, including for conference games.

This does not take away from any of the other points you raised, and if you had reached a different conclusion on whether or not Friedgen should return in 2010 you certainly provided enough justification to support that position.

He deserves one more chance to right the ship.

ESPN360 DOES NOT count as being on TV. No way, no how.

Terps06 is on target with all those points, including the TV issue. ESPN360 is a difficult way to watch a football game. And the only game that I remember this year being on major networks (ESPN, ESPN2, Raycom/JP/Local) was the first game at Cal. That speaks volumes about the state of the program. Yet just like terps06, I hope Ralph gets another shot next year.

CSB Jack - I get the TV contract thing - but if we win more games we would be on more ESPN and ABC broadcasts wouldnt we? The local TV thing puzzles me - maybe it goes back to the days before cable TV. Away games could always be seen locally. ESPN360 is not TV. I have to secretly borrow the LCD projector from work and project the game on the wall - which actually works very nicely - but if I lose the interent connection - ughh. Its not TV. I'm sure HS prospects are more likely to be more interested in schools on ESPN/ABC/CBS than 360.

Believe it or not I really do love and appreciate what RF has done. I really want to see him succeed and go out on his terms leaving a strong winning program.

Its just frustrating that he stubbornly refuses to change what obviously needs to be changed.

More often than not he finds reasons for losses other than himself. Stop blaming "bad luck" and throwing players under the bus. Man up and repeat after me "I'm the HC - Its my fault".

His loyalty to some assistants and players has hurt the ability of the program to win. Hire coaches who can get the job done. Its a business. Play the players that will give you the best chance to win. Experience comes in games not by perfecting yourself in practice before getting a chance.

RFs inability to create a strong bond with local HS coaches and have stronger recruiting classes are hurting the program. You cant compete and win with "pretty good" players who are three star projects. We need to secure at least 3-4 four/five star recruits every year if we are to realistically achieve the stated goal of being a top 25 team that competes annually for an ACCT. All you have to do is look at VT, UNC, Miami, FSU, Clemson, etc to see wha kind of talent we need. We sorely lack exceptional talent on the OL and DL.

The overall conservative "play not to lose" attitude is killing us. We have no swagger. Our players fear taking risks and making mistakes rather than playing aggreesive confident football. We have played down to the level of cupcake and lesser talented teams and ended up losing. Top 25 teams soundly defeat the James Madisons and MTS's of the football world.

We may be a middle tier football program - I'm not dillusional to think that we can consistently compete with the FLs, ALs, USCs, and Ohio States of the college football world but we do have enough resources and potential to be a consistent winner in the ACC and every so often have a truely exceptional year.

RF gets one more shot at turning things around. In part because Yow couldnt find a way to buy out the last two years of the 10 year contract SHE guaranteed. She may be good at balancing the books but when it comes to negotiating contracts she doesnt do a good job. RF has another shot - and IMHO better go 8-4 or better and a decent bowl again for me to justify another year. For Yow I'm guessing 5-7/6-6 would show enough "improvement" to let him finish his last year before "evaluating after the season".

I'm not sure what happens with Franklin. I thought the HCIW guarantee was a major mistake on Yow's part from the get go. His resume and body of work here in his first year didnt warrant it. It seemed to be "the thing to do" for Yow, a way to secure someone she felt was the future - and fit her budget on the cheap. Let me ask you: What the hell does Yow know about football? If Franklin doesnt completely impress with his recruiting and OC performance in 2010 he should be gone. Buy him out if you have to - I'm sure the NFL wants him. LOL

Its a new generation and we need the right leadership. A young enthusiastic HC who is a tireless and successful recruiter as well as an aggressive forward thinking football mind. Someone who has a positive and outgoing personality that can listen and relate to the core fan base and attract interest from the bandwagon ho's who populate the DC area only interested in supporting a "winner" rather than supporting their team through thick and thin.

While we're at it, its time to change the leadership at the top. Yow needs to move on or retire. She did her job regning in the budget. Now its time for youthful forward thinking leadership who understands that football and basketball need to their highest priority. The way she has handcuffed RF and GW - micro-managed her two main moeny making programs into mediocrity so she has 27 sports being treated "equally" - is actually hurting the other 25 more than she knows.

One last thing I shake my head about is RFs attorney rationalizing RFs overall record - comparing it to the 14 years prior. Lets judge RFs tenure on its own merits and leave it to the historians many years from now to compare it to others.

The facts are clear that since 2004 the program has fallen from near the top of the ACC and a top 15 rating to 2-10, worst team in the ACC and a bottom 10 rating among 115 Div 1A schools.

RF needs to shake things up hard. Change his own ways. Have fun again and take some risks like he did when he arrived. He has absolutely nothing to lose. And all the respect in the world of Terp Nation if he does.