On Ralph Friedgen, the recruiter
A business decision has been made, sending Ralph Friedgen to an early retirement and the Maryland football program into uncharted waters.
While others have chronicled the steps that led to his dismissal, this is a look at Friedgen on the recruiting trail, and how he was perceived by players and coaches.
An old-school coach who -- as Kevin Van Valkenburg noted in this excellent tribute -- was not at all comfortable with sucking up to prospective recruits, Friedgen was a favorite of many high school coaches. In countless interviews I’ve conducted over the past three-and-a-half years, coaches would praise Friedgen for his no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach with players – a stark contrast from many sweet-talking college football salesmen.
“I’ve been very lucky to meet a lot of head coaches because of the great players we have,” said Quince Orchard coach Dave Mencarini, whose former players Travis Hawkins and Zach Kerr were signed by Friedgen. “Not a lot of them take his approach. They like to play the recruiting game. It takes a special kid to see through that, to look at what’s important. To me, Ralph is who he says he is. It’s not about the stadium, the uniforms and the weight room. It’s about where you’re going to be in five years when you leave.”
The knock on Friedgen the Recruiter was that he wasn’t as active locally as some area coaches might have liked him to be. James Franklin, however, filled many of those gaps. While Friedgen didn’t hit the road nearly as much as his well-traveled assistants, he was a closer on campus and in homes. His message to recruits was clear.
“What Coach Friedgen talked about mainly was academics and the type of people they want to recruit to Maryland. And I think Darius fits that role of the type of person Coach Friedgen wants to have at Maryland.”
That was a quote last year from Weddington (N.C.) High’s Justin Hardin, who coached Terps freshman defensive tackle Darius Kilgo. Here’s DeMatha coach Bill McGregor last week, speaking about cornerback Michael Williams’ commitment to the Terps.
“No. 1, you get a great education. No. 2, you have a football coach who really cares about his players and makes sure they get their degree...”
Strong academics and numerous internship and job opportunities within driving distance to College Park were popular refrains cited by recruits when asked why they chose Maryland. Friedgen and his staff preached football as a means to a free education more than anything else.
After the Military Bowl, Maryland will bring in a new coach who will be tasked with filling Byrd Stadium and bringing the Terps the kind of success they experienced under Friedgen in his first few years on the job. On the recruiting trail, Maryland football’s new leader will follow someone who countless other coaches trusted, respected and admired.
“He wants to focus on the kid and help him become successful in life,” Mencarini said. “The way he goes about it, the proof is in hundreds of examples of players he’s coached. I think that underneath, it takes a while to realize what’s inside of him as a person. I’ve seen the emotional side, I’ve seen the compassionate side and I’ve also seen the tough side. But I just feel very comfortable with my players that have had the opportunity to play for him because they are better men because of him.”
Baltimore Sun photo of Ralph Friedgen by Kenneth K. Lam / August 30, 2001
Comments
Matt -- Thanks as always for an interesting post. If Franklin was such a great recruiter in Maryland, why have the Terps failed to sign a large portion of the in-state top recruits? This year, for instance, our top in-state signee, Jeremiah Hendy, is rumored to have withdrawn his verbal pledge, and the only other pledge is #18 in the state. We all want more local kids to play for the Terps, but not all will. What we surely need in the new coach is Ralph's class and principles.
Posted by: Terp46 | December 21, 2010 4:46 PM
He recruited Joe vellano
Posted by: joe. vellamo the elder | December 21, 2010 4:57 PM
Terp46 -- Good question. Franklin got Maryland in the door for a lot of big-time locals. No matter who coaches the team, Maryland will have trouble keeping all of them home for a variety of reasons. I'd chalk up most of UM's struggles this year locally to the 2-10 year. I'd predict the 2012 class to be much better, no matter who the coach is.
Posted by: Matt Bracken | December 22, 2010 12:19 AM
The reason the Fridge was successful in his ist 3 yrs was because he was playing with someone else's recruits - the one's he inherited from the previous coach. As soon as he started coaching his own recruits, he wan't nearly as successful
Posted by: Ken | December 22, 2010 9:19 AM
Matt:
Thanks for a very nice addendum to KVV's prior story regarding Friedgen. Whatever his "shortcomings," if any, Friedgen has character which is something that no one can strip from him. In my opinion, he's done an extraordinary job at Maryland and deserves all kudos directed his way. As one alum to another, I'll miss his presence on the Terps' sideline.
Posted by: Terp'nTexas | December 22, 2010 10:20 AM
Matt, thanks for your column.
I know and respect RF. He is a classy old school coach who believes kids go to college to get an education and while they're there play some football. Football is not the end but the means - especially for good kids who otherwise dont have the financial resources to go to college on their own.
I understand that and respect it. I'd want my son to play for Ralph. Ralph has always done everything within his power to treat his players as if they were his sons. A fatherly figure who sincerely cares about them as people. God bless the man.
Unfortunately Maryland doesnt choose to compete against other teams and play in a conference that has pure idealistic goals and are led by similar thinking coaches who coach under with same world of thought and ignore some of the things that have to be done to attract superior talent, create excitement in a fan base as well as among local sports fans, win, and earn that $2 million a year salary.
I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but perhaps Ralph would be better served coaching in the Ivy League or a small school in Division II or III where there isnt as much pressure and demands on his time for responsibilities beyond coaching and teaching. He often appears uncomfortable on the big stage out in public. He's much more comfortable publicly in small settings. A hell of a guy to get to know one on one.
in order to win, get to ACCT games, top tier bowls, get on ESPN Game Day and on ESPN and ABC (instead of ESPN360), and attract national attention - which are all avenues to attract those exceptional players that will get you there - you have to often force yourself to get out of your comfort zone, a little less stubborn about doing it your way, and make the necessary changes to adapt to a football coaching landscape thats changed dramatically over the past 20 years.
Sometimes even the best of intentions and purest of hearts dont get all aspects of the job done necessary to generate the revenue needed to help fund the 25 non-revenue athletic programs and changes had to be made. I think there's a bigger picture here people arent looking at that goes well beyond football.
I'll hate to see Ralph and Gloria gone because both are the type of caring "parents" and mentors all kids away at college could use to prepare them better for life after campus no matter what they do.
Hopefully the next HC will have many of Ralph's idealistic old school qualities but also the vision and personality to take us from good to great.
Posted by: Terps6 | December 22, 2010 10:33 AM
When unheralded local kids come into UM's football camp and push around their star recruits from other states, but still don't get offers, you know their recruiting stinks.
Posted by: Joe | December 22, 2010 10:50 AM
Very fair and articulate post by Terps6
Posted by: Grits | December 31, 2010 4:25 PM