How Bad Does it Have to Get For Maryland Terrapins Football?

Seems like we wind up asking ourselves this same question every year for football and basketball. In the early parts of the season, Maryland has so much trouble putting talent and instruction together. And by the time they are able to realize their potential, by the time the last gasp of hope has been choked out of the Terrapin faithful, the usually improved Terps are unable to salvage any hope for post season glory.

Rutgers was today’s contestant on what seems to be a weekly showing of “Who Wants to Beat the Terps Like a Drum?” 20 points off five Terp turnovers proved to be the same medicine handed out by Middle Tennessee State last week at Byrd Stadium. Chris Turner has regressed at quarterback. Da’Rel Scott has regressed at running back. The defense is inept.

God knows that Ralph Friedgen is the right guy for this job. He is a great offensive mind, and a solid motivator. But you can’t bring talent to Maryland, no matter how hard you try. Whenever you have a team that lacks size, speed, and skill, you have to make up for it with near-perfect execution. That’s what sets Boise State and BYU apart from other masquerading mid-majors, and what distances Maryland away from other power conference competition.

The Terps don’t have talent, and they don’t execute well. Sloppy play and a lack of natural ability and instinct is creating the potent combination that will boil over next week in the media and fan message boards that will be calling for Friedgen’s firing.

So really, there’s no need to ask how bad it has to get. We’ve long arrived at that point, and are quickly plummeting towards Maryland football’s absolute bottom.