University of Maryland head coach football Randy Edsall took the money and ran in 2011. After 12 seasons at the University of Connecticut, Edsall was lured to Maryland by the money thrown his way by Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson. Edsall is earning a $2 million a year salary in College Park, but the results on the field have not caught up to Edsall’s wallet.
In two seasons at Maryland, Edsall’s record is 6-18 while the team’s record within the Atlantic Coast Conference is only 3-13.
When Anderson took over as Maryland’s athletic director in 2010 his first order of business was to show longtime Maryland head football coach Ralph Friedgen the door. Friedgen won 75 games in 10 seasons with Maryland which included an ACC Title in 2001, but it wasn’t enough to keep his job. After Anderson hired Edsall, 24 players including All-ACC Freshman quarterback Danny O’Brien transferred which has set the program back.
Edsall went 74-70 in 12 seasons at Connecticut, but the administration there was more patient than what he is facing now. When Edsall took over at Connecticut, the team was a Football Championship Subdivision squad. Connecticut didn’t join the Big East Conference until 2004, but now after two seasons in the ACC, Maryland is preparing for a move to the Big Ten Conference in 2014 which will bring even more pressure. For the most part the ACC hasn’t been a powerhouse in football on the same level as the Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences. Now Maryland will be facing the likes of Michigan and Ohio State consistently in the Big Ten as it will be extremely tough to become bowl eligible consistently
If Edsall is going to have any success in 2013 and keep the folks in College Park off of his back, he is going to have to improve an offense that finished 2012 123rd out of 124 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total offense. Edsall will turn to senior quarterback C.J. Brown who missed last season as he was recovering from a torn ACL.
Maryland’s defense kept the team in ballgames last season as they were 21st in the nation for total defense. Of Maryland’s 8 losses in 2012, four were decided by a touchdown or less so there is some optimism that if Brown can revive a stagnant offense things will get turned around for the team with the wacky helmets.
According to ESPN.com, Maryland has the 45th best recruiting class for 2013 led by cornerback Will Likely III, but you wonder if the youngsters can impact the team enough to keep Edsall’s job safe?
Maryland’s non-conference schedule includes Edsall’s first trip to Storrs,Connecticut to take on UCONN and a home game against West Virginia. Maryland will open ACC play in Tallahassee as they will take on Florida State and they have a November date in Blacksburg, Virginia to face Virginia Tech.
Things were going good for Edsall at Connecticut. Edsall had led Connecticut to four consecutive winnings seasons which was highlighted by a Fiesta Bowl appearance following the 2010 season. There was minimal pressure for Edsall, but the green of the ACC and Maryland was too much to refuse. Only time will tell if Edsall can keep his bosses happy, but Maryland will need some momentum as they prepare to embark on the Big Ten Conference.
Sources: CFBstats.com, Washingtonpost.com
Leave A Comment