18 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

SI: http://sportsillustr...sfer/index.html

As this becomes a National story, the Terps and Edsall are rightfully getting crushed. This article is an accurate representation of events. I do not think one can defend Edsall here, and I believe MD needs to announce change of heart.

[Can_of_corn]

The article has it right. They do not want him to go to Vandy and have a good year. It is very petty and it certainly doesn't improve my already low opinion of the coach and AD.

[Mackus]

Shameful on Edsall and Anderson's parts.

If you think Franklin was tampering, then you make an official complaint about it. Otherwise, to accept transfers from New Mexico but not allow our players to transfer to Vanderbilt is the height of hypocrisy.

It's amazing how incomprehensibly bad Edsall is at PR. The program should be building on the momentum of the nice recruiting class that was brought in, not mired in the muck looking like completely classless fools because you're scared that DOB will play well at Vanderbilt. He's a Maryland graduate (or will be shortly). It's unacceptable to be denying his requested transfer to Vandy, no matter who the coach there may be.

[tpjs1]

Thanks for posting this story. Maryland deserves all the criticism and maybe, if they get enough negative publicity, they may yet do the right thing.

It sure makes it hard to root for the team with the "leadership" MD has now.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Can't argue with any of the points in the article or here. The bigger picture though is that Edsall is just one symptom of an enormous double-standard that exists in the college sports business ("business" meaning football and men's basketball). Players commit to go to a school and play while working towards a degree, and in the process make big money for the school, and receive no share of that money in return for their work (or that's what we're led to believe). And while they are essentially committed to the school for 4 or 5 years, the school is under no obligation to commit to the player beyond 1 year at a time via their scholarship, although we're seeing some change in that regard. And while ordinary students are free to transfer to any other school that will accept them at any time, student athletes are at the mercy of their head coach or school administrators if they want to leave....even if they eventually end up having to play for a coach who they did not commit to, who did not recruit them to play for him, and doesn't necessarily see the player's skills as a good fit.

Then we have the coaches, the ones making some of the best money in this scenario. They are free to leave their program at any time of their choosing for more money or an otherwise better offer, and as for the players they leave behind, whatever happens, happens.

Another good point in all of this is that while Edsall is a jerk, his biggest problem right now is that he's a jerk who loses. If he went 10-2 acting like a jerk instead of 2-10, far fewer people would care. The world of college football is full of pompous, self-righteous egos like Edsall. Guys like Urban Meyer and Nick Saban have a public persona that is no better than his....but Meyer and Saban win, and win big. And because they win big, everyone let's their personalities slide. If one of those guys had come to MD and did everything Edsall did except go 10-2 instead of 2-10, we wouldn't be reading articles like this, because players wouldn't be transferring and the stands would be full of paying fans who are happy to be winning. But as it is Edsall is only digging his hole deeper. His attitude and approach have run off a number of players who were his best chance at a turnaround next season. Now, I really wouldn't expect much better than 2-10 again. And no matter how big his contract is, I don't know how much longer Edsall can survive that.

[PD24]

This was literally one of the best articles I've ever read. Anyone who has read my stuff or heard me on the air knows my disdain for Randy Edsall. It was nice to see a good, national writer articulate that as well as Rosenberg did here.

I can't stand Edsall. As far as KA, I want to like him because I like much of what he's done as far as handing Gary's departure, going after Miller, letting go of Fridge (attempting to go from good to great), and hiring Turgeon, but it's so hard to overlook his mistake with Edsall.

It's not even hindsight, and that's what pisses me off. We all looked at Edsall as an average, dull coach, and he's been millions worse than that. I also can't stand that KA attempted to sell him as a guy who was a good fit to go from good to great because he made it to a BCS game. Yeah, a 7-5 team in a horrific conference got smoked in the Fiesta bowl. Great job Randy!

Everything this guy does is a disaster from a football and PR perspective, and for as much crap as he spouts about developing fine young men, the example he's setting with the DOB situation makes him out to be a complete hypocrite.

[BSLMikeLowe]

This was literally one of the best articles I've ever read. Anyone who has read my stuff or heard me on the air knows my disdain for Randy Edsall. It was nice to see a good, national writer articulate that as well as Rosenberg did here.

I can't stand Edsall. As far as KA, I want to like him because I like much of what he's done as far as handing Gary's departure, going after Miller, letting go of Fridge (attempting to go from good to great), and hiring Turgeon, but it's so hard to overlook his mistake with Edsall.

It's not even hindsight, and that's what pisses me off. We all looked at Edsall as an average, dull coach, and he's been millions worse than that. I also can't stand that KA attempted to sell him as a guy who was a good fit to go from good to great because he made it to a BCS game. Yeah, a 7-5 team in a horrific conference got smoked in the Fiesta bowl. Great job Randy!

Everything this guy does is a disaster from a football and PR perspective, and for as much crap as he spouts about developing fine young men, the example he's setting with the DOB situation makes him out to be a complete hypocrite.

If nothing else, at least we can say we were wrong about Edsall being dull. UM football is getting more national attention these days than it did in each of Friedgen's last 6 years combined.

[Mackus]

Maryland at least working quickly to cover their asses and get some of that (I hope its) mud off of their face.

http://www.baltimore... ... 5672.story

All the recent transfer are now free to go to Vandy. Obviously should've just allowed that in the first place and avoided the public relations mess (although that would have ruined Edsall's streak of absolutely botching ever opportunity he's ever had of looking good in the media), but at least they've come out and fixed the problem.

[Mackus]

Quotes from both Edsall and DOB:

“While at first I thought it was important to limit the institutions to which they could transfer, I have since reconsidered my decision” “At the end of the day, I want what’s best for these guys and I wish them well in their futures. “As a program we are looking forward to putting this distraction behind us and to moving forward. Spring practice opens on March 10 and we can’t wait to get back out on the field.”

“I am pleased to be able to move on and pursue a graduate degree and continue my athletic career at the school of my choosing.” “I would like to thank Coach Edsall for his support throughout this process.”

http://eye-on-colleg... ... 8/34944208

[DJ MC]

Yeah, I'm sure HE reconsidered the decision

Either way, I'm glad the decision was changed.

[Oriole85]

Another good point in all of this is that while Edsall is a jerk, his biggest problem right now is that he's a jerk who loses. If he went 10-2 acting like a jerk instead of 2-10, far fewer people would care. The world of college football is full of pompous, self-righteous egos like Edsall. Guys like Urban Meyer and Nick Saban have a public persona that is no better than his....but Meyer and Saban win, and win big.

I've seen other people point this out. The problem isn't the fact Edsall is a jerk, he's a jerk that loses. If Meyer, Saban, Callpari, etc were all "losers," they would be gone in no time, but because they have won consistently and on a big stage, nobody cares. So again, the root of the problem revolves around the fact Edsall has a record of 2-10 at Maryland -- if it were 10-2, he would be wildly celebrated -- not his personality per se.

[Oriole85]

as far as KA, I want to like him because I like much of what he's done as far as handing Gary's departure, going after Miller, letting go of Fridge (attempting to go from good to great), and hiring Turgeon, but it's so hard to overlook his mistake with Edsall.

Of all those things you named, the only thing he gets credit in my book for is handling Gary's departure. In fact, the best thing he's done in his tenure IMO was declining to talking about the coaching search on the day of GW's retirement, insisting it be about GW, that was classy. Although although I like Turge but the book is far from sealed on him. He doesn't get any credit for going after Miller, that's his job after all. No credit is given for "effort," this is a result oriented business, we're not in middle school, getting credit for completing an assignment and "trying." Besides, he wasn't even his first choice. It was Anthony Grant as I know through a source that KA went to Bama before GW officially retired.

The letting go of Fridge was something I didn't approve of. No coach had ever been fired to my knowledge after winning coach of the year. Also, I didn't like changing the system with the reigning ACC FOY(how did that work out?). So yes, I would've given RF an extension with a buy-out. Coaches don't complete their contracts all the time. If RF had balked at the terms, you hire JF. Simply put, it's very unlikely MD will ever be able to compete with the Texas, USC, ND's, etc of the world. Certainly not when you are taking home games out of Byrd and moving them off campus to M&T and FedEx. Nonetheless, ok we attempt the going from "good to great," ok make it rain. You hired Edsall, who has I believe 1-15 record against the top 25 and only a single win against WVU(arguably the biggest game for the Terps in many seasons judging by the attendance/pricing). If they had hired, Leach, it would've atleast resulted in some buzz for the on-field product as opposed to the uniforms. Ok, it's only been one season of Edsall, maybe he'll do better, I'm willing to give him another year.

Peter, two things that were not mentioned was the whole holding Georgetown hostile over the lack of a men's basketball game. Also, in the middle of the season, he made it known he had talked to NFL coaches who declined MD because of not wanting to deal with fundraising. That revelation doesn't exactly express confidence in your current coach. This is a PR disaster. Both Edsall and KA seem to be really bad at one thing: PR.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Regarding Kevin Anderson, while I think Turgeon is ultimately going to do very well at MD, I can't really give Anderson a lot of kudos for it. Not only was Turgeon not his first choice, but frankly UM Basketball is the sort of job that will attract a lot of very qualified candidates. You don't have to do that much work to hire a good one, just don't screw it up by hiring one that obviously isn't qualified for the job. On the other hand, you aren't going to get nearly that sort of response for UM Football. An AD is really going to have to do his homework on the candidates, and for schools like UM it's likely the best choice isn't necessarily going to be the most obvious choice. UM Football is the sort of job that is probably best for a guy that has had a lot of success as a lower-tier school head coach, or an assistant at a bigger school looking for his first big chance....and the AD needs to evaluate these guys on qualities and characteristics rather than an actual track record, since most simply haven't had the opportunity yet. It's a lot easier to make the wrong choice than it is the right choice (as we know all too well).

[DJ MC]

Regarding Kevin Anderson, while I think Turgeon is ultimately going to do very well at MD, I can't really give Anderson a lot of kudos for it. Not only was Turgeon not his first choice, but frankly UM Basketball is the sort of job that will attract a lot of very qualified candidates. You don't have to do that much work to hire a good one, just don't screw it up by hiring one that obviously isn't qualified for the job. On the other hand, you aren't going to get nearly that sort of response for UM Football. An AD is really going to have to do his homework on the candidates, and for schools like UM it's likely the best choice isn't necessarily going to be the most obvious choice. UM Football is the sort of job that is probably best for a guy that has had a lot of success as a lower-tier school head coach, or an assistant at a bigger school looking for his first big chance....and the AD needs to evaluate these guys on qualities and characteristics rather than an actual track record, since most simply haven't had the opportunity yet. It's a lot easier to make the wrong choice than it is the right choice (as we know all too well).

Well, he definitely didn't make the most obvious choice...

[Oriole85]

Regarding Kevin Anderson, while I think Turgeon is ultimately going to do very well at MD, I can't really give Anderson a lot of kudos for it. Not only was Turgeon not his first choice, but frankly UM Basketball is the sort of job that will attract a lot of very qualified candidates. You don't have to do that much work to hire a good one, just don't screw it up by hiring one that obviously isn't qualified for the job. On the other hand, you aren't going to get nearly that sort of response for UM Football. An AD is really going to have to do his homework on the candidates, and for schools like UM it's likely the best choice isn't necessarily going to be the most obvious choice. UM Football is the sort of job that is probably best for a guy that has had a lot of success as a lower-tier school head coach, or an assistant at a bigger school looking for his first big chance....and the AD needs to evaluate these guys on qualities and characteristics rather than an actual track record, since most simply haven't had the opportunity yet. It's a lot easier to make the wrong choice than it is the right choice (as we know all too well).

I think the MD basketball program has fallen, it's evident when look at the attendance of most non-Duke games. You used to have to be a member of the Terp Club to get ACC tickets. It's still a premier program, but I don't think it's a top 10 program in the entire country anymore. If it was, the top five candidates or so from lesser programs, especially in Anthony Grant's case, who was the leading candidate would've left for CP.

So I'm actually going to give KA credit on Turgeon if it works out. It was far from the obvious choice. Agree with you on football. If he was going to fire Fridge, a better choice should've been hired. It's one of those things, you don't get a replacement unless you think you can beat the status quo.

The track record thing is relevant but somewhat overrated. Gene Chizik had a combined five wins in two seasons at Iowa State, leads Auburn to national title. On the otherhand, Charlie Weis was considered "great" before he coached a game due to his role developing Tom Brady's.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Outkick The Coverage: NCAA rule on transferring student contact is unintelligble
http://outkickthecov...ntelligible.php

[BSLMikeLowe]

The other DOB thread is closed. He's leaving Wisconsin.

[Pedro Cerrano]

What an absolute joke of a person. This quitter expected to lead a division 1 offense? No wonder he flamed out twice.

[BSLChrisStoner]

I wish O'Brien well, and I'm sorry it didn't work out at Wisconsin.... but he's not part of MD either. Let's focus on the guys that are here.