Maryland Football: Slow Progress Better Than No Progress
Nov 1, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Randy Edsall looks on from the sidelines against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Maryland Terrapins fans are absolutely ecstatic, thinking about the prospects of the basketball team’s chances in the upcoming season. They are considered an early favorite to cut down the nets at the end of the season. What’s so shocking about it all is that the turnaround of the Maryland basketball program happened in just a couple of years. Maryland football is also on the rise, but their progress has been much slower than that of the basketball team.
However, slow progress is better than no progress. The 2015-16 college football season is an enormous one for head coach Randy Edsall. Since Edsall arrived at Maryland in 2011, he has coached the Terps to an unimpressive 20-30 overall record, which equates to a winning percentage of 40 percent. That certainly is not what he was brought to College Park to do.
In his first two seasons at the helm, the team struggled mightily. The Terps went 2-10 and 4-8 in the 2011 and 2012 seasons respectively. The season before he arrived, they had a 9-4 season. What possibly could have gone wrong with Edsall? He has dealt with numerous players leaving the program, as well as injuries to some of his key players. Somehow, Edsall has been able to turns things slowly but surely. Maryland has gone 7-6 in each of the last two seasons and made it to two bowl games (although they lost both games).
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Now in the Big Ten, Maryland seems to be regaining its footing. The conference change, as well as the newfound success on the field has helped the Terps tremendously in terms of recruiting. They have held their own when it comes to competing for recruits, but not until the past year, have they become a true threat.
Maryland was able to reel in an ESPN300 prospect from the Class of 2015 in defensive tackle Adam McLean (Quince Orchard), who was ranked No. 83 on that list. In perhaps their biggest recruiting move during Edsall’s tenure, the Terps recently received a commitment from four-star Class of 2016 quarterback Dwayne Haskins (Bullis School). Haskins is ranked 25th on the ESPN300. Both McLean and Haskins appear to be spearheading the #DMVtoUMD movement, which the athletic program has been pushing more and more as of late.
While the recent success is a pretty good sign, Edsall is not off of the hot seat just yet. He and the team must continue to progress and cannot afford to take even the slightest of steps backwards.
The Terps have built somewhat of a foundation for the future of Maryland football. They want the respect of the nation, but it will take some time. There is still a ways to go, but the program is headed in the right direction.