“Jordan will come in and win the game for us before the season’s over”

thats a very strange thing to say about someone who may or may not be your starting qb. it sure sounds like hes describing a backup

Can we get over the “Steffy’s just a kid” crap? He’s 23 and a college graduate. He’s a month younger than Adrian Peterson. He’s OLDER than Calvin Johnson and Zach Miller, both starting in the NFL. It’s not like he’s some true freshman who got thrown into the starting role.

i personally didnt boo, but i can see where people are coming from. he IS a college graduate. as for not getting paid, he may not have received a salary, but he got to attend college for free, which is worth a lot of money.

I admire and respect RF. Same goes for Jordan. I’ve met both, spent time with both and know both love Maryland football and are both giving everything they are capable of to make our football program as good as it can be.

I’d never boo any college player or coach. “Fans” who resort to booing college kids and personal attacks on the net arent Maryland fans. Theyre frustrated individuals who have never coached or played and have unrealistic expectations and think everything involved with having a consistent Top 20 program is as easy as clicking the remote control. Net blogs seem to be a breeding ground for haters who think they know better and just want to spew. I dare any of them to say what they say on a blog to RF or Jordan face-to-face.

That said. A few thoughts.

RF loves Jordan like a son and IMHO is blinded by it. The booing has only made him more stubborn. People who are booing, are booing Jordans performance and to a greater extent RFs decision to start him despite all the in-game proof that Jordan isnt our best option. Like most fathers who see only the potential in their sons but are blind to their short comings, RF is determined to start Jordan and reward him for his hard work and dedication to the program. Unfortunately, even if it hurts the team. Its time RF and Coach Franklin realize and admit that Jordan isnt capable of making better decisions or making better passes – he’s had ample time and opportunity – but he hasnt been able to get the job done. It hurts all of us to see any Terp for that matter fail to meet expectations but with all that Jordan has overcome physically, and still want to keep trying – its painful to us all becuase we love the kid so much and want him to be rewarded for his efforts.

But sometimes we have to let go of these personal feelings and do whats right for the good of the team and play the QB who gives us our best chance to win.

Sometimes you have to admit that practice is still practice – especially with yellow jerseys. You cant tell me that another concussion doesnt weigh in somewhere in Jordan’s subconscious. Youre always much more relaxed and aggressive when you know youre not going to get hit hard.

I agree, Jordan is a warrior – I’d go to war with him. But objectively from what I’ve witnessed for four years is that Jordan isnt adequatly capable to be anything more than a backup QB. I’m sorry RF but I wish he was as good in games as I hear he is in practice.

The other issue that seems to bother many is the perceived view that RF has of Chris. That he’s a CA flake, doesnt practice well, RF doesnt like him, and that RF has a shorter leash with him than with Jordan. I understand the perception that many may have but unless I’m at practice every day, in meetings with the two, or hear it directly from Chris – then its all rumor. Maybe some of it is true. Hard to beleive that RF recruited Chris. You dont tend to make scholarship offers to kids you dont like. Laid back CA flake? Yes, Doesnt practice well? Yes – at least from what I hear – and a valid point – players have to recognize what coaches are looking for and meet those expectations if they want to play. Chris knows what it takes under RF to play. He didnt do what he needed to do. I think he underestimated and tried to meet expectations rather than exceeed them.

On the same hand, RF needs to recognize Chris performed beyond expectations last year as an untested, inexperienced sophomore when tossed into the fire. He performed well especially at Rutgers and at home vs BC. Was he instantly consistent and superior all season? No. Chalk this up to the learning curve. But did he exhibit the potential to be ‘the guy’? Yes. Unfortunately while he did what he thought was necessary to secure the starting job, he didnt do what RF expected and Jordan did.

Fridge demands a lot of his players. He’s structured and loves the dedicated hard working overachiver. He isnt comfortable with the laid back performer because he doesnt know what to expect. RF needs to trust more. He needs to open his mind to other ways of doing things especially since the game, players, and ‘sons’ have changed since he played.

I really feel if RF can let go of his ego and stubborness about ‘doing it my way or the highway’ and open up and love Chris like a son and recognize his talents are different but should be appreciated – then the sky is the limit for this football team.