Maryland Minute 9.20.09 - Middle Tennessee Fallout Edition
by Ben Broman on Sep 20, 2009 9:56 PM EDT
in Maryland Minute
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PrintFriedgen's reply to a direct question of whether he ordered Da'Rel Scott's benching after each of the tailback's lost fumbles: "I didn't make that call," he said. "But we can't have guys turn the ball over. It can't happen."
Hold on a second, coach. If you didn't make the call, who did make the call? Isn't that usually the HC's job?
Friedgen Vows to Get 'Real Tough' - IMS
Wait, what?
"I think I’m going to go back and I’m going to start getting real tough," he said. "We’re going to do things the right way."
...
Friedgen has lamented at length about his fondness for the character and work ethic of this year’s team, but after witnessing a group Saturday that he said "just didn’t seem into it," he was left wondering why he and his coaches weren’t getting across to the players.
More strange things here. Why weren't you doing it "the right way" before? A 3 point win over James Madison wasn't enough to figure that out? A 40 some point loss didn't clue you in? And why is it the players' fault, instead of the coaches for not motivating them or coaching them properly? Gotta say it: Fridge isn't saying the right things right now. Or am I being irrational?
Tobias Harris Update - Box of Mess
He seems to really like WVU. They sound like a team to beat, if'n you ask me. Here's his comments about Maryland:
"Coach Williams’ main focus was to show me how I would fit into his system. With the recruits that have already committed along with the other guys on the team, he really explained the roll for me as a freshman. I would be a scorer and he would let me play my game right away. He also showed me the academics and talked about the professional players he has made during his time at Maryland."
Didn't seem quite as excited about the Terps as he did some of the other teams. Still, they don't seem to be a group that would tip their hand too much to the media like this.
(And there's always C.J. Leslie).
Rutgers Favored by 2.5
Wow, that's it? I was expecting at least 6-ish. I'm not sure this game is that close.
Rutgers' Starting QB Is a Go
After a somewhat scary injury late in the Scarlet Knights' last game against FAU, true freshman Tom Savage is looking good enough to play. Unfortunately.
Schiano said Savage will continue to be monitored and checked out by the doctors again, but it looks as though he'll be ready to play against Maryland.
The Portis Package - Jamarr Robinson Version
The results of the ill-fated formation? Not good:
Da'Rel Scott 0 run
OFFSIDE on Middle Tennessee
Robinson 3 run, loses fumble
Sigh.
Patrick Stevens Wins Tweet O' The Week
"We must protect this house," huh. Helps when you don't leave the door unlocked and invite the robber to share some tea.
Clever.
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Go Terps
Sounds like he’s backtracking on the Scott benching after clearly indicating in the post game news conference that if you fumble, you don’t play and by implication he either ordered it or agreed with it. I would have to imagine the TEAM is having doubts about the COACHES and the Scott benching and post game comments did not go over with them as they wouldn’t with any team. Sounds very self-serving. And i agree, now he’s going to get tough. Wasnt’ that the point of the Scott benching or did the “get tough” part just apply to one of our best players? Fridge is starting to dig his own grave.
No backtracking in my view
Go Terps, I don’t see this as Friedgen backtracking. He didn’t say he disagreed with the decision, which could have been made by Franklin or the RB coach. Friedgen rightfully didn’t throw someone else under the bus by stating specifically who made the decision, because, guess what, it doesn’t matter. As head coach, he is still responsible for the decisions of his staff, right or wrong.
He still didn't really take responsibility, though
Even though he didn’t throw someone under the bus, he’s definitely not taking responsibility. He’s going out of his way to make sure we know that wasn’t his call.
It’s BS either way. He’s the head coach – holding out the best player on the team has to be his call. Even if it was suggested or started by Franklin or Donovan (the RB coach), Fridge can still overturn it.
Deflecting blame, which is what he did here, even though he didn’t name any names, does not work when you’re the head coach – everything goes back to you, including players’ performances. Fridge has an annoying history of doing this – at least Franklin admitted his mistake.
Go Terps
You misunderstand my comment. I said: Sounds like he’s backtracking on the Scott benching after clearly indicating in the post game news conference that if you fumble, you don’t play and by implication he either ordered it or agreed with it. That last part of the statement is my point and it seems yours as well.
Then later he said: “I didn’t make that call,”
I agree it is on the head coach. That said, he shouldn’t have to make any other comments about it, but clearly he felt the need to distance himself from the benching AND his post game comments, which were innapropriate. He is clearly trying to wiggle out of it.
His post game comments clearly indicated he made the call or agreed with it. Maybe instead of using the word backtracking I should have said attemtping to defer attention from himself…." He may not have thrown a specific coach under the bus, but he 1) removed himself from the decision 2) said it was someone else. That’s not very head coach like. The benching was a mistake. The post game comments were below the belt. Trying to wiggle out of it is cowardly.
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