As Expected, Todd Bradford's Likely Out at Maryland. In Comes ... Ron Vanderlinden?
by Ben Broman on Dec 22, 2011 10:16 PM EST
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Dude. Whoa.
The news is from Chick Hernandez, who's usually pretty spot-on with Terps stuff. The Sean Miller situation wasn't his finest moment but I'm sure that's more on Miller's squeamishness than anything else; remember, he called the Randy Edsall hiring before anyone else. He's also quick to point out that the deal isn't done and that they're still in the talking stages.
I had heard some idle chatter that Vanderlinden could be looked at as an option, but I never truly expected it. I'm still a little bit in shock, though I have to say I'm not particularly impressed.
The obvious positive here is the ol' "Ralph won with Vanderlinden's kids" meme, which is true but as I said before is really more "Ralph won with Mike Locksley's kids." So with Locks on board, why is it necessary to bring on Vandy, particularly given he hasn't been a defensive coordinator since 1996 and hasn't landed a Maryland kid since ... well, his Maryland days?
Oh, and the myriad bad memories and dislike for him in the fanbase? Who's going to react to this by saying, "Oh, Ron Vanderlinden's back? Fantastic! That seriously changes my perception of the program!" Sure, not many defensive coordinators would, but I have to think the diehards would respond better to Randy Shannon or Larry Johnson or Mike Stoops or Vic Koenning or - well, you get the idea.
And this isn't to disparage Vanderlinden as a DC candidate. Linebacker's coach at Penn State for nearly a decade, plus head coaching and DC experience at Northwestern the previous decade is a pretty decent resumé for a DC gig somewhere. Just ideally not at the place from which he was fired about 10 years ago that is also in need of a splash hire to keep the fanbase on board.
If you want a non-rant that informs you of what Vanderlinden's been doing since going 15-29 in College Park: he found a gig as Penn State's linebackers coach, which he held under JoePa and Tom Bradley for the better part of a decade. When Bradley got the interim head coach gig, he and Larry Johnson were elevated to co-defensive coordinators for the final few games of the season. Not a lot to go on, except that he did a pretty solid job of developing linebackers.
He also did a solid, if unspectacular, job of recruiting. He was good for a few four-stars a year, usually from northeast or midwest locales in which Penn State has a pretty nice pull: guys like Devon Still and Justin Brown from Delaware, Deion Barnes and Shawn Oakman from Pennsylvania, Robert Bolden and Chris Colasanti from Michigan, and Khairi Fortt from Connecticut. All good, national recruits that had other big offers, which should tell you that he's a competent recruiter. It doesn't, however, scream "elite recruiter" given PSU's profile and resources.
(If you're wondering who he could poach from PSU down the stretch: he was the main guy on Skyler Morningweg, a three-star QB. He had some big offers, but doesn't seem substantially better than Perry Hills or Caleb Rowe to me.)
So he's an upgrade in recruiting, if not the revelation that Locksley would've been. And probably an upgrade in coaching as well, though I think anyone would've been over Todd Bradford in both of those categories. And not an awful hire, certainly. But not near the top of my wishlist, either.
There is, of course, some way to go on this one. Things fall through all the time. We'll keep an eye out, especially because no one else has come out to corroborate it just yet.
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If Vandy is in or not
is less important than the confirmation that Bradford won’t be the DC next season.
by curterp on Dec 22, 2011 10:28 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
so true
could not have said it better myself
by Korey Matthews on Dec 22, 2011 10:43 PM EST up reply actions
And, we have two more firings to go ...
Kevin “dumbo” Anderson, and Randy “clueless” Eggshell!
You know what I can’t stand, people who don’t give anyone a chance to succeed.
It is their first year. Let the people work.
by SteeleTERP10 on Dec 23, 2011 3:25 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I'd give Edsall
a chance if he had shown me some promise, or that things could go right?
I like Turtles!
Follow @HarryHareBear
Support your team!
Regardless of who the coach is, you should be supporting the team, the school and the student athletes. UMD doesn’t need more fairweather fans.
by PDXTerp on Dec 23, 2011 11:38 AM EST via Android app up reply actions 1 recs
Dumbo and Loser had their chance/s!
Steele, get real!
Both quota hire, Kevin “dumbo” Anderson, and Randy “loser” Eggshell were given plenty of opportunities to help alleviate UMDs Atheletic Program.
Kevin stumbled in hiring a GOOD/PROVEN coach to take the UMD football program from good to great. He did not do his due diligence on Randy – who for the most part is a 1-AA coach with a career record of less than .500. He is 1/23 against ranked team (including 2011).
Kevin also failed to appropriately address the basketball coaching vacany properly. Mark Turgeon was someone we setteled with. He certainly wasn’t our top choice.
Randy took a 9-4 nationally ranked (top 25) team and ran it to the ground. 18 transfers. And, assistant coaches are being replaced just after a year. And, what’s infuriating is that they are being replaced with folks with poor win/loss records. Mike is a great recruiter, but not a great OC. Period!
Randy in one year has become a PR nightmare — he has alienated the media, players, students, boosters, alumni, and fans! Woo hoo!
Had these clowns been employed anywhere else, there arses would be toast. And, that’s the bottom line!
UMD deserves better … The fans have waited patiently for years for the AD to get their act together, and consistently put a quality product on the field. The main revenue generating teams men’s basketball and football have failed miserably in acheiving this objective.
I want LJS
But would take a competent DC knowing we got Locks as OC and crackpot recruiter.
Also, RE hasn’t been awesome as a recruiter, but coming off of 2-10 he has held his own.
by 7YearGrad on Dec 22, 2011 10:32 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Vandy -n- Locksley
Good combo bringing in players :)
"A new era has dawned in Maryland Athletics..."
With PSU football embroiled in controversy,
what better time to poach some PA players? And while there may be better recruiters out there to do that, they have to be interested in coming to UMD, and they have to be affordable. Vandy may not be ideal, but with his PA contacts, and the work he did with the PSU linebackers, may not be a bad gamble to take.
noooooooooooo.....
This is Insane. What next, the bball team hires a new assistant coach named Bob wade?
by valleyterp on Dec 22, 2011 10:50 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Wouldn't be opposed to that.
Few are as well entrenched in a city’s basketball culture as Bob Wade is in Baltimore. Vanderlinden, despite his lackluster performance here, would be a solid pickup albeit not my top choice.
by Joe Bradshaw on Dec 22, 2011 10:58 PM EST up reply actions
Bob Wade’s b-more connections are what got him the HC job back then…. but I think bad stuff would happen if we ever let him near our program again… He has a show-cause order on his record, which has since expired, but still… bad things (NCAA-wise) would certainly happen.
And that’s my first post as an alumnus. :) Clearly I didn’t learn proper grammar.
by discuit on Dec 22, 2011 11:42 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Well let's face it...
no one comes to Maryland for its academics.
by Joe Bradshaw on Dec 23, 2011 12:20 AM EST up reply actions
Wait, I was supposed to give you a message...what was it again?
Oh, yeah, now I remember.
Fuck you.
"Complacency is your demise." - Kerry King
have you gotten grades?
I remember sweating a pass/fail art history class my last semester. Whoops.
by bshock on Dec 23, 2011 12:24 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
this takes me back...
I too had an art history class my last semester that almost ruined me… from the rebirth to modern times, im actually surprised how many things i remember. Simpsons and Seinfeld reference those works quite a bit
Recently caught the Twitter Bug- @mtgassr ... Topics are sports and craftbeer
by NattyBoAndOldBay on Dec 23, 2011 2:11 AM EST up reply actions
It's all about taking the online art history class....
Got a solid B in it and only had to login to my computer…
welcome
… congrats on graduating and welcome to the next chapter of maryland fanhood. Dont be sad that your college days are behind you. In my experience, alums care more than students and (believe it or not) drink more also. cheers.
-Mark ’08
Recently caught the Twitter Bug- @mtgassr ... Topics are sports and craftbeer
by NattyBoAndOldBay on Dec 23, 2011 2:16 AM EST up reply actions
how was the ceremony yesterday?
I saw a lot of smiling faces on campus!
"A new era has dawned in Maryland Athletics..."
by bball purist on Dec 23, 2011 9:54 AM EST up reply actions
Boring, but what can you expect. I think the one I went to was the largest one of the split ceremonies yesterday. Shout-out to the guy who tebowed while walking across the stage. Spent some time wondering which school gave a professor a bright pink doctoral gown. Looked it up, apparently he went to Harvard, and for some reason their older gowns all faded from crimson to pink over time.
faded Harvard gown - funny stuff
Well, you got it done. Now go get it done out here – it can be a blast blended in with day to day responsibilities. Stay curious and continue learning! Congrats!
"A new era has dawned in Maryland Athletics..."
by bball purist on Dec 23, 2011 12:08 PM EST up reply actions
solid hire
He and Gattuso should do very well in PA, Locksley DMV, Hull has his strengths. I think this series of moves has been more than solid. Not that ratings mean anything ;) but i think Lox is a 5* recruiter and 3* OC so call him a 4*. I think Vandy is a 3/4* recruiter and at least a 3* DC.
No home run on either but a solid improvement and should reassure the peanut gallery that administration recognized the ho hum factor of last years hires and has made moves to fix what can be fixed.
by Lucky Horseshoe on Dec 22, 2011 11:08 PM EST reply actions
Shannon is the only
DC I want. He is an excellent recruiter (who can open up florida), and an excellent X’s and O’s strategist.
Don't want Vandy. Too many bad memories
Let’s take some time to see who is available. Then make a good decision. Stupid to hire a former head coach.
Not everyone is meant to be the HC but can be great coordinators.....Vandy at NW
prior to MD was excellent….good hire in my opinion.
Yeah that is how i'm going to look at it...
I NEED to look at it this way to feel optimistic about something…anyone but Crowton and Bradford and i’m now really interested in this upcoming season…
reminds me of Dave Campo and the Cowboys
head coach to secondary coach
by bloodwatermission on Dec 23, 2011 12:07 AM EST up reply actions
closest I can think of
is Bill Snyder at K St. not exactly the same but rehired as head coach after he retired due to burnout
by Lucky Horseshoe on Dec 23, 2011 12:10 AM EST up reply actions
I guess you could count Fickell
Granted he wasn’t fired, just demoted from HC to DC (but I think even he knew the HC gig was a one year thing)
same in that he was rehired which is what I said
and since he has been a LB coach for ten years, DC would hardly be a demotion for Vandy.You cant just pretend that the intervening ten years never happened
by Lucky Horseshoe on Dec 23, 2011 1:16 AM EST reply actions
I hope KA
Sean Millers this deal
I like Turtles!
Follow @HarryHareBear
Well to be fair Penn State is called Linebacker U
And he was the Linesbacker coach at Penn State for nearly a decade, and we do have immense, and very young, talent in College Park.
Immense talent in CP?
really? like David Mackall- maybe Vandy can get him to the pros. oh, wait, nevermind
we had 3 freshman all americans and Twine who is pretty damn good himself
Also we have Abner Logan, Dallas Griffiths and Maybe Jazzmar Clax coming in as 3-4* LB’s. Id say atleast at the LB spot, we will be solid for years to come.
by Maryland1206 on Dec 23, 2011 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
Let's list them
Alex Twine-Started after numerous injuries. Freshmen. Only 17. Showed flashes of brilliance, but you could tell how raw his talent is.
Darin Drakeford- Statistically our best LB’er. Only a Junior. Should get some Preseason All-ACC attention. Was injured for a stretch of games in the middle of the season.
Lorne Goree- Another Freshmen. Made the Freshmen All-American team.
Demetrius Hartsfield- Was another starter this season. Also a Junior. Led the team in tackles.
And then the two studs of Linebackers that we landed the past few days. That is a young group of talented players that should improve with a guy that has turned lowly rated players like Paul Posluzny(3*), Sean Lee(3*), NaVorro Bowman(4*) into exceptional NFl LB’ers. Those are just the ones he coached. He recruited at least a dozen 4* or better players in his decade long career at PSU.
Lets not get carried away here
I agree theres some talent, but to say its immense is a bit of an overstatement. As for “Freshman AA”- please remember that of those, i believe they were all honorable mention, with I think only Monroe being a 2nd teamer. Lets also remember that being a freshman AA comes from the fact that they were forced to play as freshman, wheras most are still on the sidelines. Lets not pencil them in as All-americans just yet- they may never even make All-Acc 1st team. Now if we had a group of 4-5*’s lined up behind Drakeford, Hartsfield, and Mackall for next season, then I think “immense” would be appropriate. And yes, think about Mackall at MLB, with Hartsfield and Drakeford…wouldve been nice.
I'll take a 3* who has proven in game situations that they can compete at this level
over a 4* who hasn’t played at this level at all. ANYTIME!!!
I wasnt talking about what I'd take
I’m talking about describing the D and LB’s specifically as “immensely talented”- And when I say it’d be nice to have some 4-5* players behind a hypothetical starting line-up, I’m talking about depth….not players that have already shown they compete. Guys that are waiting for their chance, which is what Twine and Goree should have been doing this past season. So if youre content with freshman and and RS fresh as your LB’s again, thats fine. The D this yr was one of the worst in the country…I really dont think Twine of Goree have shown theyre going to be all-league players.
Those freshmen, Twine and Goree, played well this season, all things considered.
They were thrown into the fire and performed very well.
With Drakeford and Hartsfield as seniors, we have experienced leadership at LB. Add Twine, Rowson, Ferrand and Goree, and you have a four young, experienced LBs. With Griffiths, Logan and Dean having the size to contribute as incoming freshmen, LB becomes a pretty solid area for us next year IMO.
Thankful
After a 2 and 10 season with failed OC and DC hires neither of which had local/area ties I am just thankful Terps are bringing in Locks and considering Vandy. Vandy has excellent experience and is a huge upgrade from Bradford. You can’t change yesterday and It is not a perfect world with KA and Edsall but looks like they got the message and I am very thankful Maryland football is moving in a positive direction.
They haven't got the memo ...
That called for transperancy. Kevin “dumbo” Anderson, and Randy “loser” Eggshell both stated a top-down evaluation of the football program. Where is the report of this assessment?
If graded, both Kevin and Randy get a “F-” and need to be FIRED!
any chance this deal falls through
and maybe we bring vandy on as LB coach (we need a new one since bradford is out)
and then we sign shannon as DC
forget the splash
forget the splash…I want a guy who is going to bring Wins and prestige.
by Benjamin Hennessee on Dec 23, 2011 9:34 AM EST reply actions
did he focus on the D when he was head coach here and what are the stats on those defenses?
by bloodwatermission on Dec 23, 2011 9:39 AM EST reply actions
and any way he could bring LJ with him?
by bloodwatermission on Dec 23, 2011 9:40 AM EST up reply actions
According to Wikipedia
Despite the failure to deliver a winning season, Vanderlinden did oversee substantive improvement in the program. In 1998, the Terrapins were one of the most improved teams in defense, scoring defense, passing defense, and rushing.58 In 1999, Maryland allowed a conference low of 11 sacks compared with 56 in 1997. In that same period, Maryland also improved from last to first in the conference in rushing,58 due in large part to Heisman Trophy candidate and school career rushing leader LaMont Jordan.59 During Vanderlinden’s tenure, Maryland also recruited several key players who were instrumental in the team’s later success.
We're putting the band back together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzOHq5WbQ8k
(We’re on a mission from god.)
Too young to remember Vandy coaching really
But id imagine whit him and Gattuso we’ll do a pretty good job recruiting in the Penn area. And since locksley is going to be our man on the recruiting trail for the most part, is he a good X’s and O’s guy? And was moving Tate to STAR a Bradford or an Edsall move? could this mean he’ll be a safety next year possibly?
Having trouble wrapping my head around thisPerplexed…
Locksley is a great recruiter with suspect coaching abilities and Vanderlinden an option that I would have never imagined. I gotta say this is not the type of hire I was hoping for as it is a stretch for me to have faith in either of the two’s ability to coach. I am sure that has something to do with me really hoping for Shannon. I’m having trouble wrapping my head around this one.
by LowcountryTerp1 on Dec 23, 2011 11:48 AM EST reply actions
Never happy
You guys are unbelievable. Maryland is not a highly ranked coaching gig, and has not been for quite a while. You all asked for these assistants to be fired, and now they have been and you are still not happy. Vanderlinden has a solid resume as a defensive coach. Forget what he did as head coach. They are two entirely different roles. RE seems to be making good positive moves to upgrade the coaching staff and the talent. Recruiting seems to be on the upswing. If y’all want to continue to bitch and moan about everything go root for U VA. Otherwise get behind the team and be optimistic about the future.
Labor Ralations
Pick any two schools in the county and I’d be willing to bet each one has a graduate program not offered at the other.
I became familiar with the NCAA transfer rule when trying to figure out how Russel Wilson was eligible to play this season at Wisconsin, without the usual year wait disincentive. The rule waives the one year waiting period for students who have already graduated, and who are seeking to transfer in order to pursue a graduate course of studies not offered at their current institution.
R.J. Dill will be enrolling at Rutgers to pursue a graduate degree in Labor Relations, presumably in time to play football next season. I suppose its not that outrageous a choice of graduate programs for an undergraduate economics major, but I will be genuinely surprised if Dill remains enrolled once his eligibility has been exhausted.
My point? to question the point of such an ineffective and otherwise meaningless rule.
ralph won (early) because of great coaching by blackney and taaffe. because vandy wasn’t a good head coach doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t be a good dc. many times the head coach is more of an administrator than actual hands on coaching and this might have been the case with vandy.
Where life imitates sarcasm ..
Somewhere is these archives is a tongue-in-cheek comment I made a few years ago. I suggested that the answer to MD’s football woes was to hire Vanderlinden as head coach again: send the Fridge on a two year sabbatical, then reinstate him to work with Vandy’s recruits — and go 11-1. Maybe there is an alternative universe.
Vanderlinden agreeing to come back is nice
It shows that he doesn’t hold a grudge against the school.
by terpapins on Dec 24, 2011 10:05 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Money talks ...
No coach holds a grudge. At the end of the day, it’s all about the money!
Vanderlinden not interested...
Just saw on “The Terps Zone” in the Baltimore Sun that Vanderlinden says he is not a candidate and he is not interested in the DC job at Maryland. Some time things happen for the best. I think Vandy would have been an upgrade from Bradford but for the last ten years he has been a position coach. Just recently did he get the Co-DC gig at Penn State. John Tanuta is one of the best DC’s in football and proved it year after year at Ga. Tech. He is a position coach at NC State now and maybe he would like a promotion. Also Buddy Green at Navy has been there as DC for years and might like a change. Not saying they are the best options but someone like them or a R. Shannon with a proven record as DC makes most sense IMHO.
What's the latest?
Has anyone being pursued to be our next DC?
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