Ralph Friedgen Named Terps' Grid Coach
11/29/2000 7:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 29, 2000
College Park, Md.- Ralph Friedgen, architect of Georgia Tech's high-powered offense for nine of the past 14 years and the offensive coordinator for Bobby Ross at Maryland when the Terps won three consecutive ACC titles in the mid-'80s, is returning to his alma mater as head football coach today, director of athletics Deborah A. Yow announced today. The following are some quotes from the Terps' new coach:
On having the chance to coach the Terps:
"Wow. I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to be head football coach at the University of Maryland. I have waited all of my life for this opportunity and I am not going to let anybody down."
On what he expects from his team:
"I want our football team to be good in all areas. Not only offense, defense and special teams, but I also want them to be good in the classroom. I want them to excel in everything they do in the interest of life. I can promise you we will be exciting. We will have an exciting offense, an attacking and very aggressive defense and we will play good special teams."
On winning and some goals he has for the Terrapins:
"I think the football experience should be fun and what is fun to me is winning. Our goals will be to be a Top 20 team, year-in and year-out, and we will see where it goes from there. Once again, I am very grateful for this opportunity and I am looking forward to a lot of success here at Maryland."
On when he will start as head coach at Maryland and be saying goodbye to Georgia Tech:
"I am taking over today and not looking back. I am going full speed ahead but I have some regrets about that because it is hard to leave a team that played so well last year and overachieved as a team. It is a team that has a chance to win 10 football games, but this is my opportunity and I feel bad for those young men, but they will understand."
On how the University of Maryland has changed since he was last here:
" Well, they have more buildings and a little less grass. The athletic department has done very well in all sports."
On the talent level at Maryland over the past few years and preparing to coach against the Terps this past season:
"I think they have improved over the three years I have been at Georgia Tech and the talent continues to get better. I was very concerned about the game we played a couple of weeks ago. I really think we played Maryland at a pretty good time after they had a disappointing loss to North Carolina."
On where he sees the football program right now:
"I think after spring practice, I should have a better idea of what's here and what the potential is. I don't make predictions about how we are going to be, but I am not a very good loser. I can promise you that we will give every effort to be the best team possible."
On what he expects from his players:
"I can show the players how to win and how to win is knowing how not to lose. If they put forth the effort and will work, they will win. Just looking at the talent this year, they have enough talent, it is just a matter of them believing in themselves. There is a very fine line between winning and losing, it is a perception. If you look at the places where I have been, whether it is at Georgia Tech the first time when we were 2-9 and 3-8 and then end up winning the national championship, or go the San Diego Chargers and go 2-14 and then end going 11-5 and making the playoffs and going to the Super Bowl. You have to learn how to win and I think I know how to do that, but it is going to be hard work. You have to work hard, practice hard, and be disciplined. You are going to have to do things that are right, not only on the field but off the field as well."
On recruiting in the Maryland area:
"I think it has to be the main focus of our recruiting. We have to get the better players from the state. Not every player is meant to come to the University of Maryland, but a large portion of them should. I know a lot of coaches in this area and they know me from the last time I was here, and a lot of the coaches are former Maryland players and I think it is time the Maryland community unites. We have a Terrapin now as the head coach. The alumni, the fans, the former players, we all have to become a strong force. Part of that is going to be recruiting in the state and I am going to rely on those former players to get the better prep players to stay in state."
On talking to the media and that part of the job as a head coach:
"I like that. I wish some of the media in the past were athletic directors. I get a lot of air time for an ugly guy."
On the timeline of putting together a new coaching staff:
"There are some people that are going to take longer to get but I hope to get the nuts and bolts of the staff fairly soon. I will not rush since there are some people I want and there are some very good coaches that happen to be available right now and I hope to get those and get them on the job. I think the most important thing I have to do right now is to hire quality people and good coaches that care about the kids, that know football, that are able to recruit, and want to succeed. I think because they know me and I have been associated with winning football teams, that a lot of people would like to get on board."
On the timing of becoming Maryland's new coach:
"I think timing is everything. In the past I was disappointed that I didn't the opportunity to get the job, but maybe it's the good Lord's way of saying it wasn't the right time. Now is the right time. I feel the momentum around here and I feel good about the University as well, and I am the guy at the right time and am very excited."
