Developing A Culture For Championships

In the final moments of his opening statement at Big Ten Football Media Days, Maryland head coach Mike Locksley spoke on a topic he had not touched in prior media day opportunities: winning a Big Ten title.

"Our program is at a point finally where we can say we're here to compete for Big Ten Championships," Locksley said. "You haven't heard me say that in the previous four times I've been in front of you guys, but I think now is the time."

Locksley's belief in the Maryland football program is generated by the development of Maryland's football culture during his tenure in College Park. While the results on the gridiron have improved since Locksley took the reins in 2019 — evidenced by the Terps' first back-to-back winning seasons since 2013-14 — Locksley has also seen efforts behind the scenes take a leap during his time at the helm.

The head coach ran down why the 2023 roster is primed to take on the top teams in the conference; he also used his platform to celebrate how far the program's culture has progressed in his tenure. Locksley spoke not just about the on-field success that has turned Maryland into a winning program but emphasized the off-the-field opportunities that the Terps have made the most of.

"You can come to Maryland and get a great experience that prepares you for life after football while also being developed to have opportunities to play at the next level," Locksley said.

Throughout his opening statement, Locksley referenced the "developmental program" he has worked to cultivate at Maryland. He broke down the happenings behind closed doors, from the classroom to the weight room, that prepare his players for their next steps, whether that's playing on Sundays or joining a new team in the workplace. Before delving into the upcoming season, Locksley talked about the mentorship program the football team has established, where the Terps can connect with CEOs and other business leaders around the DMV, calling it "the best thing that we've done."

Similarly, Maryland football has developed a sturdy infrastructure with resources to help the Terps become the best players they can be. Five players from the 2022 roster were selected in the NFL Draft, with five more joining them as undrafted free agents. As for those who remain for this season, seven Terps on the 2023 roster are All-Big Ten honorees from a year ago.

With a sustained track record of success on and off the field, the Terps are prepared to take the next step toward winning their first Big Ten title in 2023.

"We are a program that takes players and we're going to find ways to make them better because of the time they spent in our program, whether it be in the classroom, on the field or just in life," Locksley said. 

While the team is losing several major contributors from the 8-5 squad that knocked off No. 25 North Carolina State to win the Duke's Mayo Bowl for a second-consecutive bowl game victory, the Terps retain a great deal of the offense that tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 28.2 points per game. To help the familiar faces, the coaching staff welcomes new coaches who are tried and tested in coaching at the highest level of college football.

One of the most prominent figures is Taulia Tagovailoa, who earned a spot on the Big Ten Preseason Honors List for the first time in program history. The 2022 Second Team All-Big Ten selection owns nearly every passing record in Maryland program history and is primed for another big season.

He'll have the support of new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, who won the 2021 Broyles Award for the nation's top assistant coach, and associate head coach Kevin Sumlin, who transformed Houston and Texas A&M into powerhouse programs with star quarterbacks such as Case Keenum and Johnny Manziel.

Tagovailoa hopes that with two veteran coaches in his corner, he and the rest of the Maryland offense are primed to make big plays consistently.

"I think when Coach Gattis came in, he really emphasized the details of the plays and stuff," Tagovailoa said. "He added in some of his plays as well and I think it's been really good for us. I think the biggest thing for us last year, we didn't really take shots down the field, and I think with Coach Gattis and Coach Sumlin here, I think we'll be making more downfield throws and really airing the ball out."

On the ground, the Terps also welcome back Freshman All-American and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Roman Hemby, who returns 1,287 yards from scrimmage, the third-most of any freshman in the FBS. Paired with Antwain Littleton, the Terps rushed for 141.3 yards per game to power the Maryland offense.

With a strong running back room, Hemby believes that the running back room has the chance to break out in an even bigger way in 2023.

"Being in the Big Ten, we know a lot of the times during the season people get worn down and that's just the nature of everything," Hemby said. "But I feel like we have a great running back room, not only not just me and Antwain, but outside of that we got a lot of people that can make plays on the field no matter when they're given an opportunity to, and just being a close knit group, close knit family, we don't care. That's what makes it so special."

On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Brian Williams enters his second season in the position, where he produced a pair of NFL draft picks, with Deonte Banks going 24th overall to the New York Giants to become the first Maryland player to be drafted in the first round since 2019. Locksley believes Williams' motivation and character draw players toward him and helps the defense reach its full potential.

"Guys like Brian Williams have the ability to bring teams together, bring people together to play for something bigger than themselves," Locksley said. "And I've seen that in the defensive side of the ball and all the steps we were able to take last year, and again, Brian put our players in the best possible position. My expectation is that we just do it a little bit better this year."

For Locksley and the Maryland football team, football is not solely about the wins and losses on the field but about developing men into leaders off of it. Locksley's vision for the players is not focused on building something that lasts as long as a player's career in College Park but rather on the long-term success of the team as a whole.

Before stating his team's readiness to compete for a Big Ten title, Locksley shared a quote he read, saying, "Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is a nightmare." The dais on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf where Locksley delivered his press conference stood as a platform to show the world that Maryland football's vision is established, and the action is soon to come.

"I like the trajectory of the program," Locksley said. "I like where we are. But as I've always said, we're a development program, so we're still working to get better and to be able to show what we have become in the last couple of years."