How Much Credit Would Ralph Get?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- I was driving downtown, flipped on the 80s station on XM radio in my rental car, and, as if on cue, I heard the final minute of Ratt’s “Round and Round.” No joke. What an ideal way to start the trip; I turned it up a couple notches. (I quickly flipped the station off when "Hungry Eyes" from Dirty Dancing came on next.)
It is a wet, sloppy and downright dank day in Nashville. I believe a Chris Turner story I wrote is on the Web now. I’ll have blog tidbits throughout the day, and in the wee hours of the morning I’ll paint a picture of late-night Murfreesboro.
But I was thinking of something on the plane: Say this Chris Turner thing really takes off. A guy who started the season as a backup helps rev up this West Coast version of the offense, gets playmakers the ball in the open field and leads Maryland to, oh, say a nine-win season.
How much credit would Ralph Friedgen get? Would Turner’s performance be a testament to the coach’s ability to develop more than one quarterback with the ability to lead a team? Or would it be an indictment of Friedgen because he did not see Turner’s potential in training camp and instead named Jordan Steffy the starter?
People I have talked to feel different ways on this. On one hand, he has always said he felt he had three good quarterbacks and that the separation between Turner and Steffy in camp was small. He had to name one guy the starter and went with the player who performed the best in practice in spring and summer. Who can fault him with that, right? The fact that Turner would then lead the team in Steffy’s absence would be a testament to Ralph’s ability to have some real depth at that position.
On the other hand, some may say Turner would have sat the bench all season had Steffy remained healthy. That no one would have seen what Turner could do if Steffy had not hurt his thumb. That the team’s offense would not be as explosive and that the Terps would not win nine games with Steffy as starter. Some may say Ralph then should be blamed for not naming Turner the starter before the season.
What do you think: How much credit would and should Ralph get if Turner has a great year?
By
Eric Prisbell
|
September 5, 2008; 10:37 AM ET
| Category:
Football
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Posted by: Jon | September 5, 2008 10:51 AM
The theory I had when Fridge named Steffy the starter was that he knows that Turner is a more effective starter but he wanted to give Steffy a dignified end to his college career because he is such a quality guy. That would explain Fridge's behavior/explanations the last couple of weeks.
Posted by: Mark | September 5, 2008 10:53 AM
He should get plenty of credit for having developed Turner into a good quarterback, and get demerits not for naming Steffy the starter but for handling the whole thing so inexplicably.
Posted by: Lindemann | September 5, 2008 10:54 AM
If your question is, "If Chris Turner succeeds, is it in spite of Ralph?", then the answer is no.
Ralph's obvious loyalties aside, he's created a program filled w/ quality individuals. From the coaching staff down to the scout team, everyone seems to have a genuine affinity for Ralph and the University of Maryland.
The fact that Turner stayed when logic said he should transfer is a testament to the program that Ralph has built. The fact that Josh Portis stayed when he was suspended last year for something that a PSU or Clemson player would have been applauded for says it all.
Ralph may be stubborn. But he's the type of stubborn we're lucky to have.
Posted by: zonebreaker | September 5, 2008 11:07 AM
It depends. If the offense opens up and rolls then Franklin will probably get the credit.
The problem I have with the Steffy decision is Ralph said they were close but he went with Steffy because he practiced better. If they are close why would you pick the guy with only one year of eligibility? He made that decision to reward Steffy for all he has given the program. However, that wasn't the best decision "for" the program.
Posted by: Jeff | September 5, 2008 11:09 AM
9 or gasp 10 wins with a 2 star(or was he 1) recruit at QB? yeah thats the coach.
Posted by: Lee | September 5, 2008 11:30 AM
Ralph should get some credit for bringing Turner into the program but Turner is only playing because Ralph is forced to play him. Past evidence has Ralph in the tank for Steffy and the only reason Steffy has been pulled is due to injury not ineffectiveness. If Turner plays well then everyone is going to further jump on Ralph for making such a poor decision to start Steffy in the first place. But if the team is winning the issue wont be as big of a deal.
Posted by: zman | September 5, 2008 12:07 PM
I would have to say credit is shared amongst Chris, Ralph and the QB coach, but definitely give Ralph his due.
Look, no matter how much some fans have blinders on, the fact is that Turner was wildly inconsistant last season, losing an 'easy' game after beating BC. We ended the season on a slide, and Turner was pulled more than once. The kid isn't perfect. Some fans need to put emotion aside and look at facts, and if the fact is that Steffy did the best in camp, how inteh world could Ralph have come to any other decision?
Believe me, I was disappointed when Steffy was named prior to the first game, but rather than direct anger at Ralph, we fans should have been getting on Turner to finally break this absurd "plays better than he practices" routine. It's getting old.
Posted by: Steven F. | September 5, 2008 1:36 PM
There is no way to know if Steffy would have been pulled if he continued to play poorly and Turner would have been given his chance. I have to believe that if Steffy was not performing in games then he would have been replaced, at least to see if Turner could do better.
I don't fault Ralph for naming Steffy as starter based on what he did in practice. Isn't that what guys who are competing for starting positions are supposed to do, put forth the effort and get the results in practice? Do we want a team of Iversons who say "Practice? We not talkin' 'bout a game, it's practice!" How can you tell a kid who came back for a final year of eligibility after graduating, "Yes, you did everything we asked of you and you outperformed the other guy, but we're going to start him anyway. Thanks for your effort though." Don't forget, Turner had the chance to show he was the superior choice in spring practice and the summer camp but did not do so.
It's just as fair to ask the question, what if Turner is so-so in his performance, the Terps beat MTSU but not are not impressive on offense, lose to Cal, beat Directional Michigan, lose to Clemson, and play a close game against UVA, win or lose. Should Steffy be given a real shot at taking back over the reins for the Wake game? The obvious answer is that in that situation you have to consider all possibilities, including stripping down the playbook and letting Portis have more extensive playing time.
Let's just hope your scenario is the one that unfolds.
Posted by: Jack57 | September 5, 2008 1:44 PM
Final Score this coming Saturday:
Middle Tennessee State -- 37
Maryland -- 17
Maryland will finish the season with a 4-8 record (good for last place in the ACC - even behind Duke)
I am glad that Maryland is no longer recruiting Tavon Austin
Jelani Jenkins will not be attending Maryland - he will sign with the University of Florida.
Posted by: gary | September 5, 2008 4:41 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Our MD "fans" will give Fridge zero credit and continue to rake him over the coals on this issue.