'Genius' Friedgen, Maryland moving backward
So does the kind of coaching Friedgen displayed Thursday night. His unprepared team had three fumbles and an interception in the first half. West Virginia fumbled twice in the half but not only recovered both -- the Mountaineers scored on both.
Anyway, all you need to know on Friedgen's coaching is his first play call. Trailing 7-0, he wanted a reverse kickoff return. The game's on the road, the Maryland offense is cold, and the player Friedgen wanted to handle the ball, Darrius Heyward-Bey, was a freshman who had handled it just once all season. Heyward-Bey muffed the exchange.
Three plays later West Virginia led 14-0. The Mountaineers were on pace for 175 points, but they lost interest after leading 38-10 at the half. Maryland didn't quit, and made the final score look almost acceptable thanks to a late gift touchdown pass as two WVU defenders fought each other off the interception.
Some day ornery WVU coach Rich Rodriguez might just hang 100 on someone. Perhaps on Maryland. Like Friedgen, Rodriguez was hired by his alma mater in 2001. After a 3-8 debut, Rodriguez is 39-14 and has beaten Friedgen three years in a row. Different directions, these programs.
Part of the problem is West Virginia's tailback, who wanted to be Maryland's tailback. Steve Slaton committed to Maryland while in high school, but Friedgen withdrew the scholarship offer. Forget rude. That was stupid. Still ticked off, Slaton had 149 rushing yards after one quarter Thursday, including a reverse-field, stop-and-go 37-yard TD that will be the centerpiece of his Heisman campaign. In his last 11 games, Slaton has run for 1,281 yards and 23 touchdowns.
This summer Friedgen tried to soften expectations for the 2006 season by noting how inexperienced his fifth team would be. Disingenuous, considering he recruited every player on roster.
Inexperience can be overcome anyway. West Virginia has just three senior starters -- one on offense, two on defense, none in the kicking game. West Virginia is good, maybe great, and West Virginia is going to get better.
Maryland was knee-slapping bad for much of Thursday night. Afterward, Friedgen walked into the crowded interview room and offered Maryland's final joke of the night:
"Who are y'all waiting on?" he asked.
Maryland's genius coach. That's who.
