Friedgen Takes Step Back, Gets Closer to Team

Any time Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen approached a banged-up lineman the past two seasons, right tackle Dane Randolph knew what to expect: a terse directive to heal quickly. But when Friedgen recently encountered left guard Jaimie Thomas, who was nursing a sore neck, Randolph witnessed a softer touch. Friedgen told Thomas and other linemen that he craved a professional massage like the one Thomas had received, breaking the tension and tickling players with the image of their curvaceous 61-year-old coach in a massage parlor.

It remains to be seen whether Friedgen's new role as program CEO will translate into more wins for Maryland, which opens its season tomorrow against Delaware. But Friedgen's December decision to hand the offensive coordinator and play-calling duties to the re-hired James Franklin, who spent the past two seasons at Kansas State, has dramatically changed Friedgen and the relationship he has with players.

"Can't you see how much nicer I am?" said Friedgen, only half-joking.

Because scripting practices and running offensive meetings no longer bog down Friedgen, he can spend more time poking his head into the weight room, conversing with players and motivating the team as a whole. Perhaps most importantly, the move has eased the stress on the eighth-year Terrapins coach, which, in turn, has alleviated much of the anxiety in the locker room.

"He became very impatient with us and with the coaches as well" the past two seasons, said Randolph, a fifth-year. "He is at the top of the totem pole. His stress goes down to everyone else. You can definitely see a difference. When he is having a good day, we're all having a good day. When he is having a bad day, we're all having a bad day. With him not being in a role where he has to control everything, he is allowed to actually calm down."

That is precisely what Friedgen had hoped. He had wanted to surrender his offensive coordinator duties after the 2006 season, but when searching for a candidate he decided not to settle on one who might not fit the system. So Friedgen "grinded" through last season, working harder than he had in nearly four decades of coaching, feeling as if he was not doing a good job and spreading himself too thin. The result: a 6-7 season that concluded with an Emerald Bowl loss to Oregon State, and more stress than Friedgen wished to bear. Center Edwin Williams said Friedgen told him in a late-season meeting that he couldn't wear all the hats anymore.

The return of Franklin, who spent five seasons as Maryland's wide receivers coach (2000-04), proved a blessing from a psychological standpoint. Upon his return to College Park, Franklin noticed Friedgen looked a little tired, slightly worn. But soon after, Franklin said, he went out to dinner with Ralph and his wife, Gloria, and "I walked Gloria out to the car and she said, 'You know, James, he just seems happier and healthier than he has been in years.' "

Early in training camp, Franklin approached Friedgen and asked, "How did you do everything for two years?" Friedgen chuckled, telling Franklin: " 'Now you know why I hired your [butt]. I about near killed myself doing the head coaching job and everything else.' It is hard to do. It really is hard to do. I am enjoying this, to be honest with you. I have a chance to be closer with the kids."

Friedgen, for instance, has repeatedly talked to left tackle Scott Burley about how he was faring in a tough statistics course, allowing him to leave practice sometimes 30 minutes early to make class. And Williams, a fifth-year senior, said Friedgen mostly met with offensive players the past two years, but now routinely meets with players on both sides of the ball.

"It makes the players remember that he has not forgotten them," Williams said. "We have 100 and something guys, and people can get lost in that mix and think, 'Coach doesn't care about me and I can do whatever I want.' Having these daily or weekly meetings with players, it makes you realize, Wow, he really has time invested in this program and in me."

Players say this summer has revealed Fridge Light, a less commanding, more upbeat coach.

On one occasion, a fight broke out in practice, defensive back Anthony Wiseman took off his helmet, and Friedgen immediately blew his whistle.

"Coaching point!" Friedgen hollered. "Never take your helmet off for a fight. Let's get smart here now, men." Players roared. Another time, Friedgen joked that with so many players using the pool, his camp was like "Club Med," and that he was considering performing a cannonball.

Players have reciprocated. At a recent practice, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey sneaked up on Friedgen and grabbed his rear. Players giggled.

"I don't know if they would have done that a year ago," Friedgen said. "As long as they are focusing on practice, I don't mind a little bit of that."

Friedgen also has gone to greater lengths to motivate players, believing he fell short in recent years. As chief executive of the program, Friedgen can now leave a little bit earlier at night, phone assistants from home, and he can observe the defense for three periods in practice. It also means meetings won't be held up anymore if Friedgen is summoned to speak to athletic department officials about administrative matters.

"All those things are very important," Franklin said, "I take a lot of pride in them and that's my role," to help alleviate Friedgen's workload. "I also know that come Saturday, we better put some points on the board -- that's real important -- or everyone's role will be a little different."