Franklin takes control

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By Patrick Stevens

James Franklin was less than a week removed from accepting a new gig, a choice that completed a three-year boomerang from College Park to Middle America and back. His family tucked away in their room, Franklin made his way down to the lobby level of the Greenbelt Marriott.

The new offensive coordinator at Maryland sat quietly in the hotel bar, watching the Terrapins build an early lead before fading in the Emerald Bowl.

He heard the chatter of other patrons. On the players. On the coaches. On whatever a fan talks about when a 6-7 season is sealed and a third losing year out of four is clinched. The entire night, no one recognized Franklin.

He cannot expect a low profile any more.

Not after supporters gleefully queued up to greet him at Maryland's spring game and welcome him back after a year with the Green Bay Packers and two more as Kansas State's offensive coordinator. Not with an easily heard presence on the practice field and from the coaches' box during scrimmages.

Not after already taking part in a quarterback decision that created angst among fans. And not as one of the few assistants that coach Ralph Friedgen would trust to bring in and run his own offense.

"He's brought some enthusiasm and some freshness into the program," Friedgen said. "I've been pleased to see his maturity and his growth."

'Mad energy'

But in a lot of ways, he's still the same James Franklin who spent five formative years at Maryland.

A dozen of Maryland's scholarship seniors were on the roster in 2004, Franklin's last season with the Terps. Franklin recruited several more - including wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey - before leaving for the NFL.