It was only a couple weeks ago that Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen noted he hadn’t been part of many bad teams in his career.
He wasn’t kidding.
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With the Terrapins at 2-5, it’s the first time Friedgen’s been associated with a team with that poor a record through seven games since 1988.
In his full-time coaching career, it’s only happened five times before this year – his first two years as a defensive assistant at The Citadel, his only year at William & Mary (with Jimmye Laycock in his first year as head coach) and his first two seasons in his first run at Georgia Tech.
Here’s the full rundown, including the years Friedgen lettered at Maryland. Those and his time as a grad assistant really don’t count, but it’s worth noting that he’s avoided rough seasons for the most part since he turned 30. Five losses in seven games is a different experience indeed for the head man.
| Year | School | Position | Start
| Final
|
1968
| Maryland | Player | 2-5 | 2-8 |
| 1969 | Maryland | Grad ass’t
| 2-5 | 3-7 |
| 1970 | Maryland | Grad ass’t
| 1-6 | 2-9 |
| 1971 | Maryland | Grad ass’t
| 2-5 | 2-9 |
| 1973 | The Citadel
| D-Line | 2-5 | 3-8 |
| 1974 | The Citadel
| D-Line | 2-5 | 4-7 |
| 1980 | William & Mary
| O-coordinator
| 2-5 | 2-9 |
| 1987 | Georgia Tech
| O-coordinator | 2-5 | 2-9 |
| 1988 | Georgia Tech
| O-coordinator | 2-5 | 3-8 |
| 2009 | Maryland | Head coach
| 2-5 | – |
Clearly, it’ll be curious to see how the Terps handle their increasingly dire situation. But it will also be interesting to watch their coach, since he’s now in a position he (much like his players) doesn’t have a whole lot of recent experience with, either.
– Patrick Stevens
