BREAKING: Ralph Friedgen And Maryland Staring Each Other Down, Maryland Wins

If University of Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson is going to get rid of Ralph Friedgen as head football coach it's going to cost him.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/bal-ralph-friedgen-mike-leach-1219,0,3347164.story

The University has not come to an agreement with Friedgen to retire which will force Maryland to buy out his contract at roughly two million dollars. Maryland has already informed Friedgen he won't be back as head coach in 2011.

Sources have told OSG that Friedgen plans to coach Maryland's Military Bowl game against East Carolina December 29th.

A press conference is scheduled for 3:00pm today at the Comcast Center where Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson will discuss the football program. That's what the release from Maryland's Athletic Media Relations office said.

Orangebloods.com is reporting that Mike Leach will become the new head coach at Maryland. A source close to the situation told OSG Leach might be on the list but that's as far as its gone.

UPDATE:

Baltimore Sun sports writer Jeff Barker was a guest Monday on SIRIUSXM's College Football Playbook hosted by Jack Arute and Mike Leach. In his blog Barker writes that Leach would be interested in the Maryland head coaching job.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/maryland_terps/blog/2010/12/leach_i_would_talk_to_maryland.html

"I would talk to Maryland, and I would look at it and see what their goals and objectives are." Leach is quoted in Barker's blog.

Leach did go on to say he hasn't talked to any at Maryland.

Photo Courtesy: AP

Here's Leach commenting on the Maryland gig...
((HT: CSNWashington))


1500 UPDATE: Maryland is buying out Friedgen's contract, effective January 2nd, to include the roughly US$2-million remaining. Friedgen will coach the team in the Military Bowl.

Maryland's Athletic Department is paying for the buyout, AD Kevin Anderson maintains that no state funds will be used to pay the seven figures.

The jump of James Franklin to Vanderbilt necessitated the thoughts of buying Friedgen out. Anderson didn't think just having a head coach around for the final year of his deal could bring quality recruits and he feels the move is for the program's long-term success.

A national search begins immediately... Anderson maintains that no one has been contacted as of yet...