I just want to put out there what I've been hearing with regards to Edsall this past few weeks and days and what I expect to happen.
Since last spring, even before the extension was signed and still sitting on Edsall's desk, I've heard that it was six wins or Edsall was likely done at Maryland. That extension, which greatly favored the school, went unsigned for months, finally being announced in late June. Even after the extension was signed, I was told by multiple sources that he would need to win six games to keep his job.
Fast forward to Week 2 against Bowling Green. And it was just a terrible situation all the way around. Horrible weather, empty stands and after a long weather-delayed halftime, Bowling Green came out in the second stanza and completely dominated Maryland. That's really when I started hearing rumblings that firing Edsall in-season was a real possibility.
Obviously, things really started to go south in Morgantown. The team looked listless and only managed to score 6 points in a blowout loss. With the offense looking inept and the defense unable to stop anybody, the drumbeat seemed to get louder. Basically what I had heard at that point is that things were going to go in one of two directions, either Edsall would likely be let go at the bye or they would wait until the end of the season, but retaining him past this season seemed unlikely, although once again I was still being told 6 wins would be enough to keep his job.
In the scenario where Edsall was let go in-season, I was told the likely interim coach would be Mike Locksley. Locksley is considered one of the top recruiters in the area and was the lead on many of Maryland's 2016 commits.
Then came last Saturday's shutout loss to Michigan. Again, after a couple of promising looking drives by the offense and the defense playing well, things just seemed to spiral out of control with the offensive unit going three-and-out on 12 of their final 14 possessions. I think that Saturday's shutout loss to Michigan was the straw that broke the camel's back. At that point the drumbeat got very loud and while I wasn't hearing it was certain that Edsall would be fired at the bye, things seemed to have shifted that way.
As the season has gone on, the team seems to have simply tuned Edsall and his message out. Between the players-only meeting and the constant revolving door at quarterback the players seem to have lost faith in their coach. And between the declining attendance, the performance on the field and the outcry from fans, I think things simply came to a head over the past couple of weeks.
To be clear, I have spoken to a number of sources today and over the past couple of days and all have told me nothing is imminent in the next couple of days. And the athletic departments reaction to the news seems to back that up as they have said that Edsall will be on the sidelines this weekend in Columbus. But barring a miraculous win over the top-ranked team in the land on Saturday, it is very likely that is the last time Edsall roams the sidelines as Maryland's coach.
Since last spring, even before the extension was signed and still sitting on Edsall's desk, I've heard that it was six wins or Edsall was likely done at Maryland. That extension, which greatly favored the school, went unsigned for months, finally being announced in late June. Even after the extension was signed, I was told by multiple sources that he would need to win six games to keep his job.
Fast forward to Week 2 against Bowling Green. And it was just a terrible situation all the way around. Horrible weather, empty stands and after a long weather-delayed halftime, Bowling Green came out in the second stanza and completely dominated Maryland. That's really when I started hearing rumblings that firing Edsall in-season was a real possibility.
Obviously, things really started to go south in Morgantown. The team looked listless and only managed to score 6 points in a blowout loss. With the offense looking inept and the defense unable to stop anybody, the drumbeat seemed to get louder. Basically what I had heard at that point is that things were going to go in one of two directions, either Edsall would likely be let go at the bye or they would wait until the end of the season, but retaining him past this season seemed unlikely, although once again I was still being told 6 wins would be enough to keep his job.
In the scenario where Edsall was let go in-season, I was told the likely interim coach would be Mike Locksley. Locksley is considered one of the top recruiters in the area and was the lead on many of Maryland's 2016 commits.
Then came last Saturday's shutout loss to Michigan. Again, after a couple of promising looking drives by the offense and the defense playing well, things just seemed to spiral out of control with the offensive unit going three-and-out on 12 of their final 14 possessions. I think that Saturday's shutout loss to Michigan was the straw that broke the camel's back. At that point the drumbeat got very loud and while I wasn't hearing it was certain that Edsall would be fired at the bye, things seemed to have shifted that way.
As the season has gone on, the team seems to have simply tuned Edsall and his message out. Between the players-only meeting and the constant revolving door at quarterback the players seem to have lost faith in their coach. And between the declining attendance, the performance on the field and the outcry from fans, I think things simply came to a head over the past couple of weeks.
To be clear, I have spoken to a number of sources today and over the past couple of days and all have told me nothing is imminent in the next couple of days. And the athletic departments reaction to the news seems to back that up as they have said that Edsall will be on the sidelines this weekend in Columbus. But barring a miraculous win over the top-ranked team in the land on Saturday, it is very likely that is the last time Edsall roams the sidelines as Maryland's coach.
