Just saw that Joe Schad tweeted this...

USFFan

I just posted that in the "silly season update thread". Here's the twitter link....

http://twitter.com/schadjoe/status/21642182238666752

That's a curious decision. He has things running nicely at UCONN, I would have thought he'd stay there unless a big job came open. Maryland seems like a lateral move at best, they must be opening up their checkbook.

ESPN is reporting it now.

wow interesting. i don't see this as a move up at all for Randy Edsall. Maryland is a hard place to win.

Not only is it a hard place to win but they expect you to have a Top 15 or 20 team and compete for the conference title every year. He can do those things in the Big East, even an expanded Big East, and recruit the same type of players minus the headaches. Maryland must be throwing around some of the new ACC money.

With all the money UConn has, they couldn't outbid Maryland for a head coach or did Edsall just want out? UMD is hardly a football powerhouse and has trouble filling the stands when there not playing a regional ACC rival or WVU. Very odd move.

Jackson

I think if i'm a UCONN fan, i'm torn about this. Yes Edsall built the program, and it's never fun losing a coach to a rival conference. But then again, i'd say Edsall has probably taken UCONN as far as he can, and maybe the opportunity for a national search for a new coach would be good for UCONN. will be interesting to see what direction they take

This is very suprising. I dont understand this move for him. He must just be sick of Hartford

Not sure how attractive the Uconn job is. New England is probably the worst region in the country in terms of producing high school football talent.


Jackson

His mind was made up. Didn't bother with the charter flight home.

http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=472951

Let's be clear. Edsall was always committed to UConn as long as jobs he was interested in were filled. Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is fooling themselves.

Let's hope Jeff Hathaway has someone in mind. Its rare when a BCS representative of a conference's job opens up, unless its the Big East unfortunately where it seems to be a regular occurrence

2004: Walt Harris leaves Pitt for Stanford (on the way out either way though)
2006: Bob Petrino leaves Louisville for Atlanta Falcons
2007: Rich Rodriguez leaves West Virginia for Michigan
2009: Brian Kelly leaves Cincinnati for Notre Dame
2010(?): Randy Edsall leave Connecticut for Maryland

UCONN is a very attractive job, IMHO. They have shown they can win, their fans have been incredibly supportive, and they have a national brand name via their BB program (mens and women's). They have great facilities. I'd say UCONN is a very desirable job.

Mayland/DC high school football is better than CT HS football, so from a recruiting standpoint Edsall should have more to work with. Still looks like a lateral move though.

(01-02-2011 02:43 PM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  Mayland/DC high school football is better than CT HS football, so from a recruiting standpoint Edsall should have more to work with. Still looks like a lateral move though.

Virginia HS football I'm told is pretty good too, plus he'll still have ties in PA I bet.

I think its a lateral move for both parties involved

(01-02-2011 02:35 PM)CatsClaw Wrote:  Not only is it a hard place to win but they expect you to have a Top 15 or 20 team and compete for the conference title every year. He can do those things in the Big East, even an expanded Big East, and recruit the same type of players minus the headaches. Maryland must be throwing around some of the new ACC money.

I think it's more the Under Armour money as Maryland attempts to be Oregon East. It's a lateral move in every sense except (presumably) money. And if I have some dumb AD throwing corporate booster money at me, I'd do it too.

(01-02-2011 02:43 PM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  Mayland/DC high school football is better than CT HS football, so from a recruiting standpoint Edsall should have more to work with. Still looks like a lateral move though.

Yeah, you're right. It'll be interesting to see what the reason for his jumping to Maryland is. Maybe he thinks Maryland is more of a "name" school and thus easier to recruit to perhaps?

(01-02-2011 02:24 PM)RealDeal Wrote:  That's a curious decision. He has things running nicely at UCONN, I would have thought he'd stay there unless a big job came open. Maryland seems like a lateral move at best, they must be opening up their checkbook.

Maryland is not a lateral move, it's clearly an upward move, which sadly just about any move from a Big East school to another BCS conference is.

It's a pattern: Win the Big East and go to a BCS bowl, and you get plucked away by another BCS team. Edsall's just following in the steps of richrod, petrino, and kelly.

I don't know how enthusiastic Maryland fans will be about this.. i suspect many would have preferred Leach

(01-02-2011 02:59 PM)justinslot Wrote:  I think it's more the Under Armour money as Maryland attempts to be Oregon East. It's a lateral move in every sense except (presumably) money. And if I have some dumb AD throwing corporate booster money at me, I'd do it too.

This is exactly why this is not a lateral move. Under Armour is prepared to start throwing money into that program like Nike does with Oregon. Add in a much better recruiting area and that becomes an attractive job.