Ralph Friedgen soaked in the chants and fought back a few more tears. He gave a parting gift to his alma mater -- the highest point total Maryland has ever posted in a bowl game -- then followed it with a parting shot at the administration that fired him. Already the Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year, already the engineer of the second-biggest regular season turnaround in the country, Friedgen ended his 10-year run with the Terrapins on Wednesday with a 51-20 victory over East Carolina in the Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman. "It's been real surreal," Friedgen said. "To be honest with you, I'm a little bit overwhelmed by it. I really had no idea that people even thought that much of me." Patrolling the Maryland sideline one last time, holding his customary playsheet and wearing a white cap with the word "Terps" in red, Friedgen wound up a 9-4 season and a 75-50 Maryland decade that includes a 5-2 record in bowl games. Fans held up signs and banners proclaiming "Thanks Ralph" and chanted his name through much of the second half. He got the customary ice-bucket bath from his players with 2 1/2 minutes left in the game. "If you have to go out," Friedgen said, "this is the best way to do it." Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=303630120
Mike Leach meets with Maryland search committee about football coaching job An interview Thursday between former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach and the search committee charged by the University of Maryland to find the school's next football coach went well, according to two individuals close to the athletic department. Leach met with first-year Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson and first-year university president Wallace D. Loh on Thursday evening, one source said. It remained unclear whether an official offer was extended to Leach as of Thursday night. The sources did not want to be identified because they were not authorized to speak on Maryland's behalf. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/30/AR2010123004808.html
