The Indignation of The Terrapin Fans - " You hired WHO??? Is that Really the Best!! you could do?"

Since The University Of  Maryland's Division One  Men's Basketball team won the Annual Then 64 Team Tournament in 2002, Things have not gone well at College Park, Maryland  In the Last Decade, The Terrapins  played in two Final Fours, defeated The University of Indiana Hoosiers and won the the Elite ACC Tournament.

 Since The 2002 Championship, The Terrapins have struggled . They have registered one trip to the Sweet 16. In Four of The Last & years, They were not selected to go to The Tournament. In the Season that ended last month, They were not even invited to the National Invitational Tournament ( The NIT). Terrapin fans have often complained over the last few years that their Coach, Gary Williams ,recruits very poorly.

Late Last week, Gary Williams announced that he was resigning after 22 years as the team's head coach Many Terrapin fans were both shocked and chagrined. They did not expect Gary Williams to retire NOW and he retired at an awkward time, one that would make replacing  him MORE difficult.

Gary Williams is in The National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is a National Championship Coach. It is clear that a number of Terrapin Basketball boosters wanted someone similiar to Williams as his replacement. They wanted a high profile, well-regarded and intensely sought after coach.

 The President of Maryland and Kevin Anderson, The School's Athletic Director, then went to work to satisfy their most finicky supporters. Since last Thursday, A number of high profile and big name coaches were contacted, Over the last 5 days,12 coaches have said "NO" to The Terrapins, including Sean Miller, Mike Bray, Jay Wright,Jamie Dixon and Brad Stephens.

 Finally One Coach said, " Yes", The Coach of Texas A &M, Mark Turgeon. ESPN recently wrote the following about Coach Turgeon, " Classy, reserved and solid , the kind who speaks softly and lets his coaching talk for him.. He is fundamental and solid." , some Terrapin fans seem most underwhelmed by this hire. He's not someone to intimidate Coach K. He is not one who seems likely, anytime in the near future, to lead the team to an elite status among Division One Men's Basketball Program!

 So, Is the hiring an act of Administrative under performance ? Do the Maryland Basketball Fans need to become MORE realistic?

 - Johnny -