Ralph Friedgen lost his successor at Maryland. Is Fridge's job next?

Relatively speaking, Maryland has been a beacon of stability for the last decade: Among ACC head coaches, only Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer has been at his post longer than Ralph Friedgen has presided as Head Terp at his alma mater. For a program with such little turnover, though, UMD has also been wracked by uncertainty at the top for the better part of the last two years, beginning with its decision to anoint offensive coordinator James Franklin as Friedgen's eventual successor after the 2008 season. The university backed that up with a pledge to pay Franklin $1 million if he wasn't in the Fridge's chair by Jan. 1, 2012, and suddenly the clock was ticking as Friedgen continued to forge ahead.

The countdown ended today, when Franklin – understandably tired of waiting after Friedgen talked his way into a ninth season after the 2-10 debacle of 2009, and subsequently earned a tenth with an 8-4 turnaround this fall – officially accepted the top job at Vanderbilt. Now the new countdown begins, to the last grain of sand in Friedgen's hourglass – which, as of this afternoon, could be dropping in a matter of days.

With Franklin's exit, the Terps are off the hook both for his buyout, leaving considerably more cash on hand and considerably more flexibility in how to spend it. On a conference call with reporters today, first-year athletic director Kevin Anderson – who wasn't in charge when Franklin was named coach-in-waiting, or for the decision to bring Friedgen back this fall – refused to back up his Nov. 18 guarantee that Friedgen would be back in 2011, instead deferring to "an announcement concerning the future of the program" next week. And according to ESPN's Joe Schad, that announcement will likely be that Friedgen is being forced out to make room for another bigger, younger fish:

Maryland is strongly considering asking coach Ralph Friedgen to retire and accept a buyout, according to multiple sources.
[…]
At one point during this season, Maryland told Friedgen he could return next season, but the coach has been pushing for a contract extension.

… At least three Maryland assistant coaches are aware of the likelihood Friedgen will not return for next season and have committed to follow Franklin to Vanderbilt.

The specific fish in question, per Schad's sources: Mike Leach, who has a relationship from his Texas Tech days with Under Armour and its founders, former Maryland players Kevin Plank (now a university trustee) and Jordan Lindgren. Leach has made no secret that he wants a job, any job, and with Franklin and his buyout out of the picture, the Terps can better afford to bring the captain aboard.

Of course, this also marks roughly the fifth time in six years Friedgen has stepped off the field in the season finale and into the danger zone. Half his tenure's been spent on the hot seat, and he's survived; he even outlasted the guy who was supposed to succeed him. At this point, he's playing with house money, and you bet against him at your own risk.

[Update, 2:17 p.m. ET, 12/18] Multiple outlets are reporting Saturday that Friedgen has been asked to accept a buyout or face the ax, and he may have already taken the bait. Mike Leach's agent says Leach hasn't heard from Maryland, but it sounds like some recruits have heard from Leach.

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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

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