Maryland top Four high school football state

[Shas]

Tough crowd. Clearer if I said, "but would only coach there three more seasons because he died from an infection at age 46."

[ravenfever]

Sadly, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana all regularly field college football teams that place in the top 10. I have no recollection of the Terps EVER fielding a top 10 football team. Basketball yes. Maryland needs to learn how to recruit in their own back yard. What's up with that?

In 2001 the Terps were ranked #6 AP poll before they lost to Florida in Orange Bowl. That is the last time I can remember them being in top 10.

[alien bird]

Maryland Rankings, AP Poll Top Ten
Highest position during a season (not necessarily where they finished)

#1 - 1953, 1955
#2 - 1952
#3 - 1951, 1954
#4 - 1976
#5 - 1978
#6 - 1956, 2001
#7 - 1983, 1985
#8 - 1950
#9 - none
#10 - 1961, 1974, 1977

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb...and/index.html

[Shas]

Maryland needs to learn how to recruit in their own back yard. What's up with that?

No idea. Facilities are top notch based on reports

the biggest issue now adays is KEEPING homegrown talent in state. The Terps have fallen SO far behind the bigger programs, it's difficult to retain talent in state.

When the Terps were successful in the old Southern Conference and later in the ACC there was more balance. In the '70s UMD and UNC were the better programs, but Wake, Clemson, and NC State also won titles. In the 80s UMD and Clemson dominated the conference.

Then, in a 14 year period from 92-05 FSU won 12 ACC titles. Then VT had a run. Then three straight years of FSU again. And now five for Clemson.

I won't speculate as to how these teams became juggernauts, but let's just say it involves more than just great coaching.

No one want's to spend money on a "loser" program, and when the league became one-sided, it led to UMD's woes and their needing to jump ship to survive financially.

Seems like the same phenomena has now spread to the national landscape. We can all predict the national championship is probably going to be one of a few programs like Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Clemson, or Ohio State. The five-star Caleb Williams, #1 QB in the country, looks like he is going to Oklahoma, with UMD #2 on his list. You can understand why a kid wants to go play for the team that just made Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield high draft choices for NFL teams.

Locksley has to sell being part of something "you built" and remind them that there are plenty of Terps in the NFL: Stefon Diggs, Sean Davis, Yannick Ngakoue, Quinton Jefferson, D. J. Moore, Jermaine Carter, Darnell Savage , Ty Johnson, Derwin Gray, Anthony McFarland, Antoine Brooks. And he needs a coaching staff that can take 3 stars and make them play like fives.

If he can do that then he can sell hope to the fans, bring back attendance and money, and upgrade facilities. Recruiting comes first, then winning, then money, then facilities.

[PTORaven]

i'm guessing this is largely from families relocating from elsewhere for high school scholarships, so they don't necessarily have the same sort of roots when it comes time for college as born-and-bred Marylanders. this is a part of why we lag behind Florida and those other states for in-state retention. Also we only have two D1 football programs in MD and for one of them you have to sign away four years of your life post-graduation, so not an ideal choice if you're looking for a road to the NFL. There's no way MD will catch those other schools for retaining in-state talent for college.