Friedgen acknowledges pressure

GREENSBORO - Coach Ralph Friedgen, whose Maryland team finished 2-10 last season, acknowledged Monday that his team has to perform better if he is going to keep his job.

Friedgen was asked whether upcoming changes for Maryland at athletic director (Debbie Yow left for N.C. State) and president (C.D. Mote is retiring) have any bearing on the coach's future.

"I think if I do well the next two years, I'll be at Maryland," Friedgen said. "If I don't, I won't. So it doesn't matter about the change in administration."

Mote did not ask Friedgen to be part of the committee participating in the search for Yow's successor. Friedgen said he was relieved rather than disappointed.

He said participating on such a committee would have consumed many hours of his time. He considers it unlikely that Maryland will hire an athletic director before hiring a new chancellor, so there's a chance the process will drag on.

And frankly, with his job on the line, Friedgen doesn't have the time to be a part of it.

"I've got to focus on winning the games," Friedgen said.

That's not going to be easy. The media that cover the ACC picked Maryland last in the Atlantic Division in the preseason poll released Monday. The Terrapins also placed last in 2009.

Ken Tysiac