COLLEGE PARK, Md. (7News) — With three straight years of bowl game victories – a first for the University of Maryland – it’s clear that Head Coach Mike Locksley has changed the culture of Terrapin football.
The Terps are back, and momentum is on their side.
Entering 2024, however, a team familiar with answers is now teeming with question marks. Roster losses, an expanded playoff and a deeper Big Ten Conference will impose a heavy weight upon the Terps in their sixth year under Locksley.
Undoubtedly, the most impactful departure is longtime starting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who last year became the all-time passing leader in the history of the Big Ten. While the clubhouse will miss Tagovailoa’s presence on and off the field, Locksley is excited for the new room.
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“This group was recruited specifically for this system. We feel like we’ve recruited the room well to have the competition that we’re going to need,” Locksley said.
While Locksley’s staff knows the battle for the QB position is far from over, they remain confident they can find their guy. Throughout training camp, the quarterback who can end each drive in a kick – whether that’s a punt, field goal or extra point – will likely be the winner.
“I think it starts with protecting the ball,” Locksley said. “If it ends in turnovers, turnovers on downs or bad plays, you’re not going to be the guy. The guy who’s going to give us the best chance to win finds a way to keep the drive alive.”
From a three-win season in 2019 to back-to-back eight-win records over the past two years, the Terrapins have jumped from a middling program to a solid, commendable team in one of the most formidable conferences in college football.
However, while the first jump into relevance was no small feat, the next leap into greatness is tremendously more difficult. The former Alabama assistant coach understands the battle ahead for his squad and trusts that his players are ready to forgo personal glory for the sake of the team.
“Having played championship-level football at the place I was before I came here, then taking that recipe and structure that we have to get to that point takes a lot of work,” Locksley said. One thing that jumps out to me about the teams that win championships is the sacrifices that they have to make because you can’t keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.”
The head coach is not exempt from the expectations he has set for the players. Over the past six months, Locksley has made numerous off-field changes to better his mental and physical health, including losing 60 pounds and entering therapy. His determination reveals what he is willing to put on the line for his program.
“We’re in an era of college athletics where it’s kind of entitled, where players feel like we owe them something because they get paid – as they should,” Locksley said. “But I think what comes with getting paid is what you’re willing to sacrifice for the team. For me, I wanted to change myself from within.”
NIL may have bred entitlement, but it also birthed a new era of enlightenment across every corner of college football. Programs like Maryland stand to benefit from the monetary benefits, and Locksley plans to continue embracing NIL and potentially shake things up at the top in the coming years.
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“For me, that’s been the exciting part,” Locksley said. “With this changing landscape, it’s actually a great opportunity for us here at Maryland because we now have a chance to really want to win and compete for championships. It’s not just on myself or our team to create the environment to win championships – it’s on all of us.”
Entering the conference or national championship mix could do wonders for a program that has risen in the standings but has failed to do so popularity-wise. Last year, the Terps finished second-last in the Big Ten in total attendance, only besting Northwestern. With the conference now stronger than ever, Locksley hopes the fanbase recognizes their role in shaping the future.
“I’d love for the Shell to become that neighborhood block party that I grew up in the city going to,” Locksley said. “It’s all love, and I’m excited for our fans. I’m really thankful for what they’ve been able to help us accomplish, but what they do matters.”
Locksley, the players and the fans will make their season debut at home versus UConn on Aug. 31.
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Publish date : 2024-08-12 07:55:00
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