October 7, 2008
By Todd Helmick

Terrapin Meltdown
When searching for answers as to why the Maryland Terrapins football team was totally dismantled by struggling border rival Virginia this past Saturday to the tune of a 31-0 shutout, there actually are some answers. But beware before reading on, as one of the answers may portray a disheartening trend.

Yes, this is the same Virginia team that was easily beat by an upstart Duke squad the week before by 28 points, a win which broke the Blue Devils’ 25-game ACC losing streak. This is the same Virginia offense that came in ranked 118th nationally in total offense. The Virginia defense had not fared much better in giving up 32 points per game. The holes on their depth chart were glaring, and their head coach, Al Groh, looked to be squirming on a quickly heating seat.

For those dedicated college football fans that had the stomach to watch their given teams get upset through a four-quarter torture sequence at some point this year or last, we’ve got some pliers for making that next proverbial do-it-yourself root canal a bit less painful. Hey, stuff like this happens. In fact, it is happening everywhere…the monumental upsets, that is. Oregon State can beat USC? Navy can beat Wake Forest? Bowling Green beats Pitt, East Carolina beats both Virginia Tech and West Virginia? Heck, this Skip Holtz purple clad ECU team could not even beat their last two sub .500 opponents in NC State and Houston. Last week, three of the top four teams in the AP Poll (and five of the top ten) lost. In the last six ESPN Thursday night headline games, five times the underdog has won. And depending on the day, Maryland can't even beat teams from Murfreesboro (TN) anymore.

So what does it all mean?
The first response is obviously overall parity. The talent gaps between the "haves" and "have-nots" have been severely diminished. Looking at the big polls this week, four non-BCS schools currently dot the AP Top 25 list (BYU, Utah, Boise State and Ball State). At some point this season, three others (Fresno, East Carolina and TCU) have also been considered part of the land’s best.

Ergo, the two most oft-used terms in the media have become "BCS Buster" and "Upset Alert". Boise State and Utah have already proven that earning such labels designates much more than just hype. Comparably, these modern upstarts have the merit and respect a team like the 1984 BYU Cougars could never garner. Discerning the difference between those who are BCS-aligned and those who are not is getting harder.

When predicting actual game outcomes, it's often better to just say nothing at all nowadays. But that is not how the sports media web is spun. There once was a time not so long ago that picking winners could primarily be based on who had the better team (and more often than not, the bigger schools were consistently better than the mid majors).

This train of thought is no longer valid. Due to the parity issue, the new world process now involves delving deeper into the emotional state of the players to fetter out advantage(s). Could one of the worst Michigan teams in the last quarter century upset No. 9 ranked Wisconsin in the 500th game ever to be played in the Big House? Oh yea, new head coach Rich Rodriguez made sure that happened just last weekend.

Could that same favored Michigan team then win again this past weekend when Illinois came to town? After all, this same Illinois team that went to the Rose Bowl just last year has yet to win a marquee game in 2008. Emotions, must-have situations and their backs against the wall, focus and frame of mind quickly become any prognosticator’s keys. In this case, chalk up a blow out for the Illini.

So the second part of the answer is not so easily digested. After boiling all the recent upsets down, and in the extreme case of Maryland and other rangy teams, emotions and focus are the other major differences between winning and losing.

Unfortunately, this past weekend one long-time coach put a disturbing perspective on these current trends. Joe Tiller, who is in his 12th season at Purdue, will step down as head coach when this season concludes. The 65-year old Tiller has been in the business for 43 years. When asked why he was stepping down, one of his reasons is based within the foundations upon which collegiate sports was founded. Tiller claims he just cannot coach kids anymore. Before they even arrive on campus, Tiller says a modern prospect’s main focus (along with that of his parents) is what their new head coach can/will do to put them in the NFL. Factually, only 224 players of the 9,000+ who play FBS-level football will be drafted – that’s a 2.5% chance. But does that deter most players/parents from believing they will be the exception, and that improving such unrealistic odds are primarily based in whether the coach can perform some sort of magic? Show ME the love! Show ME the money! Give me your cell phone number coach, handwrite your letters, text message me at halftime…how big are the televisions in the players lounge?

Even more disheartening is that coach Tiller goes on to state that too many players take too many plays off, they don't work as hard, they don't give everything they have to win a game anymore if things don't go their way early. These are some powerful words, and those that follow recruiting in this age of information know what he is saying as truth. The upsets that occur on a regular basis correlate his point to some extent.

Face the facts, Maryland looked totally uninterested in their losses to Middle Tennessee and Virginia. These defeats seemed dull and uninspiring. But put them on ESPN against a ranked opponent and watch ME perform. A consummate professional, coach Friedgen assumes the leadership role by taking full responsibility for not having his boys ready to play. We feel for the Fridge. There once was a time not long ago the Coach didn't need to try very hard to get his players ready emotionally for every single game. Putting on the helmet was good enough.

Sadly, Joe Tiller may be right.