For Maryland, a Strong Finish, or No Finish

COLLEGE PARK, Md —  How soon some of us forget--or would like to. The last time Maryland prepared to meet Michigan it was a few weeks and a few plays from being ranked No. 1 in the country. Seems a whole lot longer than four years ago, right?

When the Terrapins left for Michigan in 1985, the goal was to keep active dreams for a major bowl; as the Terrapins head for Michigan, the goal is a stunning upset that will reverse its season and the long-range fortunes of its coach.

Joe Krivak needs a jump-start -- and soon. Something close to colossal, such as upsetting Michigan Saturday in Ann Arbor. Or, if that fails, turning what then would be a 1-4 start into a 7-4 finish with an unbeaten surge down the stretch.

Why is this necessary? Because Krivak is in the next to last season of a four-year contract. And the next to last year in some ways is more important than the final one.

If a coach with a losing record -- and Krivak’s is 10-16 at the moment -- is allowed to finish out his contract, both he and his fair-minded university are weakened.

Lame ducks almost never get well in college football. That’s because recruiters from other schools inflict mortal blows in the living rooms of turnaround prospects, with talk such as: “You know I have the highest respect for Maryland’s coaches. But how can you be sure Johnny here will even be with them more than next season?”

More than most, Krivak and his staff are in this together. They were abandoned by Bobby Ross, after the 1986 season, in a hectic career move that has not been especially good for all concerned.

For perspective and contrast, consider this: In 1985 Maryland (6-0) and Georgia Tech (5-1) finished one-two in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Ross’ three Georgia Tech teams haven’t been able to beat anybody in their football class; so far this season, Maryland also is 0-2 in the ACC.

Maryland’s 1985 team was one of the preseason favorites to win the national championship. That dream got dashed in the first game, when a Penn State team that in fact later did play for the national title (against Oklahoma) beat the Terrapins, 20-18.

Maryland lost only two other games that season, to heavyweight Michigan in a game more dramatic than the 20-0 score suggests, and by seven points to the mighty Miami Hurricanes.

Who Maryland beat that season is significant now: West Virginia (by 28-0), Clemson, North Carolina State, Virginia and Syracuse (by 17 points in the late-but-never-lamented Cherry Bowl). Some neat turnarounds there.

Also, in a touch of puzzling irony, Krivak and most of a staff unable to tread water in two-plus seasons on their own played huge offstage roles during the very good Ross years.

Krivak’s reputation as a pass offense wizard was established during most of two decades at Navy and Maryland -- and solidified when State’s Joe Paterno came calling not too long before Ross scurried out of town.

At a time when his ambitions for a head coaching job seemed over, Krivak suddenly was in command. He maintained continuity after Maryland was stung by Ross’ resignation; he maintained integrity after Maryland was stunned and scarred by Len Bias’s death.

No one ever is close to certain about recruiting until several years after a class is admitted. The Bias spillover onto football probably will be reflected this season and next.

Maryland fans also must have been riveted to this Krivak quote after the 24-point loss to Clemson last week: “I talked to (Tigers Coach) Danny (Ford) before the season and he asked me how many freshmen we had.

“I told him 26, 21 of them recruited and five walk-ons. He told me they had 66. Walk-ons come (to Clemson) from all over the country. Everyone likes to be identified with a winner, don’t they?”

Maryland and Clemson are the big ACC winners of the 1980s, with the Terrapins going to bowls five of the first six seasons. Even though Clemson won a national title this decade and Virginia nailed Penn State this season, the ACC does not have much of a national football presence.

Presence is exactly what Krivak covets now. Heads need to snap his way -- and only something glorious in a hurry will get that accomplished. A couple of players everybody in the country, the Notre Dames and Penn States, also wanted badly would have done it last year. A blockbuster victory over Michigan -- or some late-season victory binge -- would do it this year.

Perhaps this third season for Krivak will have the ending better than the beginning for a change. After a 4-3 start his first season, Maryland lost its last four games. A controversial call in the final game, against Virginia, was the difference last season between a winning and losing record.

Maryland’s history the last 15 or so years has been coming agonizingly close to near-supreme success at times. It finished 11-0 in 1976 under Jerry Claiborne -- and got blitzed in the Cotton Bowl. Its last five losses to Penn State have been by a total of 17 points.

With its starting quarterback having to play with an injured throwing hand, if Neil O’Donnell plays at all, and an excellent defensive back (Kevin Fowlkes) suspended, Maryland’s chances against the Wolverines seem slim.

Looking ahead, none of the final six opponents -- including Virginia and Penn State -- seem dramatically superior to Maryland. The chance remains for Krivak to generate some sort of contract-extending gusto, to become more than just a nice-guy Joe.