Most of the fallout of Maryland's ugly 2-5 start has been converted to kindling to stoke the fire under coach Ralph Friedgen's perpetually simmering seat. More immediately, though, after Saturday's nine-point, four-turnover, zero-touchdown debacle in a 20-9 home loss to Virginia, the heat has been directed at senior quarterback Chris Turner, who threw two interceptions against the Cavs and had to be assured this week that the job was still his, give or take a couple appearances by backup and next year's likely starter, Jamarr Robinson. A loss Saturday at Duke (where UMD is roughly a touchdown underdog ... to Duke) would drop the Terps to 2-6 and put the final dagger in their hopes of returning to a bowl game.

In the big picture, though, the real insiders know the head coach and veteran quarterback are small potatoes, mere pawns in the chain. Or so says Chris Turner's dad, John, anyway, a founding member of '80s glam band Ratt and, as of a message board post following the Virginia loss, a full-throated critic of UMD athletic director Deborah Yow on a weekend where he "really felt strongly for the football program":

John Turner's comments, posted under his screen name, said: "Get rid of Yow. And you might have a chance on being decent in football and basketball. Shes [sic] the absolute worst and will destroy your program! TRUST ME!"

John Turner, like a lot of football parents, is a frequent poster on Terp boards, and obviously a believer: Yow has plenty of critics in College Park, but on the football side, Friedgen clearly wears the target in College Park, especially since offensive coordinator James Franklin's promotion to coach-in-waiting set the stage for the Fridge's graceful exit after a generally (by historical Maryland standards) successful tenure. But the Terps on well on their way to the worst season in that nine-year run, and if it comes to that, budget cuts or not, Warren DeMartini himself couldn't push Yow into the line of fire ahead of the coach.