Though the players and coaches remain outwardly optimistic that the Terrapins are capable of winning their final four games and qualifying for a bowl game, the reality of the team's 2-6 record is that it's hard not to focus on 2010 and beyond.

As with all losing teams, the coaching staff has come under fire. This is one of the first times in Ralph Friedgen's nine-year tenure that the head coach is getting significant criticism, with an increasing number of message-board posts and talk-show callers mentioning the desire for a coaching change.

Here's the problem. The athletic department has already decided who that next coach is going to be, which is small consolation to those unhappy with the offense or with recruiting.

Faced with the prospect of losing assistant ...More