Maryland desperately needs a football coach who can win games, attract recruits and make the program relevant again. Jon Gruden needs an opportunity to restore his coaching reputation. College Park could be the perfect place for both to start over.
Maryland football needs a little Chucky.
Not the knife-wielding horror movie character, although the Terrapins could certainly use someone capable of frightening a few Big Ten opponents.
We’re talking about Jon Gruden, the Super Bowl-winning NFL coach whose fiery personality, infectious enthusiasm and obsession with football made him one of the most recognizable figures in the sport.
Yes, that Jon Gruden.
The guy who made “Spider 2 Y Banana” one of the most famous play calls in football history. The guy who could spend 20 minutes breaking down a quarterback’s footwork and somehow make it compelling television. The guy whose animated expressions earned him the nickname Chucky.
And perhaps the guy who could breathe life into a Maryland football program desperately searching for relevance.
Let’s establish something immediately. There is no credible reporting that Maryland has expressed interest in Gruden, nor is there verified evidence that Gruden has expressed interest in the Terrapins’ vacant head coaching position.
But maybe there should be.
Because the more you consider what Maryland needs and what Gruden wants, the more this unlikely marriage begins to make sense.
Maryland needs credibility, national attention, recruiting momentum and a reason for its increasingly frustrated fan base to believe better days are coming.
Gruden needs an opportunity to remind the football world that he is still an outstanding coach, not merely the controversial figure whose NFL career ended in disgrace.
Both need a fresh start.
And College Park might be the perfect place to make it happen.
Maryland Doesn’t Need Another Football Coach. It Needs a Personality.
Let’s be clear about something.
Maryland isn’t going to become Ohio State, Michigan or Oregon overnight. The Terrapins don’t possess the same football tradition, financial resources or national following as the Big Ten’s established powers.
What they do have is access to an outstanding recruiting region, proximity to two major metropolitan markets and membership in one of college football’s premier conferences.
That’s a foundation worth building upon.
But Maryland has spent years trying to establish itself as a serious Big Ten football program, with only occasional success.
Mike Locksley produced three consecutive bowl victories from 2021 through 2023, an accomplishment that deserves recognition. But his overall 39-54 record, including a 16-47 mark in Big Ten play, illustrates how difficult it has been for Maryland to consistently compete in its conference.
Now the Terrapins are searching for another coach.
They could hire an accomplished coordinator. They could pursue a successful Group of Five head coach. They could find someone with an impressive resume who promises to recruit harder, develop players and establish a winning culture.
There’s nothing wrong with any of those approaches.
But would another conventional hire change the national perception of Maryland football?
Probably not.
Jon Gruden would.
Imagine the scene when Maryland introduces Gruden as its next head coach.
Television cameras everywhere. National sports personalities debating the hire. Former NFL players offering opinions. College football fans who haven’t thought about Maryland in years suddenly discussing the Terrapins.
Gruden steps to the microphone, flashes that familiar Chucky grin and starts talking football.
Within minutes, Maryland would become one of the biggest stories in college athletics.
And for a program struggling to command attention, that would be a pretty remarkable starting point.
Spider 2 Y Banana: Gruden Would Make Maryland Football Must-See Television
One of the most memorable aspects of Gruden’s career wasn’t even coaching.
It was television.
During his years as an ESPN analyst, particularly his popular Gruden’s QB Camp series, Gruden transformed football instruction into entertainment.
His enthusiasm was contagious. His attention to detail was extraordinary. And his ability to communicate complicated football concepts helped make him a household name.
“Spider 2 Y Banana” became practically synonymous with his personality.
For those unfamiliar with the play, it’s a variation of a traditional West Coast offense concept featuring a fullback slipping into the flat, a tight end running a corner route and a quarterback making a quick progression.
It’s not necessarily the most complicated play in football, but nobody could make it sound more exciting than Gruden.
Now imagine that energy on Maryland’s sideline.
Imagine Gruden coaching against Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State or USC.
Would television networks suddenly consider Maryland games more attractive programming?
Almost certainly, at least initially.
Gruden would become a storyline every week. His return to coaching would generate national curiosity, and every victory or defeat would receive scrutiny.
That attention wouldn’t automatically translate into more nationally televised games or better television windows. Those decisions involve conference contracts, schedules and competitive considerations.
But there’s little question Gruden would make Maryland more interesting to viewers.
And in modern college football, attention is currency.
“I Love This Guy!” Gruden Could Win Over Recruits, Donors and an Entire Fan Base
Perhaps the most intriguing possibility is what Gruden could do away from the football field.
Maryland sits in the middle of one of the nation’s richest high school football talent regions. The Baltimore-Washington corridor routinely produces elite prospects who leave the area to play for nationally prominent programs.
Maryland has recruited some of those players successfully, but keeping the region’s best talent home has been a persistent challenge.
Now imagine Gruden walking into a high school football facility. Picture him sitting across from a four-star quarterback, dissecting game film and explaining the nuances of an NFL passing attack. Imagine him watching a talented receiver make a spectacular catch and enthusiastically delivering one of his trademark reactions:
“I love this guy!”
Gruden wouldn’t need to manufacture excitement. It’s part of his personality.
And unlike many college coaches who talk about preparing players for the NFL, Gruden could point directly to his experience coaching professional players and winning a Super Bowl.
Would that guarantee recruiting success? Of course not.
But recruiting is only half the equation in today’s college football landscape.
Maryland also needs money. Lots of it. And Gruden might be just the personality to help unlock the financial resources the Terrapins desperately need.
College football has become an increasingly expensive arms race, with programs competing to fund player compensation, facilities, coaching staffs and the infrastructure necessary to attract and retain talent.
Winning requires more than a charismatic coach. It requires wealthy, enthusiastic donors willing to invest in the program’s future.
And who better to walk into a room full of potential financial supporters than Jon Gruden?
That infectious smile. The larger-than-life personality. The ability to charm an audience with football stories, humor and an almost childlike enthusiasm for the game.
Imagine Gruden sitting down with a successful Maryland alumnus who has never been particularly interested in supporting the football program.
Twenty minutes later, they’re laughing, talking football and imagining what Maryland might become. Suddenly, writing a substantial check doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.
That’s the potential power of Gruden’s personality.
He could become more than Maryland’s head football coach. He could become the program’s most effective salesman.
And Maryland needs someone capable of selling a vision big enough to inspire significant financial commitments.
Of course, Gruden’s controversial past could alienate some potential supporters, and charm alone wouldn’t guarantee increased donations. But his celebrity, football credentials and ability to connect with people could give Maryland a fundraising advantage it hasn’t traditionally enjoyed.
Imagine a major donor hearing Gruden enthusiastically explain how Maryland could build an offense capable of competing with Ohio State or Oregon. Imagine him describing the quarterbacks he wants to recruit, the facilities he wants to improve and the players he believes he can develop into NFL prospects.
It’s not difficult to picture Gruden closing that conversation with his trademark enthusiasm.
And it’s not difficult to imagine a donor responding, “I love this guy!”
In the modern college football economy, that reaction could be worth millions.
Maryland needs more elite recruits, more engaged alumni, more financial support and more people who believe the Terrapins can become a legitimate Big Ten contender.
Gruden wouldn’t guarantee any of those things, but he might be uniquely equipped to sell all of them.Gruden Needs Maryland Almost as Much as Maryland Might Need Him
Gruden Needs This as Well
There’s another side to this potential marriage.
Gruden has unfinished business.
He compiled a 117-112 regular-season record across 15 seasons as an NFL head coach, won five division titles and led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Those are significant accomplishments, but his coaching career ended under deeply troubling circumstances.
Gruden resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in October 2021 after reports revealed emails containing racist, misogynistic and homophobic language. He subsequently apologized for the emails and pursued litigation related to their disclosure.
Any university considering him would have to conduct extensive due diligence, examine his conduct and determine whether he is the right person to lead student-athletes. That controversy cannot simply be dismissed because Gruden knows how to coach football.
But neither does it erase his coaching accomplishments.
Gruden has publicly expressed interest in returning to coaching, including at the college level. Maryland could offer an opportunity to rebuild his professional reputation through results.
Think about the possibilities.
If Gruden took over a struggling Maryland program and turned it into an eight- or nine-win team, people would notice. If he led the Terrapins to 10 victories and serious Big Ten contention, the accomplishment would be enormous. And if he somehow elevated Maryland into the College Football Playoff conversation?
He might become one of the most celebrated turnaround coaches in the sport.
Suddenly, the conversation surrounding Gruden would include more than the controversy that ended his Raiders tenure. It would include the coach who resurrected Maryland football.
That could make him a beloved figure in College Park, potentially allowing him to finish his career there. Or it could reopen opportunities with NFL franchises and more established college football powers.
Either way, Gruden would have the chance to write a much more satisfying final chapter to his coaching career.
“Man, I’m Fired Up!” Maryland Could Use Some of Gruden’s Energy
One of the biggest problems facing Maryland isn’t simply winning football games. It’s convincing people that Maryland football matters.
The Terrapins compete for attention in a market dominated by professional sports franchises, including the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders. They also compete with college basketball, a sport with a far richer tradition at Maryland. Football has often struggled to become a must-see attraction.
Gruden could change the atmosphere.
Picture the excitement surrounding his first spring practice. His first recruiting class. His first home game.
Imagine him appearing at booster events, engaging with students, visiting high schools and promoting the program with the same animated personality that made him a television star.
“Man, I’m fired up!” is precisely the kind of sentiment Gruden has built his public persona around.
Maryland could use a coach who makes everyone around him feel that way. His presence alone wouldn’t fill SECU Stadium indefinitely. Eventually, Maryland would need to win games to sustain the enthusiasm, but Gruden could provide the initial spark.
For a program that desperately needs momentum, that shouldn’t be underestimated.
Chucky Comes With Risks — and Maryland Would Have to Accept Them
Of course, hiring Gruden would be anything but a sure thing. He has never been a college head coach.
Recruiting high school players, managing the transfer portal, navigating NIL arrangements and dealing with university administrators present challenges that don’t exist in the same form in the NFL.
His last NFL head coaching job ended five years ago, and his Super Bowl championship came more than two decades ago. Football has evolved considerably.
At 63, Gruden would also face questions about how long he intends to coach.
Then there’s the financial consideration.
Maryland is already facing the cost of moving on from Locksley. Hiring a coach with Gruden’s name recognition could require a significant commitment, although his actual market value remains uncertain. And the university would need to be prepared for the public reaction to his controversial departure from Las Vegas.
These are not insignificant obstacles.
But let’s consider the alternative.
Maryland could hire another highly regarded assistant, hope he develops into an outstanding head coach and spend the next three or four years trying to establish a recognizable identity.
That might work.
Or Maryland could find itself right back in this position a few years from now.
The Terrapins need to decide whether they’re content with gradual improvement or willing to pursue a more dramatic transformation.
Gruden would represent the latter.
Maryland Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Make a Bold Move
In announcing Locksley’s departure, Maryland athletic director Jim Smith promised a comprehensive national search and emphasized the university’s commitment to building a successful football program.
“President Darryll J. Pines and I are fully aligned in our commitment to providing the investment, infrastructure and resources required for Maryland Football to succeed,” Smith said in the school’s official announcement.
Those are encouraging words, but Maryland needs more than encouraging words. It needs someone who can change the way people think about the program.
Gruden would immediately become the most recognizable football personality associated with Maryland in generations.
He could bring national attention, generate recruiting interest, energize donors and give fans a reason to believe the Terrapins are finally serious about becoming something more than a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten program.
And Gruden would have plenty of incentive to make it work.
For Maryland, success would mean finally establishing a competitive football identity.
For Gruden, success could mean restoring his standing among the game’s most respected coaches.
Both parties have something significant to gain.
Jim Smith Should Pick Up the Phone
There’s no evidence that Maryland and Gruden are discussing the job.
Maybe Gruden has no interest in coaching the Terrapins. Maybe Maryland has no appetite for the controversy his hiring would generate.
Maybe there are better candidates.
But the possibility deserves consideration.
Maryland doesn’t need another coach who will simply promise to work hard, recruit aggressively and compete for championships.
It needs someone who can make people believe those championships are possible.
Gruden doesn’t need another television appearance or another opportunity to explain football to an audience.
He needs a sideline, a roster and a chance to prove that he can still win.
One party needs a jolt of life.
The other needs a second act.
And perhaps the most recognizable football coach currently outside the profession could be the answer to Maryland’s most persistent football problem.
Jim Smith should pick up the phone.
Ask Chucky whether he’s ready to coach again.
And if Gruden answers with that familiar enthusiasm, Maryland might just have found the man who can make Terrapins football exciting again.
Spider 2 Y Banana.
Now that’s a play Maryland ought to consider calling.
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