2-8 to start. Transfers out. Randy's ability to isolate himself from outside; is not a way to get fan support for a 3-4 year turn around (especially with fans who see last year at 9-4 and not the prior year at 2-10). Next year how does team get much better? Returning players get stronger and more skilled; RS freshman step up; real freshman have some gems who play immediately. If player turmoil hits re transfers for next year could impact returning player improvement; would not seem like ideal situation for high skill recruiting class for next year and even though Maryland is much more prestigious football program than Uconn, RE hasn't shown top 50 recruiting ability as a head coach even though he was only at the little country school in Storrs. Maryland could realistically go 2-10 this year; what's upside for next year; winning record seems would be an ambitious goal. Better have weak OOC schedule.
Some BE examples of new coachs:
Greg Robinson at Syracuse (prior year 6-6) was 1-10, 4-8, 2-10, 3-9
Kragthorpe at Louisville(prior year 12-1) was 6-6, 5-7, 4-8
Marrone at Syracuse (prior year 3-9) was 4-8, 8-5, 5-5 so far (with potential to miss bowl)
Strong at Louisville (prior year 4-8) was 7-6 , 5-5 so far (and hopefully at least one more loss)
1st year turning out like Robinson re record as new 1st year's coach (with shot at more like Marrone). No preseason indication of Maryland having this type of year, more like 5-3 in league expected. Both Marrone and Strong followed real bad "prior coaching regimes in both results and recruiting". The latter should take some time to overcome and 2nd, 3rd and even 4th years can be rocky given usually weak senior and RS seniors from prior regime in 3rd and 4th years.
RE improvement should be "statistically easy" especially next year if from 2-12. Go from 2 to say 5 then 7/8 wins and is showing improvement that probably, with 6 year $12mill contract keeps him at Maryland. If RS freshman to any significant step take hike and this recruiting class is anything less than stellar, will be tough next 3 years for Maryland FB and very hard to see how RE gets enough improvement in wins to survive.