Friedgen rumored in Falcons job opening
By Evan Millar, The Diamondback
December 12, 2003
(U-WIRE) COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen is one of several rumored to replace ex-Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Reeves, who was fired Wednesday, several media outlets reported.
Friedgen has said in the past he would like to retire in Atlanta, where he owns a home. But he told The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun Wednesday he is happy coaching the Terps.
"The only way I'm leaving here is if we decide we don't want to be the best or if they stop listening to what I want to do," Friedgen told the papers. "Right now, I'm here for the duration."
Friedgen was in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday and could not be reached for further comment.
Friedgen's name has surfaced for NFL head coaching openings before, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers job in 2002 before the team hired Jon Gruden.
Buccaneers General Manager Rich McKay, who talked with Friedgen about that coaching vacancy, is rumored to become the Falcons' new general manager.
While the coaching rumors have been spread on television and through many newspapers, some of Friedgen's current players said he talked to the team and the rumors haven't affected the team's preparation for the Jan. 1 Toyota Gator Bowl.
"I think coach Friedgen's going to be here with us as a Terp," senior wide receiver Latrez Harrison said. "It doesn't affect us at all.
"We kind of knew if this situation was to come up, that he probably [would] be one of the candidates. But we've got a bowl game to worry about. Coach Friedgen is going to have to do what's best for him and his family. Right now we're just going to focus, and he's still our coach as of right now."
Harrison said the Tampa Bay rumors following Friedgen's first year with the Terps did not faze him either. It was reported the team asked Friedgen, "Are you in or are you out?" after that season.
"I never really got too worried about the Tampa Bay job," he said. "We don't know anything [about Atlanta]. We just see it on TV that he's a candidate for the job. But, like I said, he's still our coach, and as far as we know, he's going to be the Maryland Terrapin coach and that's it."
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