A series of bad choices of Maryland

Jim Smith has been on the job as athletic director at Maryland for just over six months. In that half year, Smith has likely learned that these days, the job of chief college athletic administrator often is about making the best selection from a series of bad choices. Specifically, Smith has had to figure out what to do with a football program that is seemingly hopelessly mired in mediocrity, aspiring to be relevant. Saturday’s 45-20 home loss to Michigan dropped the Terps’ season mark to 4-7 and extended their losing streak to seven. For a second straight year, Maryland will not qualify for a postseason bowl game and reinforced that the Terps will finish with a sub-.500 record in the Big Ten for an 11th straight season. It’s a second straight losing campaign for head coach Mike Locksley and the fourth such season in the seven full years that he has been the top Terp. Specifically, Smith has had to figure out what to do with a football program that is seemingly hopelessly mired in mediocrity, aspiring to be relevant.