Randy Edsall and Danny O’Brien’s Transfer: The Power of Coaches in Dictating Splits

Maryland ended last week on the high note of landing local five star recruit Stefon Diggs, but begins the new week with the departure of three players. Among them is quarterback Danny O’Brien, a standout on the Terrapins’ surprise, nine-win 2010 and Freshmen All-American (more details via the link in The Hub).

O’Brien’s transfer, combined with Monday’s releases of Max Garcia and Mario Rowson, brings the total number of players to leave Randy Edsall’s program this off-season to 24.

That players are transferring in such volume isn’t necessarily indicative of problems beyond players recruited into Ralph Friedgen’s system not fitting Edsall’s. Coaching changes typically result in transfers, albeit immediately after the fact; not a year later in Edsall’s case.

No, the transfers themselves shouldn’t be cause for concern. The ugliness that has ensued in the short time since the news of O’Brien and company’s leaving should.

Either the regularity of less-than-amicable player/program splits has increased, or more extensive media coverage is shining a brighter light on it. Regardless, the past year has seen plenty of break-ups on difficult terms, O’Brien’s with Maryland the latest.

The Washington Post Terps Insider quoted Edsall as saying, “Danny has told me he is not committed to our program, that he is not all-in.”

Not the most subtle parting shot, taking on the player’s dedication. Not a particularly earth-shattering development were that the end of the saga, either. Charlie Weis dismissed quarterback Brock Berglund last month in what Dr. Saturday calls “predictably Weisian fashion,” but did grant the player his full release. The matter has since disappeared from public consciousness.

Such would be the case for O’Brien and Edsall, were rumors of greater and much more troubling snafus not running rampant.

Also reported by The Washington Post is that someone “familiar with the talks” said Edsall will not allow O’Brien to transfer to Vanderbilt, a program coached by former Terp offensive coordinator James Franklin. Franklin oversaw O’Brien’s standout freshman campaign, and led the Commodores to a bowl game in his first season as head coach.

It doesn’t help a coach’s image when these matters come under the public microscope. Details are never fully understood to those on the other side of the curtain, and what reaches the masses does so through a filter. However, blocking a student’s future is a tough situation on which to put a positive spin, regardless of circumstance.

This cropped up last year, when Greg Schiano was reportedly blocking Tom Savage from leaving Rutgers for Miami or Florida because of the perception it might give RU recruits in the all-important Sunshine State pipeline.

The rumors were not necessarily debunked, so much as Schiano gave a formal OK allowing Savage to explore those programs. That came after days of speculation that Savage’s father was seeking legal recourse, and Schiano taking a beaten in the court of public opinion. And ultimately, Schiano even talked up Savage to Arizona’s former staff before he committed to UA, proving their can be reconciliation of hurt feelings.

At least O’Brien is allowed to transfer. The late Joe Paterno would not sign off on the release of Rob Bolden under any conditions last winter, and Bolden ended up playing musical chairs with Matt McGloin for starting quarterback duties. If the intent is to play C.J. Brown next season, as he did a healthy portion of the Terrapins’ 2011, granting O’Brien’s release gives him opportunity elsewhere.

But why limit those opportunities? Or more specifically, why should a coach have such vast authority in dictating said opportunities?

Edsall’s comment about O’Brien’s commitment level does indicate a level of hurt feelings, and emotions should not play into such a weighty decision.

Vanderbilt is a team nowhere near Maryland’s schedule. Preventing a player from transferring within conference makes sense, as an opponent with intimate knowledge of a playbook gives one side an unfair advantage. But what purpose does preventing a transfer from going to another league, and an opponent not on the OOC schedule serve? Ultimately, it’s no-win: not for O’Brien, whose opportunities are minimalized, and not for Edsall, who is judged in an unfavorable light.

Currently, the details remain nothing more than the unsubstantiated claims of an unnamed source. Precedent says wait for all the facts before rushing to judgement. Hopefully for all parties involved, this split does not become any less friendly on either side. But more importantly, the NCAA can limit some of the power coaches have in stipulating transfers.