Maryland Makes Move For More Money; What’s The Problem?
Follow
By DERON SNYDER
Maryland’s move to the Big Ten went from rumor to fact at a dizzying rate over the weekend. Likewise, personal opinion about the switch lurched sharply during those 48 hours. By the time the news was official Monday, my feelings had traversed every extreme of the emotional spectrum.
Athletic director Kevin Anderson said the process for fans who mourn Maryland’s departure from the Atlantic Coast Conference is akin to the stages of grief. There’s denial, anger, depression and acceptance. They essentially morphed into one glob of sentiment, because this case moved too fast for separation.
However, the final stage doesn’t necessarily involve a sad ending. Leaving the ACC doesn’t automatically amount to a terminal prognosis for Terrapins athletics.
Some longtime fans might equate the move to the loss of a loved one. That’s totally understandable; remembrances from a 60-year-old relationship don’t fade easily, if ever.
But falling in love with the past is a certified threat to your preparedness for the future. Though no one is certain how events will play out for Maryland in the Midwest, the Terps’ present circumstances cleary aren’t as good as they used to be. And nothing about the ACC suggests a significant uptick is ahead — at least nothing that can match the Big Ten’s enticing prospectus.
Yes, Maryland has a rich history in the ACC. But nostalgia and tradition — like aura and mystique — don’t pay any bills.
