With Locksley returning, Maryland tries to chart a path to football success

File photo of Maryland head coach Mike Locksley AP George Walker IV File photo of Maryland head coach Mike Locksley AP George Walker IV COLLEGE PARK Md AP At times in it has felt like college football collectively decided to err on the side of firing Amid all that Maryland chose patience with Mike Locksley Athletic director Jim Smith disclosed his patronage for Locksley on Sunday ending speculation about the coach s job status and committing to providing the information necessary for success It was the biggest decision Smith has had to make since taking over the department earlier this year and Locksley addressed the future Tuesday when he held his normal midweek news conference Locksley painted a picture of complete alignment between himself Smith and senior deputy athletic director Diana Sabau To have two people now that share the same special vision that I have while also seeing the foundation of what we have when we didn t have all the support that we needed I m excited Locksley reported I see a light at the end of the tunnel So really glad about the endorsement opportunity to stay here committed to an area that I believe in because I m from here With Penn State LSU Florida and Auburn among the schools in the middle of coaching changes the Terrapins stood pat Maryland s operation faces major challenges It s not located in a particularly passionate college football area and that s reflected in the attendance The Terrapins have had far more success over the past scant decades in sports like basketball lacrosse field hockey and soccer I ve presented a plan for what it takes to win here at Maryland Locksley declared They re behind me and behind that plan When Locksley took over after the season it was less than six months following the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair who collapsed from heat stroke during an offseason workout Coach D J Durkin was ultimately fired and Locksley arrived from Alabama where he was an offensive coordinator When he took the job it was a job that nobody really requested to take receiver Octavian Smith Jr explained Maryland at that time was at its lowest peak and him taking the job I feel like it speaks a lot to his character A native of Washington D C Locksley returned to the area and led Maryland to three straight bowl wins from - the first time in venture history that had happened Then the Terps went - last season and they re - this year after six straight losses The season has turned into an extreme example of a new trend for Maryland which has won consecutive nonconference games the longest advancing streak in the FBS but has repeatedly fared worse as seasons progressed The Terrapins are - in Big Ten play since Locksley took over Maryland was - this year and led Washington - in the second half But the Terps lost that battle followed by close defeats against Nebraska and UCLA This month they ve dropped games to Indiana Rutgers and Illinois all by double digits Maryland will need to beat No Michigan and Michigan State to get to - I gave the plan of what it takes to compete for Big Ten championships It has a cost They re familiar with that because of the plan I presented Locksley mentioned It s been resourced enough to be a bowl-eligible association That part is on me We re not bowl-eligible haven t been last season and we have opportunities to be now Now that Locksley s status is clear a key for Maryland is keeping its talented young players in the fold Freshman quarterback Malik Washington a local recruit has been starting for the Terps all season Freshman defensive linemen Sidney Stewart and Zahir Mathis have impressed as well Being here four years I can definitely say from my experiences that this isn t the same old Maryland Octavian Smith revealed These young guys that we have here they re going to do great things for this project in the future Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top throughout the season Sign up here and here AP News mobile app AP college football https apnews com hub ap-top- -college-football-poll and https apnews com hub college-football Source