D.J. Durkin: ‘No reason’ Maryland can’t compete in Big Ten

The Maryland Terrapins have not had a ton of success on the football field over the last few years, but new head coach D.J. Durkin wants to change that notion. He has a ton of confidence that he can help the team get back to prominence in the Big Ten.

Durkin left his post as defensive coordinator at Michigan to take the head coaching job with the Terrapins in January. The new head coach addressed a crowd at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. and sounded like he has high hopes for his team in the 2016 season.

“Someone’s got to give me a reason because I haven’t found one and I’ve looked hard: What is a reason that Maryland, we can’t be on top of that best competition on top of the Big Ten?” Durkin said via the Baltimore Sun. “There’s no reason.”

If Maryland is going to be successful, they will have to find momentum they have struggled to gain in recent years. The Terrapins last won a conference title in 2001, when they won the ACC and lost in the Orange Bowl.

D.J. Durkin certainly seems like he can help Maryland get turn things around, but it’s not going to happen overnight. With how fickle fans can be, they might not be willing to wait a few years to see some kind of progress, but only time will tell.

The Terrapins open the season on Sept. 3 when they host the Howard Bison.

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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports

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