I had the opportunity to sit down with new Terrapin men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon today regarding a feature I’m writing about him (don’t hold your breath, it won’t be out for a few weeks). But I wanted to give a few quick hits from our conversation:

– Alex Len is still waiting on the NCAA Student Clearinghouse. Turgeon isn’t sure when that situation will be resolved.

– Turgeon studied four-guard systems all summer, but said he has since changed his philosophy on coaching this year’s team with the loss of forward Hawk Palsson and the addition of Len.

– Nick Faust was crucial to Turgeon, obviously. The first-year coach said he may have bolted back to Texas A&M had Faust left the Terps (who would have had just seven scholarship players).

– The team has “bought into the system.” That’s certainly coach-speak, but I asked him if he’s ever inherited a team that didn’t buy in. One – Texas A&M and he said this transition has been much easier.

– Curtis Malone, the co-founder and president of DC Assault (a prominent AAU program), was in the offices talking with assistant coach Bino Ranson. That has to be a welcome sign for any Terps fans that were frustrated with former coach Gary Williams’ dealing with local AAU teams.

– There was buzz in the office about a recruit coming this weekend. Sadly I don’t know who, so take that for what its worth.

– The Turgeon family officially moved from Texas on October 1.

Basketball season isn’t that far away. Look for lots more coverage as the Turgeon Era begins.

Chris Eckard is the Diamondback’s Terrapin men’s basketball beat reporter. Reach him at ceckard@umdbk.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ceckard.

Ralph Friedgen ain’t happy.

The former Terps head football coach was interviewed on Baltimore sports talk radio station WNST on Thursday, and he had some choice words for Maryland.

“I could care less about Maryland. I’ve burned my diploma. I’m flying a Georgia Tech flag right now,” Friedgen said during the interview.

Friedgen’s angst isn’t surprising, considering he was fired by his alma mater after going 9-4, being named ACC Coach of the Year, and was told he would return for another year by Athletics Director Kevin Anderson.

The fact that his successor, current coach Randy Edsall, has taken veiled shots at Friedgen since taking over — often lamenting how bad the situation was when he got here — probably isn’t helping.

But burning his diploma? That’s harsh. The fact that Fridgen went to school and played at Maryland is probably what makes his departure sting so much.

“They talk about Maryland pride,” Friedgen said. “They didn’t show me a whole lot of Maryland pride, either getting the job or getting fired.”

Jeremy Schneider is The Diamondback’s Terrapins football columnist. He can be reached at schneider@umdbk.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jschneider_.

Coach Randy Edsall tweeted today that the Terps would be wearing black helmets, red jerseys and black pants when they take the field against Towson on Saturday.

While much of the allure of the Terps’ uniforms has worn off after two straight losses, this will be the first time the team has worn their red jersey.

Saturday marks the third consecutive game the Terps will rock their black helmets. I guess they’re hoping the third time’s the charm.

The Terrapin basketball program announced its annual Maryland Madness for 9:30 p.m. in Comcast Center on October 14. The later time is set for fans that want to attend the men’s soccer game against Duke at 7 p.m.

For the first time, Terps fans will get a glimpse of new head coach Mark Turgeon’s men’s basketball program. It’ll be the 40th anniversary of the first Midnight Madness, which was created by former coach Lefty Driesell and set at midnight. Some rumors circulated that the athletics department would revert back and start this year’s event at midnight.

Despite the fan movement on Facebook, the athletics department kept it’s current model. The usual performers — the dance squad, Gymkana, the cheerleading squad — will be on display, according to the release.

It’ll be the first time for the public to watch the men’s and women’s basketball programs for the 2011-2012 season.

Chris Eckard is the Diamondback’s Terrapin men’s basketball beat reporter. Reach him at ceckard@umdbk.com and follow him at ceckard@umdbk.com

The Terrapins football team released its updated two-deep for Saturday’s game against Towson, and a combination of returns from suspension and injuries made this week’s changes a little more drastic.

– Safety Matt Robinson is out for the year after injuring his shoulder. Rather than replace him with a former All-American at the position (Kenny Tate), redshirt freshman Titus Till takes over as a starter at the position. Freshman A.J. Hendy will be his backup.

– With Quintin McCree and Ronnie Tyler returning from suspension, McCree is now again a starter along with Kevin Dorsey. Tyler is Dorsey’s backup, while Tony Logan backs up McCree.

– Maurice Hampton is now a starter at defensive tackle, and Darius Kilgo is his backup. Andre Monroe had graced the depth chart last week, but is off this week because of a lingering ankle injury.

– Big shakeup in the linebacking corps: Demetrius Hartsfield, whose play was one of the few bright spots on Saturday against Temple, is now playing the WILL linebacker position rather than the MIKE (middle linebacker), which is now being played by Lorne Goree. These changes are a result of Darin Drakeford’s injury.

Jeremy Schneider is The Diamondback’s Terrapins football columnist. He can be reached at schneider@umdbk.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jschneider_.

Video produced by Emaun Kashfipour.

For staff photographer Charlie DeBoyace’s photo gallery of the Terps’ 38-7 loss to Temple on Saturday, click here.

Coach Randy Edsall announced today that suspended wide receivers Quintin McCree and Ronnie Tyler have been reinstated and will be back in action next weekend against Towson.

McCree and Tyler had been the team’s No. 2 and No. 3 receivers before their suspensions. Tyler was charged with second-degree assault after an altercation in front of 7-Eleven on Sept. 15, and police said McCree was with him, but not charged.

The Terps’ offense has been inconsistent and largely ineffective in their absence, especially in yesterday’s embarrassing 38-7 loss to Temple.

“They’ll be starting this week,” Edsall said. “I sat down and told them what they expectations are. They know exactly where they stand and how I feel. I told them ‘You’re getting a second chance and there won’t be a third chance. Don’t let yourselves down, don’t let your families down and don’t let me down.’”

Coach Randy Edsall announced today that sophomore safety Matt Robinson will be out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.

Robinson, the team leader in tackles with 36, has been one of the Terps most consistent performers defensively. Senior Austin Walker is listed as his backup. The majority of Walker’s experience has been on special teams.

Another option could be to move Kenny Tate back to his original spot. The senior was moved to linebacker this season, and has been largely unsuccessful to this point in the year there after a stellar career at safety.

Edsall also said weakside linebacker Darin Drakeford and defensive tackle Andre Monroe, who each have sprained ankles, will likely miss Saturday’s game against Towson.

Drakeford missed the Terps’ Sept. 17 loss to West Virginia with an ankle injury.