By now, I’d say it’s safe to say that West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez and Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen are plenty familiar with each other. Not only do the two schools play each other every year in an out-of-conference matchup, but these two coaches have also taken quite a similar path to their current post.

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Both Friedgen and Rodriguez are starting their sixth season at their respective alma-maters and both came from ACC schools where they were the offensive coordinators for high-powered offenses. (Friedgen at Georgia Tech and Rodriguez at Clemson)

And over the past five years, both have guided their programs to fantastic results, although in this case, not in the same pattern.

Friedgen’s impact was felt immediately at Maryland and success followed quicker than anyone could have imagined. In just his first season at the helm in College Park (2001), the Terps won their first seven games on their way to an ACC Championship and a trip to the Orange Bowl, their first postseason appearance since 1990. Friedgen followed up that trick with two more consecutive double-digit winning seasons and trips to New Years Days bowls.

Rodriguez did not have the immediate success of his counterpart but there is no denying the direction his program is heading now. The memories of a rocky 3-8 2001 season that started off Rodriguez’s tenure in Morgantown are now distant for a program that has won the Big East Championship three straight years and appeared in New Years Day bowl each season, highlighted by a 38-35 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia to end 2005.

But for all these two coaches have in common, there is a general feeling around college football that while the #5 Mountaineers are currently one of the top programs in the nation, Maryland has taken a bit of a step backwards after Friedgen’s initial success.

Of course, this Thursday night in Morgantown the Terps can change that thinking with a victory. To do so will require a near perfect game from Friedgen’s troops, especially on defense.

West Virginia boasts one of the top offenses in the country and certainly when it comes to the ground game they have no rival. Behind an electric pair of sophomores in RB Steve Slaton and QB Patrick White, the Mountaineers can run any defense into the ground as evidenced by their over 3,200 yards rushing in 2005.

So far this season West Virginia hasn’t been challenged, easily cruising past intra-state rival Marshall 42-10 before crushing Eastern Washington 52-3.

Just looking at the schedule, you wouldn’t think Friedgen and his Terps have been tested yet either. After all, starting off the season at home against William & Mary and Middle Tennessee State can’t exactly be described as a challenge.

However, looking at the results will show that while Maryland was never in serious danger of losing either game, it surely doesn’t seem as if the Terps have found their form yet. Maryland defeated William & Mary 27-14 and put away Middle Tennessee State 24-10 last weekend.

Now Maryland faces the daunting prospect of having to travel to one of the most raucous atmospheres in college football on a short week of preparation with a team that is admittedly not in top gear yet. And let’s not forget the team that will be awaiting them.

Scores from every game between these schools with Friedgen and Rodriguez as coaches:

Maryland’s last win against a Top 5 opponent came in 2004 when they beat Florida State (then # 5) 20-17 at home. The last time they beat a Top 5 team on the road was October 7, 1950 when they won at Michigan State 34-7.

This is the 45^th meeting between these two schools and amazingly the series record is tied 21-21-2.

West Virginia RB Steve Slaton originally committed to Maryland before deciding on the Mountaineers.

Maryland and West Virginia have played each other every year since 1980 with the Mountaineers winning 9 of those 17. However, Maryland has won four of the last six.