(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Ralph Friedgen went out a winner in his final game as head coach of the Maryland Terrapins yesterday afternoon — his team rolled past the East Carolina Pirates, 51-20, in a game that was never in doubt.

A record crowd was in attendance for the Military Bowl, and while the game was officially named to honor our nation’s armed forces, this year’s edition might as well have been dubbed the “Friedgen Farewell Bowl” amidst the storyline that has transpired over the last few weeks. If you recall, the school’s athletic department made the decision not to honor Friedgen’s final year on his contract, and instead bought him out for a reported $2 million. The university has already begun a coaching search and is reportedly interviewing Mike Leach today.

But Wednesday belonged to The Fridge, and he went out the same way he came into the program — as ACC Coach of the Year.