Former Maryland offensive coordinator Gary Crowton is getting away from College Park.
Far, far away.
Pushed out after just one year overseeing a feeble Terps offense, Crowton has agreed to become the offensive coordinator of the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a franchise almost 1,200 miles from the mess of questionable quarterbacks and fretting fans he faced in Byrd Stadium.
The news release announcing his hire, perhaps fittingly, includes no comment from Crowton, who was kept from reporters throughout the Terps' 2011 season as the team finished 10th in the ACC in scoring offense and 2-10 overall.
In an offseason rife with turnover, his own departure seemed inevitable after he openly campaigned for the vacant head coaching position at Colorado State, where he played in college. The Rams ultimately settled on former Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, and within a week, Crowton's three-year, $1.5 million contract had been negotiated down to a three-month, $125,000 buyout.
Former New Mexico coach Mike Locksley was tapped to replace Crowton, and his first month has been as markedly impressive as his predecessor's final one was, well ... not.
Jonas Shaffer is a sports reporting intern at The Baltimore Sun. The senior journalism major at the University of Maryland also serves as sports editor of The Diamondback. Contact him at xcxjsshaffer@baltsun.com.