By: Nicholas Sohr

After chatting with Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. last week about the upcoming legislative session, the $1.6 billion budget deficit and the debates on taxes, gay marriage and the death penalty, the conversation shifted to a topic that that has gotten considerably more attention recently.

Who will replace Ralph Friedgen as the University of Maryland’s football coach?

For Miller, a Maryland grad and a staunch supporter of the school, the answer is simple.

“I personally support Mike Leach,” said Miller. Leach, the former head coach at Texas Tech, has been spending his time in Key West since leaving that program. There, according to Fox Sports, the pirate-obsessed Leach hangs out with a guy named “Weed” and has run-ins with sharks.

Miller said Leach would energize the program and bring an exciting and unique brand of football to the ACC, which has long lagged behind the traditional power football conferences like the SEC, Big 10 and Big 12.

“It’s a spectacular air offense,” Miller said.

Miller called Friedgen a “close friend,” but said the decision to fire him was the right one after the school didn’t commit to him beyond 2011.

The long-serving Senate president said he has trouble getting his children and grandchildren to use his season tickets for Terps home games. Well, at least until earlier this month, when news broke that the Fridge would not be back in 2011 and Leach was the top candidate to replace him.

“My son heard Mike Leach was coming and he said ‘Dad, I need some of those tickets,’” Miller said.

Indeed, the push for Leach is one that Miller can relate to, since much of it comes down to revenue. Miller and his fellow lawmakers will have to review a budget this year that bridges a $1.6 billion deficit and that Gov. Martin O’Malley described recently as “a lot more painful than the last two.”

“Mike Leach, he graduates his players. But at the present time, we need seats filled,” Miller said. “You can’t afford to lose money on your premium program, your football program. We need the revenue. Mike Leach would put people in the stands immediately.

“He [Maryland Athletic Director Kevin Anderson] has a lot of options to consider. But if he’s going to consider helping Maryland with its budget situation and return winning football to the school, Mike Leach is a very good option to consider.”